Hebrews 11:21 — Blessings part 2

READ THIS: Hebrews 11:21

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

We are now on the second day of talking about blessings. Yesterday, we saw Isaac bless Jacob, and since then, Jacob goes on to have 12 sons which is the beginning of the 12 tribes of Israel. One of his sons is Joseph, his favorite, and Joseph has two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. 

When Jacob goes to bless them, he puts his right hand on the younger son, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older son, Manasseh. The right hand is the place of honor, so it should go on the older son, which Joseph tries to fix. But, Jacob insists, and he insists in a really cool way. He basically says that he can't help it. The truth is that Ephraim is going to end up a greater nation than Manasseh. It's not favoritism, just facts that he believes through faith. To read the whole story, look at Genesis 48. 

In the chapter right before, Genesis 47, we see Jacob leaning on his staff and worshipping, which is also credited to him as faith in the above verse. Sometimes, when I think of worship, I think only of younger people, raising hands and clapping. But, Jacob in his old age was just as worshipful leaning on his staff in faith, without singing or dancing or clapping. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. How does faith and worship go together?
 
2. What part of Jacob's story do you think shows the most faith?

TRY THIS:

Try to worship in a quiet way today, without a song. Do it in faith!

SONG OF THE WEEK:
 
Listen to this song and think about how the singer worships in his own way. How does he worship that's not just him singing? How does it show faith?





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