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Did Jacob Deserve God's Blessing?

When we read that Jacob asked for God's blessing a question comes to mind. Did he deserve it? Is there anyone who deserves God's blessing? If you made a list of biblical characters who didn’t deserve it Jacob would be high on the list. He was a schemer. He caught his brother Esau in a moment of weakness and got him to give him his birthright, a double portion of the inheritance Genesis 25:29-34. Later Jacob deceived his dad and stole the divine blessing intended for Esau Genesis 27.  Many people who consider themselves better than that schemer Jacob have trouble asking God to bless them. I don’t know if this is an American perspective or if all cultures share this notion. I’ve met many people who just don’t think it’s right to ask God to bless them. When asked why the answer is usually that it would be wrong because it’s selfish. I’d agree with you if the blessing you’re asking for is to win the lottery or some other prize or contest. But if you’re just asking God to bless you, no, it’s not wrong or even selfish. Jacob wasn’t the only person in the Bible to ask for God's blessing.

Three People Who Asked For God's Blessing

  1. Jacob Genesis 32:29
  2. Jabez 1 Chronicles 4:10
  3. David Psalm 67:1
What’s really cool is that God said yes to each of them! Genesis 32 only tells us that Jacob asked God to bless him. There are no details about it. What we do know is from that moment on Jacob’s life changed. His deceitful days were over. Let’s return to the question above, “Does anyone deserve God's blessing?” If you don’t have a relationship with God, you are a sinner deserving of death and then your answer would be “No.” Actually, the blessing God wants to give you is to become his child by believing in Jesus. If you’re not sure how, click here. If on the other hand you have a relationship with God by faith in Jesus, the answer is “Yes.” The Father sees you as a member of the family of God. You’re a loved child asking a loving Parent for something good. No one knows how the Father feels about His children better than Jesus. Here’s how Jesus put it,
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
Jesus told us we need to ask the Father for good things. God's blessing is a good thing. Even the trickster Jacob understood that! Start today with asking God for His blessing. Let Him choose the blessing for you and He will.
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Ward Cushman

My journey of faith started when I was nine years old when I realized that Jesus died and rose again to pay for my sins. At the age of thirteen I felt the call of God on my life for ministry.

I have been fortunate to work in the marketplace for over ten years and in full-time Christian ministry for over thirty years.

My passion is to teach God's Word in such a way that it is easy to understand and so that God uses it to bring about life change in those who hear it.

It is my greatest joy to see God work through me to produce fruit for His glory!