Meditation
SIGNIFICANT LIFE-LESSONS
Text: Genesis 48
17 June 2018
A LONG LIFE
Jacob’s life was very chequered. There were as many dark patches as there were good ones! What finally stood out at the end of one’s life?
God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. Genesis 48:15-16
- The God of Abraham and Isaac
a) God was very real and personal to both Abraham and Isaac
b) Both patriarchs consciously walked before the Lord
c) Their walk may not have been perfect but they did walk before God
- The God of Jacob
a) Jacob too had a very real and personal faith in God
b) He was conscious that it was God Himself who fed him all his life
- The Angel of God
a) This is a reference to the Pre-incarnate Christ
b) The Messiah was very real and personal to Jacob
c) His role was that of a Redeemer (Saviour)
d) He redeemed Jacob from all kids of evil
- The name of the Ancient Patriarchs
a) Their name (collective) represented much
b) Their name reflected the Lord’s Covenant- relationship with them
c) It was God who changed Abram’s name to Abraham
d) It was God again who changed Jacob’s name to Israel
THE BLESSING OF GOD
It was the LORD God Himself who gave this word to Moses years later. Each time the Lord’s name is invoked in a blessing, He will indeed bless!
The LORD bless 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.
So shall they put My name on
The children of Israel, and I will bless them. Numbers 6:27