Israel’s Blessing

Blessing

Genesis 49:1–28 (NIV)

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

“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to your father Israel.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, the first sign of my strength,

excelling in honor, excelling in power.

Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,

for you went up onto your father’s bed,

onto my couch and defiled it.

“Simeon and Levi are brothers—

their swords are weapons of violence.

Let me not enter their council,

let me not join their assembly,

for they have killed men in their anger

and hamstrung oxen as they pleased.

Cursed be their anger, so fierce,

and their fury, so cruel!

I will scatter them in Jacob

and disperse them in Israel.

“Judah, your brothers will praise you;

your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;

your father’s sons will bow down to you.

You are a lion’s cub, Judah;

you return from the prey, my son.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down,

like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he to whom it belongs shall come

and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

He will tether his donkey to a vine,

his colt to the choicest branch;

he will wash his garments in wine,

his robes in the blood of grapes.

His eyes will be darker than wine,

his teeth whiter than milk.

“Zebulun will live by the seashore

and become a haven for ships;

his border will extend toward Sidon.

“Issachar is a rawboned donkey

lying down among the sheep pens.

When he sees how good is his resting place

and how pleasant is his land,

he will bend his shoulder to the burden

and submit to forced labor.

“Dan will provide justice for his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

Dan will be a snake by the roadside,

a viper along the path,

that bites the horse’s heels

so that its rider tumbles backward.

“I look for your deliverance, Lord.

“Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders,

but he will attack them at their heels.

“Asher’s food will be rich;

he will provide delicacies fit for a king.

“Naphtali is a doe set free

that bears beautiful fawns.

“Joseph is a fruitful vine,

a fruitful vine near a spring,

whose branches climb over a wall.

With bitterness archers attacked him;

they shot at him with hostility.

But his bow remained steady,

his strong arms stayed limber,

because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,

because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

because of your father’s God, who helps you,

because of the Almighty, who blesses you

with blessings of the skies above,

blessings of the deep springs below,

blessings of the breast and womb.

Your father’s blessings are greater

than the blessings of the ancient mountains,

than the bounty of the age-old hills.

Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,

on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;

in the morning he devours the prey,

in the evening he divides the plunder.”

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

At first glance, this appears to be more of a mixture of blessings, curses, judgments and promises, but the writer is clear of Jacob’s intent and the way by which we should perceive the words of Jacob. They are his blessing.

Rueben had failed to rise to his position as the firstborn and leader of the next generation. He had all of the potential, but he became distracted by temporary pleasure that led him to compromise his position with in the family. The tribe of Rueben will be seen continually throughout the nation’s history as lost in potential. Judges 5:15-16

Judges 5:15–16 NIV

The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.

Simeon and Levi massacred the men of Shechem out of anger and rage. They will be scattered amongst the other tribes. The tribe of Simeon will melt away into Judah and the Northern Kingdom while the Levites are redeemed by their faith (Exodus 32:26

Exodus 32:26 NIV

So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

), but the blessing of Jacob still remains true as the land of the priests is spread throughout the Holy Land.

Judah is destined to be the line of leadership and rule after Rueben’s fall, but Judah’s reign too will end as the true king is ushered to the throne based not on his family line but on the very nature of who He is.

Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher and Naphtali’s blessing is marked by fertile territory and forced labour. They will be recipients of the blessings of the Lord’s provision, but they will find themselves in turmoil as they rely on self instead of the Lord.

Joseph will be blessed as a result of his dependance and relationship with the Lord.

Benjamin is the tribe that always rises to meet the challenge.

Through all of this, we see that the great blessing is not the circumstances and situations that each son will face but that all of their roads lead to the same promise, a home in the Land of Promise given to them by the Lord Almighty.

We get so fixed on our circumstances and situations. We become locked on the judgments and curses that befall us and those around us and we allow our eyes to lose sight of the One who is our reward and prize.

When we see the road in front of us, our hearts have to become fixed on the Lord for it is only when our eyes are fixed on Christ that we will see the blessing that our circumstances are designed to be. In his adultery and compromise, the Lord did not abandon Rueben, but He brought Ruebens descendants to the Promised Land.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.