Blessings, blessings and more blessings

   So, smashing onwards with Jacob, we reach the infamous "blessing deception". In this short period in his life, only a few days, Jacob receives three great blessings:

     Blessing #1- Isaac blesses Jacob, masquerading as Esau. The deception passes between brother and brother, father and son, and between husband and wife. Esau is "robbed" of his blessing. However there was no magic power in Isaac and words are only words, God had promised Jacob the inheritance and Jacob got the inheritance.
Saying that, God certainly did not condone what Jacob had done and he had to flee his family, and even suffered a similar twist when Leah masqueraded as Rachel on their wedding night.

"May God give you the dew of Heaven, and of the fatness of the earth.
and plenty of grain and wine.
Lets people's serve you, and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mothers sons bow down to you,
and blessed be everyone that blesses you."

      Blessing #2- After all the events become clear Isaac appears to realise that he has been fighting against God's will and he finally passes on the wonderful blessing the Lord had given to Abraham and himself.

"God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!"

      Blessing #3- Jacob leaves home in a frantic rush and arrives at Bethel- it is here that he has the dream of a great ladder between heaven and earth, constantly in use by the Angels. It is during this dream that he receives the greatest blessing he could ever hope or long for.

"I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

     I love the story of Jacob and its here that it all meets up and works together! This is the crux of the matter! The Lord tells Jacob, "in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed." and I think that Jacob himself is blessed through his offspring. Hundreds of years later the Lord Jesus Christ would be born as a man and would die on a cross for the sins of His people, Jacob included.
     Jacob, the deciever, who robbed Esau of his birthright and his blessing; Jacob, the plotter; Jacob..... whom the Bible attributes absaloutley  no blaim to at all.....why?! Because he had none. Jesus took his blame and paid the price, took the punishment. Through Jesus (the very offspring talked of in Jacob's blessing) Jacob was blessed himself! Did Jacob deserve that grace? No! Not at all. But Jacob was loved of God, and the Lord blessed him with forgiveness. That is why I love the story of Jacob so much, he was made a Trophy of God's Grace.

Jacob awoke from his dream and rejoiced:

"Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.... How awesome is this place!"