#and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 - Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high

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Saturday June 18th 2022 🔯 Read Ecclesiastes 12 🔯 The span of a life 🔯 Ecclesiastes 12: 3 - In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened, 4 - And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 - Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 - Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. 8 - Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. SHABBAT SHALOM 🔯💜💜💜🙏 . . . . . . . . . . . #biblejounal #biblejournalingcommunity #journalingbible #bibletime #biblegram #prayerjournal #biblestudy #biblestudymoments #illustratedfaith #blessedishe #blessedisshe #faithjourney #christianinsparation #livebygrace #trustinhim #givemejesus #jesusandcoffee #giveittogod #hopewriters #seekgod #faithblogger #godsword #verseoftheday #jesusislord #intheword #youversion

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Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 27th November 2023 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – The Strength of A Youth.

TOPIC: The Strength of A Youth. Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:1  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Motivational Quote: Let no one despise your youth! Prophetic word for today: As you invest your strength, talent and other resources to serve God, heaven will bless you beyond your imagination, in the name of Jesus. Fire Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Praise & Worship BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Daniel 10 – 11; 1 Timothy 1 – 2

MFM DAILY DEVOTIONAL 27TH NOVEMBER 2023 

All believers should recognise the grace and strength available to young persons. They should also help the youth to channel their strength and talents to serve God and others. When young people discover their divine purposes early and are guided to fulfil them, we will have less of unfulfilled and misdirected youth. The future of nations will also be more secure. Beloved young man and woman, this is your brightest hour to shine for the Lord. The things you can easily do for God now would be ten times harder for you to do in 30 years to come. David slew Goliath as a teenager. Jesus Christ and His disciples were young and they did greater works in the name of the Lord. In the Old Testament, one of the most cherished prophets of God, Samuel, started even younger than a teenager. God spoke to him and used him mightily so much so that none of his words fell to the ground. In Psalms 127:4, the Bible says, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” God needs you too to perform His greater works. The old people are handy but their strength is little. The glory of the youth is his strength. The youth is mostly admired for their strength. The Bible compares the strength of the youth with that of an eagle. God used Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego mightily in Babylon, though they were young men. The name of the Lord was praised in the heathen land because these Hebrew young men rose up to be mighty weapons in the hand of God. You too can be His battle axe! In the New Testament, Apostle Paul assigned a high post to Brother Timothy in the church as a young man. He told him, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy served the Lord fervently from his youthful age. Beloved, I encourage you to imitate Timothy, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abdenego. Similarly, adults should counsel young men and women to accept Christ and serve Him wholeheartedly.

MFM DAILY PRAYER POINTS 27TH NOVEMBER 2023

PRAYER POINTS MORNING 1. Thank You Father for Your endless love for me, in the name of Jesus. 2. Thank You Father for I am complete in You, in the name of Jesus. 3. Thank You Father for choosing me as Your vessel unto honour, in the name of Jesus. EVENING 4. Holy Spirit, plug my life into Your socket of divine power, in the name of Jesus. 5. Holy Spirit, build my life into Your perfect will, in the name of Jesus. 6. My youthful stage shall not be used by the devil, consciously or unconsciously, in the name of Jesus 7. I disconnect my life from any satanic influence, in the name of Jesus. Read the full article

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DCLM daily manna 14th February 2023 devotional -- The Real Day to Mark

DCLM daily manna 14th February 2023 devotional -- The Real Day to Mark DCLM DAILY MANNA 14th February 2023 DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY BY PASTOR W.F KUMUYI -- The Real Day to Mark DCLM DAILY LIFE 14th February 2023 DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY BY PASTOR W.F KUMUYI -- The Real Day to Mark DEEPER LIFE DAILY LIFE DCLM 14th February 2023 BY PASTOR W.F KUMUYI -- The Real Day to Mark More Of DCLM Daily Manna messages Here You May Also like: Dclm daily manna devotional - Needless Suffering You May Also like: Dclm daily manna devotional - No partisan spirit please You May Also like: knowledge is power by Pastor Kumuyi TOPIC: The Real Day to Mark DCLM Daily Manna for today 14th February 2023 Devotional | The Real Day to Mark You May Also like: DCLM Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi -- What is missing? DCLM Daily Manna for today 14th February 2023 Devotional | The Real Day to Mark DCLM Daily Manna 14 February 2023 Devotional | The Real Day to Mark

DCLM DAILY MANNA 14 February 2023 DEVOTIONAL

DCLM Daily Manna Devotional for today By Pastor W.F Kumuyi - The Real Day to Mark You May Also like: Dclm daily manna devotional - Power in the name of Jesus Click here for more DCLM daily manna for today 2023 devotional It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first TEXT: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 (KJV) 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. You May Also like: DCLM Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi -- Divine command against divorce KEY VERSE: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You May Also Read: From sinking to singing DCLM Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi here You May Also Read: past DCLM Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi here You May Also Read: Yesterday's DCLM Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi here (Deeper life daily manna dclm 2022)

