Blessing the generations!
This article was written by Tommy MacNeil and featured in our April 2026 newsletter.
I’m not exactly sure of the age demographic of those who read this newsletter. I can hazard a guess that many are in the middle age to senior bracket. With that in mind, allow me to speak to what I reckon will be the greatest burden you bear and the deepest longing of your heart. That being the salvation of your family, especially your children and grandchildren.
I want to encourage you in this and with God’s help and God’s word add some fuel to the flame of your heart as you continue to pray. God loves the generations. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Psalm 145:4 speaks of one generation commending God's work to another. I used to think of this being top-down, from older to younger. Over 26 years of ministry, I’ve been blessed to witness this work both ways. When children and young people come to faith, it renews and revives the faith of those who are older. A beautiful thing to behold.
I want to encourage you with a powerful instance in scripture where we see God's generational blessing being released within the context of family. In Genesis 48 Joseph knows his father Jacob’s life is nearing an end. He also knows that as a patriarch he had a generational blessing to release on those coming after him. As Joseph creates the moment for the blessing of God to be passed on, we’re told that ‘Jacob rallied his strength and sat up in bed’ (v 2). I love this! We may find ourselves in a season of life where like Jacob our physical strength is not what it was. But in God we can rally our strength spiritually and pray with fresh faith and fervour.
I love Joseph’s heart in this moment. As Jacob’s son, he could have positioned himself to receive the blessing. He doesn’t do that. He denies himself so that the up-and-coming generation will be more blessed. Thank you to those of you who make a similar choice.
Joseph carefully positions Manasseh to be at his father’s right hand so that as the older son he will receive the main blessing. Jacob then takes his frail arms and crosses them over in order that Ephraim would receive the right-handed blessing (v 14). Why did Jacob do that? Was the physical frailty he was experiencing affecting his mind? Did he not know that in crossing his arms he was breaking religious and cultural norms? Absolutely he knew. Jacob crossed his arms because God revealed to him prophetically that whilst Ephraim was younger, his would be the greater tribe numerically (v 19).
Jacob may have been frail and his life nearing an end, but his heart and soul were still fully alive to God. What an example for us all irrespective of our age and stage in life.
It fascinates me that Joseph who a moment ago had bowed down with his face to the ground to honour his frail father (v 12), now manhandles him as he forces his right hand on Manasseh’s head as the older son. Jacob simply looked to re-assure him – I know my son (v 19)
In asking God to release His blessing on our children and grandchildren, allow me to appeal to you to be open to God working in a different, a new way. You’ll be blessed and your life will be a blessing to your family if you do. May God rally your strength and enable you to sit up and take notice of what He does.