LEADING YOUR LINEAGE

SEE WHAT COULD BE & DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR LINEAGE

“Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come….” Genesis 49:1

Men love to name things. I named my first car Betsy. She was a 5-speed Toyota Celica from 1986. She was rusty, had no grill, and leaked mysterious fluids all over my driveway. When I bought her, the car was listed for $600. But the seller felt so bad asking that much that he dropped the price to $450. Despite all her flaws, that car was mine. She belonged to me, and I made sure she passed inspection. I loved that car, and for the next couple of years, I made many great memories with friends and family with Betsy.

There’s something to naming a thing or a person. You see it all over the Bible but most profoundly right in Genesis. In the early chapters, we read that God named Adam, and he named his wife, Eve. Then, in Genesis 17, God renames Abram to Abraham and promises him blessing, lineage, and authority. And in Genesis 49, Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, gathers all of his sons together. Though Jacob is about to die, his last act is to call his sons together by name and confirm their value, identity, and futures. He speaks prophetically and truthfully about what kind of men each of these men would become.

In the 18th century, Jonathan Edwards, America’s greatest revivalist, theologian, and pastor, would do the same thing. He famously devoted himself to his church and its members but never neglected his home. Edwards and his wife Sarah were blessed with 11 children. Of course, they had named their children, but Edwards also invested his time in cultivating each of their identities. He made the time to pray individually, read with them, and speak deeply about the Lord and his works. The results are astonishing. Nearly 200 years later, Jonathan’s children, grandchildren, and progeny would become exceptional. His family’s fruit includes dozens of pastors and missionaries, 13 university presidents, 65 college professors, 1 United States vice president, many judges, US Senators, Governors, and military officers. Why? I believe it’s because Edwards understood his unique role as a man, father, and husband to confer identity and release a person into their potential.

When you pray with your family or talk to your children, know that you are in a God-assigned position to shape lives and build others up. Like Jacob and Jonathan Edwards, what we say matters. Our words have prophetic potential and will shape not only the lives of others but even generations to come.

What is the vision you have for your own life? Where do you see God leading you?

If you are married or with children, what potential do you see in your spouse or children that need to be cultivated and encouraged? How can you do this positively?