Ashely Covington is a model. Yet, while you’ve seen her many times, you’ve probably never seen her face.
Ashely was a child actor and later was trying to make it in theatre while in college getting head shots when suddenly an acting agent looked at her and went crazy over her hands and said: “Forget your head; it’s all about your hands.”
She was told: “Your hands are beautiful. Go get a manicure!” She said: “That won’t work, I’m a nail biter.”
She says: “ In pictures I hold diamonds, pick up burgers, pick up diapers and make a great living because my hands are considered to be the most attractive hands in the world.”
She said, “But the weirdest thing is that they use my hands in movies and magazines for other people. I am the hands other people. Often actresses put their hands behind their back and my hands are tucked in front of their bodies. It is a wonderful reminder that my hands are more desirable than my face. :)
Transition:
The BCC recently ran an article and ranked the hand as the most beautiful part of the human body saying: “The hand is one of the most complex and beautiful pieces of engineering in the human body.”
I agree. Psalm 134 tells us that are hands are lifted to bless the lord. Proverbs 31 says that the godly women receives the fruit of her hands. I Timothy 2 says that we pray with our hands. Matthew 15 says we wash others feet with our hands. Colossians 3 tells us that we honor God when we work with our hands.
Yet, in today’s passage we read about Jacob blessing his sons and grandsons with his hands.
God makes it clear that our hands are an instrument of blessing and worship. The Bible tells us in Mark 10:16 that Jesus, “took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
In today’s see Jacob blessing Joseph’s children by placing his left hand on Manasseh’s head and his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Both he and Jesus placed his hands on children to bless them. What is this all about?
The blessing is a simple, Biblical, yet highly spiritual tool to physically do something that we can do for your children and grandchildren every day of your life.
You can give them your blessing.
Transitional: Let’s look Biblically at this call to give our blessing to our children and grandchildren, and see how we can start today. To get started we need to understand:
I. What does the Bible say about the Importance of “the Blessing?”
vs. 1-7- “Then Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to me in Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.”
Explanation:
The first time we see “the blessing” in the Bible is in Genesis 27. It is obvious that both Jacob and Esau desperately wanted their father’s blessing. It was so significant that Jacob walked away with it and Esau hated Jacob for years for stealing it away.
Esau actually lifted up his voice crying: “Bless me also.” (Genesis 27:38) Yet, he lived with an unfulfilled longing but also it was an echo of many people that live among us today; many people are longing for their father’s blessing.
Likewise, in Hebrews 11 we read something interesting about the passage we are reading today. It says: “By faith Jacob, we he was dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff.”
If you are a reader of the Bible, you will learn that the blessing was more than a nice thing to do before Jacob died. As God looked at Jacobs death bed blessing, he said it was an act of faith worthy of being placed in the “faith chapter” of the New Testament.
Think about it, Jacob blessing his children was just as important as: (Hebrews 11)
a) Enoch’s faith that caused him to be taken up escaping death. Vs. 5
b) Noah’s faith that built and ark for the salvation of his household. Vs. 7
c) Abraham’s faith that caused him to leave home and heading out to the Promised land. Vs. 8
d) Sarah’s faith that led her to conceive in her old age. Vs. 11
e) Moses faith that led God’s people out of Egypt. Vs. 11
f) Rahab’s faith that caused her to welcome the spies in peace. Vs 31
It matched the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. Vs. 32
The “blessing” is more than saying nice words at death or even before death. It is part of sharing your “God story” and letting them know that there’s a connection between your story and theirs.
Notice what happens when the time came for Jacob to pass down and connect his story in the early chapters of Ephraim and Manasseh’s story:
In verse 1 we read: “Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, Behold your father is sick. “ So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. When it was told to Jacob, Behold your son Joseph is has come to you, Israel collected his strength and sat up in bed.” (vs. 1-2)
Then in verse 3 he says: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.”
He makes it clear that God did for him what he was seeking to do for these boys. Yet, Isaac blessed Jacob; he touched Jacob. He blessed Jacob. He had led Jacob. Yet, there was a point where a greater father “touched” him and blessed him. The hand of his father had been on his life; but that paled in comparison the fact that the heavenly Father put his hand on his life.
Listen: If you want to bless your children, it all starts with telling them your God-story and how God’s hand has been on your life, and pointing them to that same hand, letting them know that God wants to put His hand on theirs.
Listen: If you have a God-story, you kids don’t have to look far to hear a real and relevant story about the power and presence of God. They have exhibit A right in front of their eyes.
In Deuteronomy 4:9-10 we read. “This is what Moses told the Dads and Moms who saw the Red Sea part and God’s presence each day in the Exodus:
“But watch out? Be careful never to forget what you yourselves have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live and be sure to pass them on to your children and your grand-children. “(NLT).
Let me ask you: “Do you have a God-story?” If not, you can. The same “Almighty God that put his hand on Jacob wants to put His hand on your life as well. He wants to be active, alive, and give you testimonies to share with your kids and grandkids.
