All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed them, everyone with the blessing appropriate to him. – Genesis 49:28
Nearing the end of his long 147 years, Jacob (aka Israel, son of Isaac, son of Abraham) called his sons and grandsons to come see him in order that he could give them his “blessing.” A “blessing” in ancient Semitic culture was very important and carried the force of a will and inheritance. You might remember that as a young man, Jacob had stolen his brother Esau’s “blessing” and so he took great care to appropriately bless his own sons and each “blessing” Jacob gave was suitable to the recipient of that gift.
Most of us have not probably stopped to consider the needs of our children beyond our lifetime. Perhaps we have nothing of monetary substance to leave them, but if it matters to us that God be honored after we’re gone shouldn’t we ask ourselves who will honor God more with what is left of our labor? In our desire to be “fair,” might it be possible for us to neglect God’s purposes in the process?
Yes, prepare a will, but do so with a view to the character and maturity of the inheritors as well as those ministries that might best perpetuate God’s purposes. As Christ’s followers we desire for God to be honored with our resources while we are alive, but may He also be honored with those same resources when we’re gone.
This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed. – Patrick Henry
