The Power of Blessing

“Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, ‘Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.’” (Genesis 27:33)

Jacob didn’t deserve the blessing, but Isaac wouldn’t take it back.

The second-born son deceived his father, whose “eyes were dim.” He disguised himself in the clothes of the firstborn.

When Isaac reached toward Jacob, he felt the hands of Esau. He smelled the aroma of the heir and burst out with a blessing:

“See, the smell of my son … May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. … Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you.” (Genesis 27:27-29)

The dew of heaven. The fatness of the earth. An abundance of grain and wine. All this Jacob received through deception. 

And yet, Isaac wouldn’t take it back. The blessing had been given—so Jacob was blessed.

This is the power of blessing. It’s the final word. 

The prophet Balaam understood this. No matter how badly Balak wanted to curse Israel, he couldn’t reverse what God had already spoken:

“Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.” (Numbers 23:20)

Ever since Isaac kissed Israel, God has bestowed irrevocable blessings on deceivers and liars, misfits and thieves (1 Corinthians 6:11). 

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God …” (2 Corinthians 2:15)

The Father receives the fragrance of the sacrificed son and speaks a word of blessing over us that he will never take back:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places …” (Ephesians 1:3)

Like Isaac, God blesses us because we wear the garments of the firstborn.

The difference is God is not blind.

With perfect sight, he chose you (Ephesians 1:5). 

He loved you before your very first lie.

He decided to bring you near, knowing full well who was hiding underneath the skins of sacrifice. 

Before you made yourself undeserving, the Father had given you undeserved and irrevocable blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:4).