Scripture Daily

Context No. 3308 of 4322 · Genesis

Context · Reflection

Genesis 28:1-5: in context

1Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples, 4and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham.” 5Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

Isaac calls Jacob, blesses him, and sends him away to Paddan-Aram to find a wife among his own kin. And he blesses him with the blessing of Abraham: may God make you fruitful and multiply you into a company of peoples, and give you the land promised to your fathers. Then Isaac sends Jacob on his way.

What is striking is that the covenant blessing is handed down. Isaac passes to Jacob the very promise God had made to Abraham; the blessing is not a one-generation gift but a river running down through the family. Even Jacob, who had schemed to grasp this blessing, now receives it openly and lawfully from his father's hand, and is sent out under it. God's promises are meant to be transmitted, spoken deliberately over the next generation and carried forward. The blessing of Abraham reaches Jacob because Isaac takes care to hand it on, and through that line it will one day reach the whole world in Christ.

Am I passing on the blessing and promises of God to those who come after me, speaking his covenant faithfulness over the next generation?

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