Gen. 26 – Bless

Dear family and friends, Genesis 26 informs us that The Lord God Gave the descendent’s of Abraham and Isaac a special mission to be a blessing to every nation on earth. We inherited this unique consequential responsibility. Our world is crying for our Blessings. Our society expects us to have an Abrahamic type of personality, i.e., that we would have a soft, gentle, loving, kind, and dedicated enthusiasm. Our world expects us to be patient like Abraham.

 

Isaac shared the personality and mannerisms of Abraham. We, who are the descendants of Abraham and Isaac, are supposed to share their personality and characteristics. Our world needs leaders with these fantastic qualities.

 

So, how is it that we are The People of Blessing? By what authority do we bless others? Those of us who are the blessed descendent’s of Abraham and Isaac have been given the commission to be a blessing in our world. Why? The Lord said to Isaac I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham, your father; And I will make your seed multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give to your seed all these countries; in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws, Genesis 26.3 – 5.

 

Not just anyone can be compassionate and understanding in the face of frustration and anger. We are to be cool, calm, tranquil, relaxed, and unemotional because we are appointed to Bless. When an individual expresses hurt, loss disappointment, we are to Bless. Our Blessings can comfort and soothe a troubled soul. We can make a difference. While we are trying to Bless others, we can work on ourselves.

 

Our Genesis 26 begins with the words, ‘there was a famine in the land.’ Isaac’s response to the famine was to move to Egypt as his father did during the first famine. However, The Lord did not permit that. Instead, Isaac was instructed to live in Gerar. According to our sages, Gerar did not have fertile soil like the land of Canaan. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1089 Gerar was absent Blessings from The Lord God. So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

 

Gerar needed wells. Wells is a life-giving source that Abraham and Isaac provided. Their servants dug wells that the local community claimed. Abraham moved on. His servants dug new wells. Both Abraham and Isaac were willing to give wells to others instead of fighting for them. Wells symbolizes Spiritual wealth buried underneath layers of earth. It is necessary to unearth the problems to receive the cool water. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1007.

 

Our goal is to be instruments of blessings to the nations. We are to bless and then let The Lord take it from there. May each of us have Joy, Health, Happiness, Blessing, and Lovingkindness as a result of studying The Holy Scripture.

 

Good Sabbath!

Blessings,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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