That’s all part of giving the blessing. It’s important to have a God-story.
Can you remember the first time you first sensed the voice of God speaking to you, or the filling of the Holy Spirit the moment you were saved?
Notice something about Jacob’s story: It is a current story.
As he told his God-story his story was current and practical. He said: “Behold I will make you a company of peoples, and will give you this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.” Vs. 4
As he speaks, he reflects on the growing family and all family members being born around him for the last 13 years. Can you imagine what it was like for Jacob? Almost every day there was a family birthday, almost every day there was a baby shower :)
On his death bed he is celebrating the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. With enthusiasm he mustered up strength to tell his son and grandsons his God-story. 70 people came to Egypt but in 430 years, 2.1 million people will leave Egypt.
Illustration: Livin’ Lie You’re Dyin’- Tim McGraw
Any country music fans out here? I must admit, I am an 80’s music junkie. My playlist has a lot of Christian music but can I make a confession? I listen to Van Halen, Boston, REO Speed wagon, Toto, The Cars, Bon Jovi, and even Hall and Oates. Yep, I’m a product of my High School days.
Yet, every now and then between Christian music and 80’s music, I get a “little bit” country. On a nice sunny day I like to pop the top off my Jeep and get back in touch with my rural upbringing. Basically, I like to get a little “red neck.”
You see, I grew up in rural Arkansas hauling hay, fishing on creek banks, hunting for snakes with a .22, and sitting out under the stars at night in my boots and Wranglers. So, every now when I get a little “red neck” I listen to country music.
One of my recent “red neck” moments I heard a song that sums up the life of a country boy. It’s a song called “Livin’ Like You’re Dying” by Tim McGraw.
The song is about living the “country” “carefree” life. It’s the Akuna Matata song for country boys.
The lyrics communicates the bucket list of things country boys want to do before they die. The list goes like this: “I went skydivin’. I went rocky mountain climbin’. I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu. And I loved deeper. And I spoke sweeter. And I watched an eagle as it was flyin’. And he said, Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dyin’.
He mentions “finally reading the good book” in the second verse. But ultimately, after taking a good long hard look, he decides to go “sky divin’, rocky mountain climbin’…” again.
I loved hearing the song but after I thought about it for a moment I thought: “ If those are the things in life that give you purpose—I encourage you to take a longer look at “the good book”. If skydivin’ is what you are talking about on your deathbed, you’ve likely completely missed your purpose and your kids and grandkids might too. ”
Application:
What every your hands are up to today, are what your hands are going to pass down to your kids and grandkids when you die.
Will it be a God-story and a blessing of passing your story on for them to launch the next chapter? It depends largely on what you’re doing with your hands.
Transitional: Let’s look Biblically at this call to give our blessing to our children and grandchildren, and see how we can start today. To get started we need to understand:
II. How Does the Bible Tell Us To Hand Down the Blessing?
vs. 8- “When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these. Joseph said to his father, They are my sons whom God has given me here. So he said, Bring them to me, please, that I many bless them.”
Explanation:
In verse 8, we see that after Jacob tells his God-story he saw Joseph’s sons and asked Joseph to pull them close so he could bless them.
Notice that the process of Jacob blessing the boys included three significant things:
a) Loving Touch
b) Speaking of their value-
c) Picturing a Special Future- vs. 21- “God will be with you.”
I strongly encourage you to memorize these three significant things. Pray and ask God to help you prioritize these tasks every day. Write them down. Ask God for opportunities to do these three things for your kids every day.
The fact is: Even if your kids don’t follow Jesus; you can do these things for your grandkids, or vice versa. Remember this is just as significant to God as building Arks, and bringing down Jericho’s walls.
Notice Jacob did all these things in blessing Manasseh and Ephraim.
a) Loving touch- vs 10- “he kissed them and embraced them.” (Kids need this don’t they)
b) Speaking of their value- vs. 14/20- “But Israel stretched out his hand.. May God make you
like Ephraim...”
Let’s pause here for a second and bring this picture into focus. Who were these boys?
In verse 5 he talks about Joseph’s two sons; Ephraim and Manasseh. Remember, these boys had an Egyptian mom. They had grown up in Egypt. Yet, Jacob more or less adopts them at this moment and says: “They are mine as Reuben and Simeon are mine.”
Reuben and Simeon are Jacobs oldest boys. For Jacob not only is saying your two sons are my grandsons; but he is saying: “Joseph your sons are like my own children, but not only that, they are children of my highest order and get the highest benefits too!”
The fact that Jacob is adopting his grandchildren like this is huge. He also brings up Rachel because in a Jewish culture he is saying that they are not only associated with him, but also their grandmother whom he loved so deeply.
He is saying, God’s been with me but the story is not over; He will keep the story going through you.
