{"id":35356,"date":"2025-03-27T13:16:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T20:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?post_type=portfolio&p=35356"},"modified":"2025-03-27T13:29:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T20:29:24","slug":"2025-blessings","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/gospel-express\/2025-blessings\/","title":{"rendered":"What does the Bible really say about blessings?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg<\/p>\n

The word \u201cblessed\u201d gets used a lot in our modern culture, but what does it mean?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To uncover its true meaning, we need to dive into Scripture and explore how God\u2019s blessings are revealed. Take a closer look at the divinely favored tribe of Ephraim, and discover what the Bible really says about blessings.<\/p>\n

What does the Bible really say about blessings?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Amazing Name: Manasseh<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joseph\u2019s Egyptian wife Asenath bore him two sons in Egypt. He called the firstborn son Manasseh \u05de\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05e9\u05b6\u05bc\u05c1\u05d4 (menasheh). Joseph said: \u201cGod has made me forget (\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05be\u05e0\u05b7\u05e9\u05b7\u05bc\u05c1\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd) completely my hardship and my parental home\u201d (Genesis 41:51).<\/p>\n

The name Manasseh is connected to the verbal root \u05e0\u05e9\u05da (nashach), which refers to forgetting and letting go. A very common usage of \u05e0\u05e9\u05da describes someone being \u201crelieved from debt.\u201d This positive meaning is a better parallel to the second sons\u2019 name, Ephraim (\u05d0\u05b6\u05e4\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd), which means \u201cmade me fruitful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ephraim: \u201cThe Very Fruitful One\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

When naming Ephraim, Joseph said: \u201cGod has made me fertile (\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05be\u05d4\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd) in the land of my affliction\u201d (Gen 41:52). As seven fruitful harvest years came to an end, it became obvious that Joseph was not a lunatic and that Pharaoh had been wise in appointing him to the task of setting aside massive quantities of food. When the people of Egypt thought of Joseph, they naturally thought of wealth and prosperity.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Faithfulness of God<\/strong><\/p>\n

The meaning of these names has everything to do with Joseph\u2019s awareness that it was God who set him free and made him fruitful. In Hebrew, Egypt (\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd) is a place of \u201cconfinement\u201d and \u201climitation\u201d where one cannot prosper.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s faithfulness to Jacob\u2019s children is best seen in Joseph\u2019s ability to survive and thrive against all odds in that land of \u201cconfinement\u201d and \u201climitation.\u201d Centuries later, Israelites who came out of Egypt heard these stories and were strengthened by knowing that the same God who took take care of Joseph would take care of them as well.<\/p>\n

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