QT 1/22/2026 Gen 49:22-28, Real blessings

Genesis 49:22–28 (ESV) —

22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,

a fruitful bough by a spring;

his branches run over the wall.

23 The archers bitterly attacked him,

shot at him, and harassed him severely,

24 yet his bow remained unmoved;

his arms were made agile

by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob

(from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),

25 by the God of your father who will help you,

by the Almighty who will bless you

with blessings of heaven above,

blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,

blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father

are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,

up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.

May they be on the head of Joseph,

and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,

in the morning devouring the prey

and at evening dividing the spoil.”

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.

 

NOTE: In verses 25 and 26, Jacob (through the Holy Spirit) uses the word blessings 6 times. It is hard not to notice the blessing of God upon Joseph. And it is important to realize that the blessings of God far exceed anything the world can offer, even when God uses the world's stuff as part of the blessing. Joseph received more than a title and riches, he was part of God's plan to bless the world through the seed of Abraham.

 

We have a tendency to view blessings from a materialistic point of view. If life is comfortable, we are blessed, or at least that is what we say. But real blessing is found in being in the middle of God's plan. It might not be pretty or comfortable, but we are surrendered to God and open to how he might use us.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I view blessing? Is it found in more money, things, and comfort?
2. Or is blessing found in a deeper relationship with our creator?

 

PRAYER: Father, I, like most people, too often see blessing in the things that really don't count. But I know in my heart that blessing is found in you, in knowing you, and in listening to you. Protect me from the so-called blessings of the world which seek to draw me away from you.