Do you know what he is saying? He is saying: These boys are major chapters in the on-going story that God is writing in my life. They are connected to my story. My story might be the first chapters; but the story is a never-ending story because an eternal God is writing it.
c) He pictures a special future- In verse 14 he does a switcher-o using his hands of blessing. The right hand was normally placed on the older sons head; but Jacob put his right hand on Ephraim’s head.
The right hand was a symbol of strength and skill. Jesus is described in the gospels as sitting at the right hand of the Heavenly Father.
Joseph tries to orchestrate the right hand on the younger son.
Culturally and traditionally this is out of whack. Yes, it’s tradition but God is the one who is in control. It might be tradition, but it is God who alters and arranges his will
a) In the Bible, Cain was the older, but Abel, the younger is blessed.
b) Ishmael is the first born, but Isaac is the one who is blessed.
c) Esau was the first born, but Jacob is the one who is blessed.
d) Manasseh was the first born, but Ephraim is the one who will be greater.
e) Rueben was the first born, but it is Joseph who is blessed.
f) Aaron is the firstborn but it is Moses who will be blessed.
g) David is the youngest of the 7 brothers in the house of Jesse who will be blessed.
Ephraim will become the greater tribe. In the land of Israel the 10 northern tribes of Israel are called Israel but they are also referred to as Ephraim because this boy’s family will be the predominant of the 10 northern tribes.
Jacob knew something only God knew; but he “by faith” shared the prophecy for the family and let them see that God’s pattern is not always ours but His plan for all of us is significant. He was encouraging them to walk the path God designed for them personally.
Illustration: You’re unique
One fun thing about going to the Braves games is that the guys running the cameras are always looking for who looks like someone famous.
Did you know what it’s called if you look like someone famous? You are called a doppelganger.
Here’s the definition for doppelganger. It means: “Almost identical to another, a dead ringer, a look alike.”
I like the ones from history:
John Travolta and an unknown dude from the 1860s.
Nicolas Cage and a man who served in the Civil War
Justin Timberlake and a mug shot from the 1800’s
(Show pictures)
Application:
Listen: No matter how much you may or may be like someone else, the reality is God made only one of you and if we miss and created you. As we seek to bless our children God is calling us to celebrate their unique design.
Part of the blessing is to realize that you are well-designed. God’s got a plan for every name .
He had a plan for Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim.
a) God designed Joseph to receive a “double portion” blessing over his brothers as he explains
in verse 22 : “I give you one portion more than your brothers.”
This is interesting because through his boys, the nation of Israel with have two tribes named Ephraim and Manasseh; the names of Joseph’s two boys and Ephraim will be the largest tribe.
The point of it all is: God has a plan and in His power and grace; he fulfilled that plan in Joseph’s family and is in process of doing the same in yours.
Transitional: Let’s look Biblically at this call to give our blessing to our children and grandchildren, and see how we can start today. To get started we need to understand
III. What Blessing Is Already Mine?
Explanation:
Before we close, I’d like for us to shift from earthly Fathers, to our Heavenly Father and His hand of blessing.
Psalm 139 says: “You have hedged me from behind and before and laid your hand on me. Such knowledge is to wonderful for me; and it is high. I cannot attain it.”
Whether you know it or not, what we as earthly Parents want to do for our kids; our Heavenly Father has already done for us. He has laid His hand on us.
Today, He’s in this room. He has you cornered. You can’t get away from him.
He’s treated you like:
a) The Old Jogger- A neighbor noticed a small boy from the house next door running around the block. He had seen the boy pass by four or five times. Knowing that the lad was too small to be a jogger, he stopped him and asked, “Son, what are you doing? I have noticed you running around the block several times.” The little fellow looked at the man as answered, “I am running away from home, but I can’t go very far because I am not allowed to cross the street.”
God’s not going to let you get far. He loves you too much to let you get too far from home.
b) The Old Blind Deacon- Back in the mountains they were having an old- fashioned revival. A big, tall, barefooted mountaineer with unusually big feet came into the church and during the revival service was moved to come up to the altar. He knelt at the kneeling bench, and an old deacon, who was almost blind, came over to him, placed his arm around his shoulder, and began to pray. “God bless this man who has come to confess his sins,” he prayed. Then, as his arm dropped, his hand fell upon the big feet of the mountaineer. Resting his palm on the mountaineer's heels, he continued to pray, “And Lord, bless his two little boys that he has brought with him.”
Indeed, when it is the hand of the Lord upon you, He blesses you from head to foot!
Conclusion:
The fact is: For you to miss God’s blessing, you have to reject it because He stands before and behind us desiring to place His hand of blessing on each of us.
That’s why Jesus took children us in his arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
Today, would you let Jesus do “just that” for you? Would you not only allow Jesus to touch your heart right now? Would you let him take you up and take hold of your life? He desperately wants to give you His salvation, it’s the greatest blessing of life.
