THE POWER OF THE FAMILY
INTRODUCTION
Family is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity. Before there was a church, a nation, or a government, there was family. God’s first institution was not an altar or a throne, but a household. When God wants to bless, preserve, and multiply His purposes on the earth, He begins with families.
In Genesis 33:5, we encounter a powerful moment between Jacob and Esau. After years of conflict, fear, and separation, Esau lifts his eyes and asks a simple but profound question: “Who are these with you?” Jacob’s answer reveals his heart, his theology, and his understanding of blessing. He says, “The children whom God hath graciously given thy servant.”
Jacob did not introduce his wealth, his servants, or his achievements first. He pointed to his family and acknowledged them as a gracious gift from God. This scripture teaches us how God wants us to see, value, and protect our families.
THE CONTEXT OF JACOB’S CONFESSION
Jacob was a man who had experienced God deeply. He had wrestled with God, received promises, and walked through seasons of fear and uncertainty. When he finally meets Esau, he approaches with humility and gratitude.
When Esau asks about the women and children, Jacob does not say they are his reward for hard work or the result of clever planning. He says they are children God graciously gave him. This reveals a mindset that recognizes family as divine blessing, not personal achievement.
Many people measure blessing by possessions, success, or status. Jacob teaches us that true blessing begins with the people God entrusts to us, especially our families.
FAMILY AS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD
The word graciously in Jacob’s response is important. Grace means something given, not earned. Family is not something we deserve; it is something God entrusts to us.
Psalm 127:3 declares, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Heritage means something of value passed down. Reward means something precious.
Spouses, children, parents, and extended family are not accidents of biology. They are divine assignments. God connects people in families so that love, faith, values, and destiny can be transferred from one generation to another.
When we understand family as a gift of grace, we stop taking them for granted and start stewarding them with care.
WHY WE MUST VALUE OUR FAMILIES
What we value, we protect. What we do not value, we neglect.
In a world that glorifies individual success, families are often sidelined. People chase careers, recognition, and personal goals while relationships at home quietly suffer.
Yet Scripture repeatedly shows that God values families deeply. God blessed Abraham through his household. God preserved Noah through his family. God delivered Israel through family structures. Even Jesus was born into a family and submitted Himself to earthly parents.
When families are strong, societies are stable. When families are broken, generations suffer.
Valuing family means prioritizing presence over busyness, relationships over routines, and people over possessions.
THE POWER OF PRAYING FOR OUR FAMILIES
If families are valuable, then they must be covered in prayer. Anything valuable attracts attack. The enemy understands the power of family and often targets it through division, distraction, and neglect.
Job 1:5 shows us that Job regularly offered sacrifices for his children. He did not wait until something went wrong. He prayed proactively.
Prayer invites God into the daily affairs of family life. Prayer protects hearts, aligns destinies, and invites divine wisdom into parenting, marriage, and relationships.
When parents pray, children are covered.
When spouses pray, unity is strengthened.
When families pray, spiritual foundations are built.
A praying family may not be perfect, but it will be preserved.
FAMILY AS A PLACE OF IDENTITY AND BLESSING
Jacob did not call his children a burden. He called them a blessing. This is crucial because how we speak about our families shapes how we treat them.
Families are the first place where identity is formed. Names are spoken. Values are learned. Faith is modeled. Confidence is built.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 instructs parents to teach God’s words diligently to their children, talking of them in daily life. This shows that spiritual formation begins at home, not in public spaces.
When families neglect identity, the world steps in to define it. That is why families must be intentional about faith, love, and instruction.
TREASURING FAMILY IN SEASONS OF PRESSURE
Jacob’s declaration came at a tense moment. He was unsure how Esau would respond. Yet even in uncertainty, he acknowledged God’s blessing in his family.
This teaches us to treasure family not only when things are easy, but also when seasons are difficult. Stress, conflict, and pressure can either drive families apart or draw them closer.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us that a threefold cord is not easily broken. When God is at the center of family relationships, strength multiplies.
Treasure your family by choosing patience over anger, forgiveness over bitterness, and love over pride.
FAMILY IS A LEGACY, NOT JUST A SEASON
Careers change. Titles fade. Possessions wear out. But family legacy continues.
Proverbs 13:22 says a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. This inheritance is not only material. It includes faith, integrity, values, and wisdom.
Jacob understood this. By acknowledging his children as God’s gracious gift, he positioned himself as a steward of future generations.
What we pour into our families today will speak long after we are gone.
GOD HEALS, RESTORES, AND STRENGTHENS FAMILIES
Some families carry pain, brokenness, or unresolved wounds. The message of family value is not meant to condemn but to heal.
God is a restorer of families. Malachi 4:6 speaks of God turning the hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers. This is a sign of revival.
Through forgiveness, prayer, and humility, God can rebuild what was damaged. No family is beyond redemption when surrendered to Him.
CONCLUSION
When Esau asked Jacob, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered with gratitude, humility, and revelation. He saw his family as a gracious gift from God.
This scripture calls us to examine how we view our families. Do we see them as blessings or burdens? Do we pray for them or neglect them? Do we treasure them or postpone them?
The power of the family lies in recognizing that God Himself placed these people in our lives for purpose, protection, and legacy.
Value your family.
Pray for your family.
Protect your family.
Treasure your family.
They are not just with you.
They are God’s gracious gift to you.
For Partnership, Support, Prayers and Sermons
Reach me on: fffckenya@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +254722798889
