The Torah Network

3 yrs

BLESSING

Blessings have to do with both giving and receiving. We don’t talk much today about blessing others, but it was a vital part of life in Bible times. To bless someone meant many things. It meant to praise them, to pray for them and to commit them to YHVH’s care. It also meant to dedicate and challenge them to live forever committed to YHVH; it was a challenge to keep hold of spiritual things. It was a call for abundance and prosperity for another. And it was also a way of officially passing on the family inheritance to the oldest son. Wishes for a rich and abundant life were inherent in a blessing, although not always abundance in a material sense. YHVH was recognized as the ultimate source of the blessing and the person blessed would walk with Elohim and receive His benefits. To receive YHVH’s blessing meant not only to enjoy innumerable tangible gifts -- life, joy, peace, abundance, children, home, reputation, health, freedom, work, food, etc. -- but in a much deeper way to be welcomed into a special relationship with Him, a relationship to be affirmed and practiced. Part of this in turn, means being a blessing to others, a way of saying we have been a godly help for others.

WHAT IS A BLESSING?

A BLESSING IS A HOPEFUL PRAYER.
May Elohim bless you and protect you. May Elohim smile on you and be gracious to you. May Elohim show you His favour and give you His Peace. -- Numbers 6:24-26. A blessing was one way of asking for YHVH’s Divine Favour to rest upon others. The ancient blessing in these verses helps us understand what a blessing was supposed to do. Its five parts conveyed hope that YHVH would
1 -- bless and keep them -- bless and protect
2 -- make His Face shine upon them -- smile
3 -- be gracious
4 -- His face toward them -- show His favour
5 give peace.
When you ask YHVH to bless others or yourself, you are asking Him to do these five things. The blessing you offer will not only help the one receiving it, it will also demonstrate Love, encourage others and provide a model of caring to others.

BELIEVERS GROWTH IS A BLESSING.
I pray that Moshiach will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of YHVH’s marvellous Love. -- Ephesians 3:17. The family of YHVH includes all who have believed in Him in the past, all who believe in the present and all who will believe in the future. We are all a family because we have the same Father. YHVH is the Source of all Creation, the Rightful Owner of everything. He promises His Love and Power to His family -- Ephesians 3:16-21. If we want to receive YHVH’s blessings, it is important that we stay in contact with other believers in the body of Moshiach and follow His Torah. Those who isolate themselves from YHVH’s family and try to go it alone cut themselves off from YHVH’s power. But those who live within the Body of our Moshiach discover the blessing of Yeshua becoming more and more at home in them.

YHVH’S BLESSING

IN WHAT WAYS DOES YHVH BLESS?

YHVH BLESSES THROUGH HIS ETERNAL PLANS.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you. -- Genesis 12:3. YHVH planned to develop a nation of people He would call His own. He called Abram from the godless, self-centred city of Ur to a fertile region called Canaan, where a YHVH-centred, moral nation could be established. Though small in dimension, the land of Canaan was the focal point for most of the history of Israel as well as for the rise of all Torah believers. This small land given to one man Abram, has had a tremendous impact on world history. YHVH promised to bless Abram and make him great, but there was one condition. Abram had to do what YHVH wanted him to do. This meant leaving his home and friends and traveling to a new land where YHVH promised to build a great nation from Abram’s family. Abram obeyed, walking away from his home for YHVH’s Promise of even greater blessings in the future. YHVH may be trying to lead you to a place of greater service and usefulness for Him. Don’t let the comfort and security of your present position make you miss YHVH’s plan for you.

YESHUA IS YHVH’S GREATEST BLESSING.
How we praise YHVH, the Father of our Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Moshiach -- Ephesians 1:3. Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms; means that in Moshiach we have all the benefits of knowing YHVH: chosen for Salvation, being adopted as His children, forgiveness, insight, the gifts of Ruach HaKodesh, Power to do YHVH’s Will, the hope of living forever with Moshiach. Because we have an intimate relationship with Moshiach, we can enjoy these blessings now. The heavenly realms means that these blessings are eternal, not temporal. They are from Moshiach’s Spiritual Realm, not the earthly realm of the goddess Artemis. Other references to the heavenly realms in Ephesians include -- 1:20; 2:6; 3:10. They show Moshiach in His Victorious, exalted role as Ruler of all.

HUMAN BLESSINGS

IN WHAT WAYS CAN WE BLESS OTHERS?

WE CAN BLESS YHVH.
Praise Elohim, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise His Holy Name. -- Psalm 103:1. Everything everywhere is to bless Elohim: all angels; mighty ones and heavenly hosts; and all His Works! Blessing YHVH means remembering all He has done for us -- 103:2, fearing Him and obeying His Commands -- 103:17-18 and doing His will -- 103:21. Does your life bless YHVH? David’s praise focused on YHVH’s Glorious Deeds. It is easy to complain about life, but David’s list gives us plenty for which to praise YHVH; He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with Love and Compassion, satisfies our desires and gives righteousness and justice. We receive all of these without deserving any of them. No matter how difficult your life’s journey, you can always count your blessings; past, present and future. When you feel as though you have nothing for which to praise YHVH, read David’s list.

WE CAN BLESS FAMILY MEMBERS.
These are the twelve tribes of Israel and these are the blessings with which Jacob blessed his twelve sons. Each received a blessing that was appropriate to him. -- Genesis 49:28. Jacob blessed each of his sons and then made a prediction about each one’s future. The way the men had lived played an important part in Jacob’s blessing and prophecy. There was a strong tradition at this time of a father passing on special blessings to his children. These blessings were a heartfelt expression of a parent’s hopes or vision for his children’s future. How often do you share with your children, spouse or parents the wishes and prayers you make for their future?

WE CAN BLESS COMPLETE STRANGERS.
Then Simeon blessed them and he said to Mary; This child will be rejected by many in Israel and it will be their undoing. But He will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul. -- Luke 2:34-35. Although Simeon was very old, he had never lost his hope that he would see our Moshiach. Led by Ruach HaKodesh, he was among the first to bear witness to Yeshua. In the Jewish culture, elders were respected, so because of Simeon’s age, his blessing carried extra weight. Our society today however, values youthfulness and fame over wisdom and potential contributions by the elderly are often ignored. As believers, we should reverse those values wherever we can. Encourage older people to share their wisdom and experience. Listen carefully when they speak. Offer them your friendship and help them find ways to continue to serve YHVH. In this way you will bless and be blessed.

WE ARE COMMANDED TO BLESS OUR ENEMIES.
Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. -- Luke 6:28. The Jews despised the Romans because they oppressed YHVH’s people, but Yeshua told the people to love and bless these enemies. Such words turned many away from Moshiach. But Yeshua wasn’t talking about having affection for enemies; He was talking about an act of the will. You can’t -- fall into -- this kind of love; it takes conscious effort. Loving our enemies means acting in their best interests. We can bless them by praying for them and we can think of ways to help them. Yeshua loved the whole world, even though the world was in rebellion against YHVH. Yeshua asks us to follow His example by loving our enemies. Grant your enemies the same respect and rights that you desire for yourself.

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