Saturday, July 23, 2016

AN ELDER’S PRAYER

THEN HE BLESSED JOSEPH 

Genesis 48:15-16



The prospect of one’s death acutely focuses the mind, but on what? Astonishingly, for some it only intensifies, concerns for personal peace and comfort. But for others, it directs their minds toward eternity and the next generation. Jacob is a very old man, near death, and that is, his frame of mind as Joseph brings him his two sons. Ephraim and Manasseh, to be blessed by their grandfather. The faith Jacob is remembered for in the New Testament is not the faith that wrestled with God, but the faith that blessed Joseph’s sons. The reason for this has much to teach about prayer.

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on top of his staff" (Hebrews 11:21).  To say Jacob blessed while he was dying is to say that the blessing was something that he himself would not see. That is the faith that so pleases God: "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). The verse in Hebrews just before Jacob’s mention says the same thing about Isaac’s faith, and the verse just after about Joseph’s faith. Reuben Alves said hope is hearing the music of the future, and faith is to dance to it. Jacob, though old and infirm, is dancing as he prays his blessing.

How should the elderly pray? With a great abandon to faith and a generous love that will bless the next generation. Bodies may slow down, but our prayers shouldn’t. Theologian Karl Barth believed the nearness of death should not shrink our faith; but cause the river of responsibility "to flow more torrentially than ever in view of the approaching falls, of the proximity of the coming Judge!"

And David was comforted that God understood his frailty and mortality. "He knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust." David’s comfort grew as he considered that even though he will die. God’s love will continue to the generations to come. "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children" (Psalm 103:15-17). The passion of every generation should be to know the Lord. But the passion of a passing generation should especially be that the next generation will know the Lord – and so to pray that blessing.


In Christ,


Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts

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