01-105 The Testament of Israel, Pt 1
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Genesis 49:1-12
Genesis 49:1-12
History has recorded the last words of vast numbers of people—both saints and sinners. It is generally a reflection on what is most important in their lives, what they think about what lies ahead, whether there is a hope or hopelessness.
Voltaire was the French philosopher who had no hope. He used much of his writings to attempt to demolish Xty. Of the LJC he said “Curse the wretch!” He also boasted that “in 20 years Xty will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took 12 apostles to rear.” After his death, the house he used to print his antichristian literature became the depot of the Geneva Bible Society. At his death he said to his physician “I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me 6 months life. Then I shall go to hell; and you will go with me.”
John Wesley on the other hand, a completely different perspective on life and death said as he was dying: “The best of all is, God is with us! Farewell.”
Your relationship with LJC means everything—not just in this life, but also in death and what is to come. This is why the Bible continuously highlights faith—personal trust, for that is the only way to be reconciled to the Creator, and this is only way of hope. That was true among OT saints, that is same for today. Jacob, one of these OT saints expressed faith in the God of his fathers.
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
He is on his deathbed but before he dies (vs 33) at the age of 147 he “summoned his sons” (vs 1) for one last important blessing that he needed to impart to them. He has blessed Pharaoh (47:7,10). He blessed Joseph (48:15) and has blessed Ephraim and Manasseh (48:20). 1 Thing remains, the blessing of the sons of Israel. This would be as it were, the last will and testament of a dying man. And he uses his dying breaths to prophecy the future of Israel. This is one the greatest events in the life of Jacob coming right at the end of his life—to bless his sons.
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him.
Now, Jacob only uses the word “bless” in reference to Joseph (vv 25-26). Even though what Jacob says to his sons are blessings “appropriate” to each son, they are in a prophetic sense, but they are also words of what lies in store for each son and the tribes they produce in the future. “what may befall you in the days to come” Some translations say “in the last days” (used 8x in Daniel to refer to the coming of the Messiah). But what Jacob prophesies is not about the end times when Israel is restored (unfulfilled prophecy), but what happens in the not too distant future for the tribes of Israel (fulfilled prophecy—with amazing accuracy).
Now, a blessing is to bestow life and goodness on someone. And that’s what this chapter is about.
Will Varner writes:
Most of the blessings pronounced on Jacob’s sons were fulfilled during the period of the judges, approximately six to seven hundred years after Jacob’s death. The blessing on Judah began to be fulfilled in David’s day and found its final fulfillment at the first coming of Messiah. Because we have the entire Bible before us now, we can look back and see how this astounding series of prophecies has been fulfilled.There is probably no sight more touching than that of an old man gathering his children around him to hear his final words.
So Jacob gathers his sons and begins to address each one of them. Jacob’s twelve sons, born over a period of approximately 23 years through 4 different mothers but he doesn’t exactly follow birth order: an example is Zebulun (Gen 49:13), Issachar (Gen 49:14–15), and Naphtali are out of order. Gordon Wenham points out that Jacob organizes his blessing by his sons’ mothers, with Leah’s sons first (Reuben to Issachar), followed by the sons of the maids (Dan to Naphtali), and concluding with Rachel’s sons (Joseph and Benjamin).
So there is order to Jacob’s blessing, there is structure and a purpose that is suited to Israel’s last testament. