Power

   Let peoples serve you,

    and nations bow down to you.

  Be lord over your brothers,

    and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.

  Cursed be everyone who curses you,

    and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

Genesis 27:29 ESV

I'm reminded of Solomon's proverb that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Of course, we can't absolutise this proverb. If I curse you undeservedly, it will be like water off a duck's back. Likewise if I bless you when you've done nothing to deserve it.

Isaac inadvertently blessed Jacob, even though he meant to bless his elder son Esau. Yet even though it was a case of mistaken identity, the blessing still stood. Even though Jacob weaselled the blessing out of his dad, it was still valid.

This incident just goes to show how powerful our words are. Of course, there is a limit to what we say. If I condemn someone to death, my words have no weight. If the American legal system for example condemns someone under its jurisdiction to death however, they're toast.

Isaac was reluctant to fulfil God's prophecy that Jacob would supplant his elder brother Esau. Yet God sovereignly chose to love Jacob, unlovely though he was. God by contrast seemed to hate Esau, who was admittedly a hateful character.

'Almighty Lord, we admit we don't deserve Your blessing, but we plead with You for it, in the name of Christ Jesus, amen'.