“A Father’s Blessing”
Text: Genesis 27
6-16-2024
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today, as you know, is Father’s Day. It’s a day that we recognize our earthly fathers and thank God for them. Usually, this day includes a gift for Dad. However, I heard a news story that said trends have been changing regarding this. Gone are the days of cheesy neckties and the hand-crafted pencil holders made from popsicle sticks. Supposedly the popular thing to get Dad nowadays is a “personalized” gift like cuff links with a hidden locket for your kid’s picture. Now what in the dickens would I do with cuff links? Thankfully my family knows I’m old fashioned and a power tool is greatly appreciated. Regardless of what the gift is, it’s our attempt to say that we appreciate our dads and view them as a blessing from God.
But you know, there’s an ancient function of fatherhood that we’ve lost and that is: the giving and receiving a father’s blessing. Oh, I suppose we still see a remnant of that when a young man follows the old tradition of asking a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. My first son-in-law was particularly brave when he did this. As I recall, we were preparing to go pheasant hunting and I had a shotgun in my hand when he asked.J Even so, our modern practices are a far cry from the father’s blessing that took place in Biblical times. A good example of this can be seen in our text from Genesis 27. Allow me to give you a brief summary of the scene.
This is the story of Jacob and Esau who were the twin sons of Isaac. Esau was born first, but Jacob was literally hanging onto his brother’s heel. So technically Esau was older, even if it was just by a minute or two. Being the oldest was no small thing. Traditionally, when the father was nearing death, he would ceremoniously bless his firstborn son. And the blessing meant that this son would receive a double portion of the inheritance as well as being the head of the family when Dad passed away. In other words, he would become the patriarch of the family. That’s what we’ve got going on here in Genesis 27, and yet it goes much deeper than possessions and family power. Isaac’s blessing included a very important spiritual dimension. He was passing on the same blessing which he had received from his father, Abraham. It was the blessing that Abraham had received from God Himself. The Lord declared to him that he and his descendants were God’s chosen people. The blessings from that included the possession of the land of Canaan. It also was God’s promise to be with and care for them. But more importantly it contained the blessing of God’s redemption from sin through a Savior, born from this bloodline.
Okay, so Isaac senses that he doesn’t have long to live and he tells Esau that he is about to give him this cherished blessing. Esau is a hunter and Isaac sends him out to get fresh game for a special meal when the blessing is given. However, Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, overhears it and devises a plan to make sure that Jacob gets the blessing instead. She tells her favorite son to butcher some young goats and prepare the tasty dish that his father was looking forward to. She also had him save the hides which were wrapped around his hands and neck. Esau was a hairy guy. Jacob was smooth skinned so this was a necessary part of the disguise. But how could Isaac be so easily fooled? Well, he was 137 years old and nearly blind so he relied on his sense of touch to verify his son’s identity.
While Esau was still out hunting, Jacob put on his brother’s clothes and the animal skins and took the meal into his Dad so that he could receive the blessing. As expected, Isaac was suspicious but after touching his son and hearing Jacob’s assurances that he was indeed Esau, Isaac blessed him.
Like most people, when you hear this, you probably think Jacob stole the blessing. But you’d be wrong. If you go back to chapter 25, even before the twins were born, God declared that Jacob would receive this blessing. From a human standpoint, Esau was expected to receive it on the technicality that he was the first out of the womb. God, however, doesn’t dispense His blessings according to human wisdom. Besides, Esau had proven that he was not fit for this special privilege. He came home hungry one day and “sold” his technical birthright to his brother Jacob in exchange for a bowl of stew. By doing so, the Bible tells us that Esau despised this important blessing from his father. Which is to say that Esau despised the spiritual blessing of the Lord contained in his father’s blessing.
When Esau returned from his hunting trip and discovered what had happened, he was angry. Isn’t that odd coming from the guy who didn’t give a rip about the blessing earlier? But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he realized what he had so foolishly given up. Weeping, he begs his Dad, “Do you only have one blessing? Bless me too!” Unfortunately, Isaac says he can’t. Why is that? It’s because this blessing was not just about portions of property. It also contained a spiritual dimension. Only one of his sons could receive and pass on this blessing, which would eventually be a blessing to the whole world. Isaac knew the value of the blessing and it seems that he also recognized that it belonged to Jacob all along, just as God had said. More importantly, though, this was the Lord’s blessing and He never reneges on or changes them.
Since this is Father’s Day, I have a question for you Dads. And it doesn’t matter if your kids are still at home or grown up. Have you given a father’s blessing to your children? No, I don’t mean calling them in and placing your hand on their heads while you announce what you’re leaving them in your will. I’m more interested in the spiritual aspect of a father’s blessing. Whether you realize it or not, Christian Dads bless their children in this way all the time. It starts when you bring them here to God’s House so that the Lord’s blessing can be placed upon them in Holy Baptism. All the blessings of God’s love and forgiveness are poured out on them as those cleansing waters are splashed over their heads. In Baptism they become one of God’s precious, chosen people. And contained in that blessing is the promise of redemption for their souls and the inheritance of eternal life in Jesus.
Christian Dads also bless their children by bringing them to worship. In the Divine Service they hear God’s Word of blessing being proclaimed over and over again. In the Absolution, the Scripture Reading, and the preaching of God’s Word, the Lord’s blessing is heard. It reaffirms the blessing that was given to them in their Baptism. As they watch us receive Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, they too are blessed to witness God’s forgiveness and love being placed in our mouth. They are blessed by being in the Lord’s presence through His Word and Sacrament. And before we leave this sanctuary, we hear God’s blessing very clearly in the benediction: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.” Those are not words of wishful thinking. No, they are God’s blessing, declaring what He’s done and will do for His chosen people.
But it doesn’t end at the church doors. Christian fathers bless their children through instruction about God at home. They bless their children by teaching them to not despise God’s rich, spiritual blessings they’ve received. They bless their children as they read God’s Word to them and teach them how to pray—whether it be at mealtime, bedtime, or throughout the day. Christian fathers bless their children as they pray for them, asking God’s blessings on them. All of these are good reasons to thank God for our Christian fathers who’ve blessed their children in this way.
The best part is that our heavenly Father is not limited to just one blessing for one of His children. Now that the promised blessing of a Savior has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, His Fatherly blessing is offered to us all whether we be young or old, male or female, mothers or fathers, or single. The worst thing we could possibly do is despise that blessing like Esau did, thereby losing it. The good news is that God’s blessing of forgiveness is always available. God never reneges on it and it never changes. His blessings of eternal life and salvation through Jesus Christ are the inheritance of all His forgiven children. May God keep our faith strong and our hearts grateful for the blessings we have received from our gracious heavenly Father. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!