Hebrew Highlights 006 - Berech

Shalom, this is Yuval Shomron, coming to you live from Jerusalem.

PSA 95:6 - 8 Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness;

The word “kneel” in this passage in Hebrew in nivr’cha. The root word is barak. Let’s look at another famous passage where we see this word.

GEN 24:10-12 Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master's in his hand; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.

Abraham’s servant went out to obtain a blessing. A wife for Isaac. After all, we read in PRO 18:22 that “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.”

When Rebekah was ready to leave, GEN 24:60 tells us, “they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them."

Israelis are big on blessings. Indeed, in many of the simple daily conversations and greetings, blessings take an important role. Often when you greet someone with “shalom”, their return comment will be “shalom uvracha” or “Peace and blessings”. When you buy a fresh squeezed juice from any on the numerous vendors in downtown Jerusalem, pay and say thank you, the kiosk owner will nearly always say “labriut” or “to your health”. If your neighbor sees you have purchased a new car, he will say to you “bashaa tova” or “in a good hour”. What he means is “this blessing has come to you just when you needed it!”

The Hebrew word for blessing, "bracha" is based on the same root word used for the position of a camel at rest on his knees. Next time you visit Israel, you may hear a local camel owner get his camel to rest by shouting “braka” to him.

This indeed seems to be the best position for us to be in when waiting on God's blessing; bowed down, and at rest from all striving and work.

JOH 3:27 says, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.” Trying to work, strain, or strive for God’s blessing is a waste of time. Both Abraham’s servant, and Rebeka found God’s blessing by going about their daily business at the well, and trusting in their Heavenly Father.

Some people not only find it hard to rest in God’s grace, but refuse to. Of course, we know from PHI 2:9 – 11, speaking about Yeshua, that “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

I say let’s get on our knees, and receive God’s free blessing now, before it’s too late.

By the way, there is such a thing as a negative blessing, as illustrated in

PRO 27:14, “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.” (OOPS)

Well, I prefer to leave you with a positive blessing from PSA 128:5-6, “The Lord bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!”

Shalom uVracha from Jerusalem!