The Tragedy of Lost Blessings

Today’s Verse:

…And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? ~Genesis 27:36b

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The word “blessing” is found 73 times in the Bible in the singular and plural forms. It has the connotation of a gifted endowment. It has the idea of prosperity. Blessings come from God. Blessings are the means by which God bestows His favor and love upon us. Just about everyone, especially Christians, pray for God’s blessings on their lives. On the other hand, all of us are saddened at the lack or loss of blessings. In our devotion this morning, Esau lost the blessing of his father. Let us consider the tragedy of lost blessings.

There are the reasons for lost blessings.

Blessings are lost if we are lazy. “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down,” Prov. 24:30-31. The slothful man neglected caring for his field, and it became overgrown with thorns and nettles. The lost blessing was the lack of harvest and food for the winter. Blessings are lost if we are late. Esau came back too late to see his father. He did not intend to be late, but he was. If you wait too long to be saved, you will spend all of eternity in hell. Blessings are lost if you are lukewarm. Jesus said of the lukewarm believers at the church of Laodicea that they made him sick to the stomach. He said they were poor, wretched, naked, and blind. Blessings are lost if we make the wrong lifestyle choices.

There is the ruin from lost blessings.

If we lose God’s blessings, prayers cannot be answered. If we lose God’s blessings, the promises of God are null and void for us. If we lose God’s blessings, we are powerless and just like other men. Samson was careless with his lifestyle, and had his hair cut in the devil’s barbershop. He presumed that he still had the blessing of God’s power, but when he was subdued, he quickly realized that he was just like other men. If we lose God’s blessings, the Holy Spirit is quenched in our lives. If we lose God’s blessings, we are subject to the chastening hand of God to correct us. Lost blessings will be painful and regrettable.

There is the reinstatement of lost blessings.

First, blessings lost in the past cannot be recovered. Esau lost his father’s blessing and could not regain this. Second, we must confess our sin, and repent from whatever it is that caused us to lose the blessing of God. David lost the first son that he had with Bathsheba, but he repented of his sin and was later blessed with the birth of Solomon. Third, lost power can be reinstated. Samson lost his blessing, but he repented and God gave him power one more time. The men that were slain at his death were more than those he slew when he was alive. The prodigal son spent all of his father’s substance on profligate living; but when he confessed his sin to his father, he received a robe, a ring, and sandals for his feet, and was received back into the family.

Esau was devastated that he lost his father’s blessing. A lot of thoughts probably ran through his mind when this happened. Unfortunately, he did not seek a reinstatement. He would go on in life with the reputation of being a profane man. It’s a tragedy to lose God’s blessings! Read Deuteronomy 27-28 concerning God’s blessings and cursings that He told Israel for obedience and disobedience. There is the tragedy of lost blessings: live your life so that the blessings keep flowing and are never withheld.

Have a blessing-filled God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 103-105

#Genesis