Blessing and benediction are the themes of these last chapters of Genesis. Can you count the blessings? Can you name the benedictions?

There were blessed reunions, blessed tears, blessed laughter, and blessed beginnings. At the end of Jacob’s story, all things became new. 

Take a look at the word gathered in 49:33. Without digging deeply into the word’s origin and meaning and its context within the sentence and paragraph, gathered sounds altogether different from anything Jacob had experienced to this point in his story. 

He was sent with a plan to deceive his brother. 

He was sent to get away from his brother and to find a wife. 

He was sent back to his father.

He was sent to Egypt.

He would be sent back to the land of God’s promise upon his death. 

When he died, however, he “was gathered to his people.”

Let’s not attempt to say more than is meant, but it sounds like there is more to the story than the end of this chapter. He was gathered. He was gathered to his people. 

There is life after death.

We will be gathered into this life.

We will be gathered into this life with those we know and love who also know and love our God. 

What a blessing! 

What a benediction!

—

I will live in the blessing and benediction of the assurance of God’s presence and purpose now and forever. 

—

Our Father, every day is a blessing. Every moment is one closer to our own benediction and gathering. Thank you for collecting us. Thank you that we are never outside of your provision and presence as long as we live and as long as forever. Amen.