The Grandparents Bible
Text: Gen. 48
Developed from the study by Ruth & Elmer Towns
http://elmertowns.com/books/unpublished/Grandparents/GrandparentsoftheBible%5BETowns%5D.pdf
Illustration:
A few years ago there was a cartoon that showed a little child stumbling over some stones in the road. With a look of hurt surprise on his face, he asked his grandmother, “Granma why don’t you watch where I am going?” That says it well. Our responsibility as believers is to look not only on our own things, “but every man also on the things of others” Philippians 2:4
Practical Bible Illustrations from Yesterday and Today 1996 AMG International Inc ISBM 0-89957-231-6 #617 pg.226 (italics mine)
Very soon my wife Fran and I will join a very auspicious club known as Grandparents.
We did very little to qualify for membership into this club. All we did was to have children, we invited children into our lives when we stood before God on our wedding day and pledged to live together as man and wife. The fruit of our union was by God’s grace the gift that is our children.
What happened next was a series of trials and errors that involved raising our children. For us the best source of instruction was the experience we had both known when we were children ourselves. That reflection brought a lot of conflict as we had both been raised very differently and our families had been very different as well. Like all new parents we wanted to avoid the so called mistakes that each of our parents had made when they had raised us.
Avoiding those kinds of mistakes is much easier said than done. You see we are all imprinted so to speak or engraved with certain characteristics that are etched into our lives and personality from our parents and sometimes no measure of effort can erase what you are - because of who you are from - thanks to your parents (DNA). Our parents leave an indelible mark upon our personality and character that is impossible to deny and very difficult to alter but it can be altered never the less but it takes divine power to do so.
This is where Grandparents come in. They are able to see the big picture that is our family and our children. They have lived longer, experienced more of life and have learned how to distinguish wisdom from worldly advice. Grandparents are closer in age to God than parents are and so their perspective is one of true paternal/maternal wisdom.
Illustration:
Every time a young man went to visit his friend’s house he found his friends Grandmother reading her Bible. Finally his curiosity got the better of him. “Why do you suppose your Grandmother reads the bible so much?” he asked. “I’m not sure”, said the friend, but I think it’s because she’s cramming for her finals”. Illustrations of Bible Truths 1995 by AMG International ISBN 0-89957-229-4 #158 pg.52
Grandparents are closer to God even if it is just that their time here is winding down. Maybe it is for that reason that Grandparents take an eternal perspective on things rather than a linear one.
In today’s scripture passage we see the Blessing of Israel (Jacob) being applied to his two Grand-sons Ephraim and Manasseh. But the father of the boys Joseph who was Jacob’s favorite son thinks that Grandpa is making a mistake as Grandpa has the wrong hand on the wrong child’s head.
Sometimes Grandparents can see things in their grandchildren that the parents do not. It is for that reason that Ephraim gets the right hand blessing which is the hand of authority and Manasseh gets the left hand blessing.
Quote:
When grandparents can’t spend the most time with their grandchildren, or give them much material inheritance, their greatest gift can be to spiritually bless and pray for their grandchildren. http://elmertowns.com/books/unpublished/Grandparents/GrandparentsoftheBible%5BETowns%5D.pdf
Jacobs’s son Joseph as you remember grew up in Egypt and became second in importance only to the Pharaoh. These two grandsons of Jacob probably only visited their Grandpa Jacob occasionally while they had ready access to their Grandfather Potiphera who was a priest of the Egyptian religion and a wealthy man. While Potiphera may have been able to pay for hockey or football and private school there were still some things that only Grandpa Jacob could give the boys.
Even in the days of the Bible families had to deal with religious differences while still respecting each other.
But when it comes to religious instruction and example we can see that Jacob gave his grandson’s four important things to remember him by and to help point his grandchildren to the true and living God.
You and I can also give our grandchildren these same things.
#1 Jacob shared his testimony with his grandson’s. (Jacob’s ladder Genesis 28:10-22)
He told them how he was called by God to serve Him and how he promised to give God a tenth.
What was involved in your testimony? Have you told your grandchildren yet? What were you before salvation? How did you come to receive Christ?
How you were changed in spirit is the expression of your salvation story.
Children love to hear stories over and over again and Grandparents like to repeat themselves so why not tell them your story.
#2 Jacob told the boys who he knew God to be, God’s name which was God Almighty was very different from the name of the Egyptian god Re. Tell your grandchildren about Jesus and how His name is special to you.
#3 Grandpa Jacob told the boys the four-fold promise of God for their family. Has God blessed your family in a special way over the years? Be sure to elaborate for your grand children so they can thank God for the unique blessings only your family has come to know.
#4 Grandpa Jacob made sure to tell the boys about their Grandmother Rachel. He was careful to honor her walk of faith with the living God by letting the boys know that both Grandpa and Grandma walked together with God Almighty.
Finally Grandpa Jacob did four special things for his grandchildren.
Even though the children were only half Hebrew Jacob accepted them as fully part of his family and he went so far as to legally adopt them so they would be in line for a share of the family inheritance.
Be sure that your grandchildren are not simply an extension of the family name but a real extension of whom and what you are. Make them part of your financial and material wealth to bless them and help them to succeed and overcome the obstacles in life.
Proverbs 13:22 NIV
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
It need not be something of great financial value but rather something of intrinsic value. It could be a favorite book of inspiration or family photo or personal keepsake etc. but if you have the means, pass some of it on to your grandchildren.
He kissed and hugged his grandchildren. Create that emotional and physical bond of love with your grandchildren. Yes babies are messy and so are toddlers but one day you too will be messy and may be glad for the time you invested in caring for your grandchildren as they come to visit and care for you.
Proverbs 17:6 KJV
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
He put his hands on them. In your hands is the power and strength that has been your life. You possess a power and strength given to you from God. What better way to continue to see your strength and power grow than to transfer it to your grandchildren through a blessing. Laying your hands on your grandchildren and calling a blessing on them is Biblical you do not need to be ordained.
You can make up your own blessing or use one from the Bible like the Aaronic Blessing.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” – Num. 6:24-26
The most important thing that Grandpa Jacob gave his grandsons was His example. Strive to do that much and you will indeed have given your grandchildren a treasure that can be laid up for heaven. – Amen.
