Welcome to my weekly Faith and Family Business reflections, where I (briefly) probe important questions that arise in family business – questions relating to behavior, relationships and legacy – from the angle of a Biblical story. For more information about this series, click here.
For a moment, set aside Jacob’s act of deception in garnering his father’s blessing. Instead, feel the richness of the blessing Isaac offers:
So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine.” (Gen 27:27-28)
Isaac communicates sincerity and hope in both physical acts (coming near, kissing, smelling) and vivid language (the smell of a field, the dew of heaven, the abundance of the earth). Contrast this blessing with how we might think of blessings today: recognition of a fortunate occurrence (e.g. a good year in our business) or gratitude for life’s past events. We often think of future blessings in financial terms, as a last will and testament or trust instrument conveying assets. But in the Bible, blessings for a family member are evocative descriptions of hopes and dreams, occasional admonishments, or the foretelling of certain events.
Do you remember what your parents dreamed for your future? In your family or family business, how might you communicate your blessing, your hopes - beyond financial distributions - for your family members?
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