Bless You

Bless You

Q: Fill in the blanks: “May the LORD bless you and _____ you. May the LORD _____ on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his _____ and give you his _____.”

• a. protect, smile, favor, peace
• b. see, look, strength, power
• c. keep, look, might, strength

Blessings were important in Old Testament times. Jewish parents said blessings over their children from birth into adulthood.

Do you remember the story of Rebekah and Jacob tricking Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing of the firstborn? Isaac said this blessing over Jacob: “From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed” (Genesis 27:28-29).

Years later, Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons: “The people of Israel will use your names when they give a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh’” (Genesis 48:20). Today some Jewish families still bless their sons with the words, “May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.”

In the New Testament, parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed. They knew the blessing was more than happy words. The blessing spoken over a child was real and would come to pass.

Perhaps your family could adopt Moses’ words as your own special blessing, “May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.”

For You

We don’t think about blessings today, but they are still part of the Jewish culture and faith. In Old Testament times, the father’s words had the power to come true. Do you think God still honors blessings today?

Answer: a

May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.   Numbers 6:24-26

(The Whole Story: Numbers 6:22-27)