I love Biblical benedictions. Even though I’ve heard the following one many times, it still moves me. “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace Numbers 6:24-26).”  The following one from the New Testament has even been made into a song. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 24-25).” My favorite, however, is the Mizpah benediction. “The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another (Genesis 31:49).” Not everyone agrees with me, and many ministers won’t say the Mizpah benediction, because of Laban’s intended meaning when he first uttered it.

Jacob had fallen in love with Laban’s beautiful daughter Rachel, and Laban had tricked Jacob into marrying first his older daughter Leah and then working for him for many years in return for Rachel’s hand. Finally, with the Lord’s guidance Jacob decides he’s had enough; he secretly steals away with his family and flocks to return to his homeland. Laban is upset, catches up to Jacob, and confronts him. The result of the “discussion” is a covenant between them. Laban doesn’t stop Jacob but makes him promise never to mistreat Laban’s daughters and grandchildren and not to take any other wives. Jacob and Laban build a pillar of stones as a demarcation at the place, now called Mizpah. Laban still doesn’t trust Jacob, however, and as a denunciation makes the statement we call the Mizpah benediction, asking God to be a witness over the covenant. He then kisses his daughters and grandchildren as they depart.

I still like the surface meaning of asking God to look over us as we depart from one another, but I have to admit that it is a verse taken out of context; it originally was a statement of distrust, and some might think this is not the best way to end a service. In general verses taken out of context can lead to misinterpretations and sometimes even weird practices. In this case I feel that knowing the context gives the benediction additional meaning; it reminds us of all of God’s covenants, that He keeps His covenants, and that through His covenants he looks over us.

You can read this story in chapter 31 of Genesis. The story of Jacob’s love for Rachel and Laban’s trickery in Chapter 29 is also a good read. Finally, remember that God loves YOU unconditionally (no pillar needed).

Jim