VOP 2022: January 19, 2022 - Promptness or Slackness “The Blessing vs. A Blessing”

VOP 2022: January 19, 2022 Promptness or Slackness? “The Blessing vs A Blessing” The speed with which we act or react and our attitude towards divine instructions determines the quality and magnitude of blessings which we receive. The Word Blessing is broken into two components namely “The Blessing” and “A Blessing” The two words are similar, but very different in terms of quality and proportion. A good example is Isaac and Ishmael; Esau and Jacob. Isaac was the Child of promise that God spoke to Abraham about when He cut a Covenant with him. Ishmael was borne out of human desire and desperation, when Sarah asked her maid Hagar to conceive for her husband as a result of her impatience. She did not realize that she had made a costly decision that would negatively impact them and even future generations. Also Esau sold his birthright and traded his blessing, which was the “Original” blessing to his brother Jacob who deceitfully claimed “The Blessing” according to his Father Isaac’s intention to bless the first son, Esau. Although Esau was originally the first Son, his slothfulness or lateness to answer the call of his Father Isaac, put him in a secondary position of receiving “A Blessing” which was a left over from “The Blessing” that was handed over to Jacob in his place. It was not a favourable decision, but nature delivers to you what you invest in it. “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭17:19-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬. “And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Es