A FATHER'S VISION

Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29:16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27

“Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey.
 Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”

“My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.
 Don’t lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

My Dad had a hard time figuring me out.  I was never the son he envisioned.  We spent several years in very uncharted waters, me figuring out who I was, and him getting used to the idea.  At some point, Dad just shook his head and trusted God.  Wise man.  I still wonder if he’s ever totally “gotten” me.  One day, maybe I’ll get up the courage to ask him what he sees when he looks at me.

Jacob did not wait to be asked.  (He might have waited forever.)  Jacob had a clear vision of each of his sons.  He had a message each son needed to hear.  He told them exactly what he thought.  Not all the portraits he painted were flattering; almost all had some flaw recognized.  The Bible, though, is clear that Jacob’s words were a “blessing” for every son, regardless.  “Each received a blessing that was appropriate to him (Genesis 49:28b).”

Truth is that kind of gift, special not necessarily because it’s good, but special because it’s real.  There’s too much fake in our world.  We can even fool ourselves.  God alone fully understands us.  He alone fully knows us.  (Let that sink in; it’s not all that easy to accept.)  Only God doesn’t have to guess or figure out who we are.  He knows what He made.  We need that truth.    

How does God see us?  Spend more time listening to His Word.  Jesus shows us the basics.  The Holy Spirit fills in the specifics.  We just need to accept what we hear.  God doesn’t want us to be square pegs in round holes.  Life works best when we quit trying to be someone or something we were not created to be.