God’s Blessings Have the Best Endings.

Have you experienced any blessings? Brian demonstrates that Jacob’s faith enabled him to encourage by blessing others.

The Book of Genesis

If you made the book of Genesis into a television series, there would be some obvious star characters like Adam, Noah and Moses; or Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Jacob’s story takes up more than half the book of Genesis. And when God changes his name from Jacob to Israel, he becomes the forefather of millions upon millions who will bear his name as Israelites. But is he a hero?

He has a lot in his history that would make us doubt he’s a hero, but what Jacob does in Genesis chapter 49 is going to win him a place in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews chapter 11. For most of the people listed in Hebrews chapter 11, you can probably tell me from memory what their key act of faith was. 

Faith Characters

Here are some of the Faith Characters – let’s see if you can remember their act of faith.

I am reading from Hebrews chapter 11 if you’d like to make this an open-book test.

“By faith Abel” (Now you say in your head what Abel did as an act of Faith)

Here it is:

“(He) offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.” (ESV) (Hebrews 11:4)

How about Noah? “By faith Noah” (Noah did what?)

“In reverent fear constructed an ark.” (Hebrews 11:7)

“By faith Abraham” (Did what?)

“obeyed when he was called to go out” (Hebrews 11:8)

or,

^“when he was tested, offered up Isaac.” (Hebrews 11:17)

How about Joshua?  

“By faith Joshua” (Did what at Jericho?) (Caused what?) He caused the walls of Jericho (to fall) down after they had been encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:30)

How did you do? If you got a couple of those, you did well.  If you got them all, well then, you may go straight to heaven. 

Why is Jacob Listed?

But why is Jacob listed for Faith in Hebrews Chapter 11?  If you know the answer to that off the top of your head, you really know your Bible.  You probably have a hard time thinking of anything Jacob did that was even barely unselfish, brave, heroic or motivated by faith.

Here is Jacob’s act of Faith:

“By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.” Hebrews 11:21

This tells us that Jacob’s blessings were acts of faith. Of all the life of Jacob, this is the one event singled out for the Hall of Faith.

Be A Blesser

What is the application for me and you?  Be a blesser.  We can even bless people who don’t like us: Jesus actually commands it –

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:28, 36)

How can we do that?

Only by having that same Jesus in our hearts. That gives us hope and strength to be a blesser:

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

..and Paul wrote,

Philippians 4:13 makes this promise: “I can do all things through (Christ) who strengthens me.”

I can love and bless people every day, like our blessed Savior.

How have you been blessed by others? Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.