Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” As a good meal satisfies our bodies, a good verse like this satisfies our souls. God’s word is indeed food for a hungry soul. The true source of all blessing, be it food on the table or food for the soul, is the Lord our God. Actually there is a word in the Hebrew text that’s left un-translated in the English version. It emphasizes the truth that it is God’s blessing and nothing else that makes a person truly rich. It doesn’t exempt us from troubles in life, but it describes the blessing of God as the best possible blessings one might acquire in this life under the sun.

In Genesis 49 we read about Jacob’s blessings on his 12 sons. He clearly marks out Judah as the heir apparent of the leadership of the family and thus the one from whom the ultimate leader of the Nation will come. We call the future figure the Messiah. He is referred to here as “the Lion from the tribe of Judah.” This is where the character in the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan, comes from. He also refers to this messiah as the one to whom the legitimate rule belongs. But it wasn’t Judah’s blessing that caught my attention this morning, it was Joseph’s blessing. It seems that Jacob again reveals Joseph as his favorite. I’d like to have a blessing like this:

Genesis 49:25 says, “May the God of your father help you. May the Almighty bless you with all the blessings of heaven above and all the blessings of the watery depth below and all the blessings of the breast and womb.” I’m convinced that this is a figure of speech called a merism. It’s like Jesus saying, “I’m the Alpha and the Omega.” Jacob is giving Joseph the blessing above all other blessings. He calls upon his God to give this favorite son every spiritual blessing from above, every blessing from the depth of the earth hidden in the seas, and every blessing upon the earth in his children and relationships. May the Lord bless you that way! May he pour out heavenly blessings from above upon you? May he raise up from the depths all the joys hidden from your sight. May He bless you through all your human relationships.