DCLM DAILY MANNA 14th February 2023 DEVOTIONAL

MESSAGE: One thing very common to most people especially the youth, is the inability to reflect deeply about the possible outcome of many of the decisions and actions they take. This is even more pronounced during festive periods. At such times, youths tend to throw caution to the wind as they give themselves to unrestrained pleasures. Recently, there was a report of four young secondary school leavers who got drowned at Elegushi Beach, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria while trying to celebrate the end of their secondary school final examinations. Every year, we keep having records of such tragedies marking similar celebrations like birthdays, graduation parties and even valentine day which today is noted for. Those who fall, victims of these tragic incidences, never imagined that such supposed moments of joy and celebrations will result in their tragic end. Our passage today is a direct call to the youths to be more reflective about their lives and actions. The Preacher urges them to see this time of their youthful age as the best time to remember their Creator and surrender their lives to Him. He cautions them against pushing that decision forward till it becomes practically too late to take the decision any more as death would have come and forever end every opportunity of getting right with God. A life lived in pleasure without God is vain. There is no better time to draw our young people to the Lord than now. Today is the real day everyone actually has assurance and guarantee over. In fact, whatever will happen at the very next moment is not within the control of anyone. It is for this reason that it is considered foolish for anyone to gamble with his life and opportunity which today presents. Young people must quit the idea that youthful age is supposed to be a period for pleasure. It is foolhardy to hope to get reconciled with God later in one’s life after one has passed the youthful age. There is no time better than now! Are you already caught in the euphoria of the lustful and sinful activities that mostly charactise today? What if today is to be your very last here on earth; how prepared are you to face God? The real day to mark is the day you get reconciled with your Creator. Why not make today that day! THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A life lived in pleasure without God is a wasted life. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 11-13 DCLM DAILY MANNA 14 February 2023 DEVOTIONAL You May Also like: Dclm daily manna devotional - Envy is dangerous MEDITATION: You May Also like: Declare your triumph by Pastor Kumuyi DCLM DAILY MANNA 13 February 2023 DEVOTIONAL PRAYER POINTS: HYMN: You May Also like: Deeper life daily devotional - excess provision in famine by Pastor Kumuyi (daily manna for today 2022)

DEEPER LIFE DAILY MANNA DCLM 13th February 2023 DEVOTIONAL

Click here for more DCLM daily manna for today 2023 devotional The sweetest and biggest thing to ever happen to you is to make a decision to be saved through JESUS CHRIST. If you have not made that decision. Please make that decision now and say " Lord Jesus forgive me for my sins and have mercy on me, thank you for dying for me on the cross, take me as your son / daughter and be my father. THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME, in JESUS CHRIST NAME AMEN. If you just prayed this prayer of salvation now, please find a bible believing church where you can grow in the love and the Word of God and fellowship with them. God bless you Please don't forget to share with your friends and families on social media so they can be blessed and be blessings to others. God bless you Click here for more deeper life daily manna DCLM devotional DEEPER LIFE DAILY MANNA DCLM DEVOTIONAL WAS WRITTEN BY PASTOR W F KUMUYI who is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church.

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Genesis, chapter 48 comments: Jacob blesses Joseph's sons

Genesis 48:1 ¶  And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3  And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4  And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 5  And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6  And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. 7  And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

Upon hearing that Jacob was ill Joseph took his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see him. Jacob was apparently pretty out of it as he had to be told they were there. He then relates the blessing God bestowed on him through his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham.

Genesis 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Remember that it was Abraham who would be told that Canaan was to be an everlasting possession.

Genesis 17:7 ¶  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Jacob states that Joseph’s sons are just as much a part of this blessing as are Joseph’s brothers, Jacob’s own sons Reuben and Simeon. He established them as tribes included in the inheritance by saying that their descendants would be named after them. Then, Jacob mentions his beloved Rachel and where she was buried. It has been many, many years but the pain is still there as it is with many of us who have lost a loved one decades in the past.

Genesis 35:16 ¶  And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17  And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18  And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19  And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20  And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

Genesis 48:8 ¶  And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these? 9  And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10  Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11  And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 12  And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13  And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. 14  And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15  And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16  The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 20  And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21  And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 22  Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

Many times questions are asked in the Bible in a sort of rhetorical way. The understanding is that the person asking the question knows the answer but the requirement for an answer confirms a greater principle. For instance, in Genesis we know that God knows everything so this question becomes a requirement for someone to admit to something.

Genesis 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

   9 ¶  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Jacob is blind, or nearly so, as a consequence of age. As part of the judgment we in this world are enduring, old age leads to many physical failings on the part of even the noblest and upright of God’s men and women of destiny.

1Kings 14:4  And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

Also read the metaphorical speech regarding old age that Solomon gives in Ecclesiastes

12.

1 ¶  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4  And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5  Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6  Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Joseph acknowledged that God had given him his sons and then Jacob said he wanted to bless them. Jacob expresses his joy and satisfaction that he never thought to see Joseph’s face again and yet now he has not only gotten to see Joseph’s face but also his children. One of the laments of we parents who have lost a child to death is that we will not only never see their face again in our earthly life but we will not see the children they might have had. It is an enduring pain and grief for some.

