A generational blessing is a term that defines a certain kind of blessing – one which flows from one generation to the next. None of us chose the home we grew up in. We were born into a family, adopted, or maybe joined a family as a foster child. The type of family you grew up in is normal to you because as a child, you had nothing to compare it to.
Some receive a generational blessing from their family of origin. . “A generational blessing is that which passes from parent to child, a blessing which, when carried by one generation, can and should be passed on to another.”[1] A generational blessing can also be passed on by foster parents to children. A friend was led to and nurtured in faith by foster parents. She received a generational blessing.
Jacob Received a Generational Blessing
Jacob was far from perfect, but in God’s mercy, he received a wonderful generational blessing. This blessing in the form of a covenant with God that was passed down from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob.
Jacob was brought up in the faith that would be refined as he journeyed through life. Joseph showed an immature faith as he received this dream, but God would be with him as his faith matured. He received a promise of land, descendants, and blessings from the Lord in his dream.
Genesis 28:13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. [2]
How to Pass Along a Generational Blessing
Whether you received a generational blessing or not, you have the ability to pass along a spiritual blessing to your children. My father did not receive a generational blessing but received one from my mother’s family. This is how I received a generational blessing.
We pass on a generational blessing of faith by our words and actions. My father was better at showing me how to live a life of faith than putting words to it. There is nothing wrong with being the first member of a family to believe in Jesus and passing that on to the next generation. Blessing others begins with the choice to do so and with God’s help you can begin or sustain a generational blessing.
To learn more about generational blessings, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-has-more-a-dream-for-jacob
[1] https://www.peace.org.au/apostolic/the-spirit-of-sonship/generational-blessing.html
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 28:13–14). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.