A father’s blessing (1)

 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”                                      Hebrews 11:20

Every child needs their father’s blessing, and every father should speak words of blessing to them. When Isaac blessed his sons he was speaking with divinely given authority, not out of sentiment or favoritism.

By Hebrew custom a father’s blessing had these ingredients:

 (1) A meaningful touch. “Jacob went close to his father…who touched him…Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come here, my son, and kiss me’” (Ge 27:22, 26 NIV). A father’s blessing included the laying on of hands, a kiss, and an embrace of love and acceptance. Jesus also knew the importance of this: “He took [the children] up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mk 10:16).

And such expressions of love still bless your children’s hearts when they get them from you, Dad. 

(2) Words of affection. Before blessing Jacob his father Isaac said to him, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed” (Ge 27:27 NIV). To a city dweller these words might bring a puzzled look, but not to Isaac’s boys.

Isaac, who loved nature, was saying, “That’s my boy—a country boy, a hunter, a man’s man like his dad!” He couldn’t have spoken more affirming words to his sons.

Dad, make sure your words aren’t demeaning or insensitive; speak words that say, “I love you, I believe in you, I’m proud of you, and I’ll always be here for you.”