Joseph is holding his boys close and presents them to his father to be blessed and bows himself to the ground, this second greatest man in the world’s greatest superpower acknowledging the authority of his sheepherding father. It is a lesson we should learn as many of those reading this have risen to a higher social, economic, or political strata than their father but still honor him in respect. Position often has nothing to do with worthiness for respect.

Joseph presented the children in a specific order, so that Manasseh, the eldest, would receive the right hand of blessing from his grandfather, Jacob. Jacob crosses his hands and places his right hand, instead, on Ephraim’s head, and blessed Joseph. He mentions the Angel, capital A, as protecting him and asks that Angel for a blessing on the children and asks that they be included in his posterity and in the inheritance promised to his descendants. We’ve already seen what the word angel refers to but let’s review as Roman and Persian mythology have dominated a significant part of Christian history and have polluted our thinking ability and colored the lenses through which we view the Bible’s clear statements.

Remember, an angel is a presence, an appearance of something that is somewhere else, representing that person or thing but with power and ability that would prevent us from distinguishing the difference.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Matthew 18:10  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Acts 12:15  And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

Revelation 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Christ is the appearance of God; the angel of the Lord, His presence. I want to repeat the definition of an angel in Isaiah 63:9.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Galatians 4:14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

(Even can link two things that are the same such as I, even I, in Genesis 6:17 and over a dozen other verses.)

Who led the Hebrews out of Egypt.

Judges 2:1 ¶  And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

You can imagine the angel of the LORD (LORD with all letters capitalized is Jehovah) or the angel of God as this Angel.

Joseph tried to remove his father’s hands, which Jacob had placed very deliberately where they were in full understanding of what he intended, onto the proper child in the order that he thought they should be placed. Jacob insisted, though, that Ephraim the younger would be greater than the elder. This is not the first time we have seen this, is it? Jacob himself was the younger child who supplanted the elder. But, this isn’t trickery or deception here. This blessing is from the beginning done wittingly.

The great leader to come, Joshua, a type of Christ in His Second Coming to conquer and rule, came out of Ephraim.

Numbers 13:8  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun… 16  These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Jehoshua is a different spelling of the name Joshua.

Ephraim has its issues as a tribe which shall come out in the narrative as you read. Jacob admits he is dying but tells them they will see the land, meaning their descendants will, that was promised to them. Again, verse 22 is also a prophecy of time to come.

Genesis 15:16  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

[frederickwiddowson]

Genesis 27:1-5 comments: Isaac asks Esau to bring him some venison

Genesis 27:1 ¶ And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3  Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4  And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. 5  And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Isaac was growing blind as he grew old. His eyes were dim. Later, a prophet’s eyes will be said to be set because of age.

1Kings 14:4  And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

Here is an important point to consider. God’s people, even His chosen patriarchs and prophets, will suffer the pains of old age and the suffering that comes with it. They are not exempt from bodily decay and loss. Many conservative Christians seem to be shocked when they suffer the difficulties of old age, as if they should be exempt, as if they had made a bargain which wasn’t kept by the other party. They often live lives of excess with food, in particular, enjoying the sin of gluttony, no different than the unsaved drunk enjoying the excesses of alcohol, and when it is time to pay the bill for their incontinent lifestyle they find themselves flabbergasted at their distress.

Solomon commented on old age in very poetic terms.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 ¶  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4  And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5  Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6  Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Isaac feels his death is imminent and tells Esau to bring him some venison and then he will bless Esau. Esau has already expressed his willingness to give up his birthright for a bowl of soup. There is no reason to believe that Isaac is even aware of it or that such a thing would be legal and binding except as a justification for what Jacob and his mother are about to do. The blessing he wishes to give Esau is the blessing to the eldest son and the birthright and continuation of the lineage will flow from that. But, Esau’s surrender of his birthright to Jacob, even if not a legal and binding contract in that culture, certainly gave Jacob the justification he needed, along with his mother’s support and encouragement, to steal Esau’s blessing as well. If it was a legal and binding statement that guaranteed on its face that Esau lost his birthright Isaac would have been told. What matters is what the person giving the blessing wants. You, if you are born again, will have eternal life because of God’s free gift, His blessing on you, not because of your fidelity and worthiness after you trust Him and become His child.

Please read chapters 48 and 49 for Jacob’s blessings to his sons and grandsons. They took blessings very seriously and once bestowed a blessing could not be removed.

We find it odd and perhaps a little crazy that a man of honor would bind himself to an agreement that he made regardless of the fidelity of the other party or if he had been deceived in any way.

This is one aspect of a gentleman that is lost on today’s world. As God made an agreement with Himself regarding Abraham in chapter 15, so a gentleman honors any commitment he makes based on the truth of his own word and not the faithfulness of the other party. No doubt, no one teaches their children that sense of responsibility any more. But a blessing was very important in this world as an expression of the giver’s mind towards the receiver and God’s will.

Rebekah was listening.