Even At The End

DEVOTION

HEBREWS

EVEN AT THE END

Heb 11:21

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

NIV

Here again we see a man giving words, blessings to others about their future, a prophesy, in fact as to what will occur in their lives, words which will be carried by them all the days of their life. Yet there is something else we should notice about this kind of blessing given at the end of Jacob’s life. This kind of blessing occurs often within the narrative of these stories about men of old. Even in the midst of dying their thoughts were not about themselves, but rather about their descendants. It was so very important to give final blessings, final words of encouragement and instruction that there was not time to be consumed with self, even if age has brought with it some aches and pain, some difficultly in movement or even some suffering. Although the NIV says he leaned on the top of his staff, the original language carries more of the sense he bowed down at the head of his bed, for he was already in bed, dying, but gathered his strength for this blessing of his sons, and two grandsons. Once again we see the character of this man, concerned about his family up to the very end and at the very same time still worshiping God, still showing the way for his family to follow. How many of us live or die for that fact in that manner? Do we at the end of life, spend our last moments with grace and dignity giving the last once of our strength to give a blessing to our children? This is so very profound. We need to pray that God will give us that opportunity and when given we will not waste it. We must maintain that kind of faith right up to our very last breathe for we will indeed step into eternity and as such will be gathered to the presence of our God. How more perfect could that be? So we need not concern ourselves with our own destiny, but we need to think and act upon the lives we leave behind, giving them words to live by, encouraging them in their faith, in their walk  with God, sending on to carry on behind us. All too often descendants mourn because of the passing of their patriarch, but this should be a celebration instead, celebrations of life everlasting and with the blessing received live their lives to the fullest of it, and pass the same on at their passing. Concern for others, the chief cornerstone of a life of faith, even at the end.