Text: This psalm speaks of the blessing God commands when people dwell together in unity, comparing it to the dew of Hermon descending on Mount Zion. “For there the LORD has commanded the blessing—life forevermore.

Jacob lived his life true to his name, up to a certain point. His name traveling through the centuries is symbolic of his old nature, the deceiver or trickster.

Right before he comes home to where he grew up, he’s tired of that old nature. He’s anxious about what awaits him because of the big trick he and his mother played on his father and most importantly his brother Esau. To show how serious he felt about it, he had divided his family into two groups and sent ahead large gifts with cattle and sheep, just in case one group got attacked, the other could scurry away.

Then he spends the night in a different spot from the two groups. He’s out there praying his heart out and an angel appeared. He began struggling with the angel–all night. It almost daybreak and the angel says you must let me go. Jacob responded, “I won’t until you bless me.”

The struggle continues then Jacob gets struck in the hip and gets up with a limp. Before the angel leaves, he does get a new name ‘Israel’ and a blessing. The new name means He struggled with God and man and prevailed.

Flash forward Jacob who became Israel had twelve famous sons. For example, when the Israelites cross the Jordan for the first time, they were instructed to build a memorial. They got huge rocks and placed them to symbolize the twelve sons (nations) or tribes of Israel.

Over the whole Bible these twelve sons are mentioned two dozen times. They are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Finally, in the book of Revelation, the twelve sons of Jacob, who became the twelve tribes of Israel, represent the “true” Israel—those who have trusted in Jesus Christ—who will enter the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven through the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem.

Which brings us to partaking of the ‘Blessing’ in New Testament days. There are unconditional Covenantal Blessing. Then there are others that have prequalifiers. Today we are examining the ‘Commanded Blessing and Six Blessing Blockers You May Need To Correct:

1. COMMANDED BLESSING – Abrahamic Covenant Blessing – Genesis 12:2-3:
   God’s promise to bless Abraham and his descendants, making them a blessing to others, is a foundational example of a commanded blessing. “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you”.
2. COMMANDED BLESSING – God promises to bless his people. – A part of the Adamic Covenant of Promise Deuteronomy 7:13: This verse states that God will love, bless, and multiply those who obey His commands. “He will love you and bless you and multiply you”.
3. COMMANDED BLESSING – Blessing of Unity Among The Brethren – Psalm 133:3:
   This psalm speaks of the blessing God commands when people dwell together in unity, comparing it to the dew of Hermon descending on Mount Zion. “For there the LORD has commanded the blessing—life forevermore.
4. COMMANDED BLESSING – When God Commands to Bless– When you realize you are a part of that chosen generation, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people who have been translated from darkness in His marvellous light. Numbers 23:20: This verse highlights that God has a command to bless, and He cannot change His mind about it. “I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it”. (see the story of Balaam – next teaching)
5. COMMANDED BLESSING – When God Commanded To Bless Obedience – Deuteronomy 28:8-11:
   This passage is a key example, stating that God will command a blessing on those who keep His commandments, promising prosperity in their barns, workplaces, and land. “The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake, and he will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you”.
6. COMMANDED BLESSING – Choosing The Commanded Blessing – Deuteronomy 11:26-28:
   This passage presents a choice between blessing and curse, depending on whether people obey or disobey God’s commandments. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse — the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today…”

In summary, we studied six commanded blessings today: Abrahamic Covenantal, God’s promise to bless his people, the commanded blessing that activates when we are in unity, when God commands to bless, commanded blessing for obedience and the commanded blessing belonging to choice. I encourage you to choose one and begin to meditate on it. Consider how you would apply it in your life and see what happens. Let us know what answered prayer results you receive.

I hope you got something out of it today. See you next week for Part II and the Six Blessing Blockers.

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