THE POWER OF BLESSING

ISAAC’S BLESSING UPON JACOB (Gen 27 04 - 26 ) 27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. 28 May God give you heaven’s dew and earth's richness — an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.” Gen 27 27 - 29

BLESSING CONFERS: POWER PROTECTION PROVISION and it is IRREVOCABLE

JACOB’ S BLESSING UPON EPHRAIM 12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm — may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.” 17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” Gen 48 12 - 19

MOSES COMMISSIONS JOSHUA 15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[a] and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses. Num 27 15 - 23

THE CONSEQUENCES OF BLESSING: Gen 1.22 Fruitfulness Ps 32.1f Forgiveness Gen 24.60 Victory Ps 29.11 Peace Gen 20.24 God’s presence Ac 3.26 Holiness Dt 24.19 + 28.8 Success at work Dt. 30.19 Life 2 Sam 7.29 Extended to family Eph. 1.3 Every spiritual blessing Mt 25.34 An eternal inheritance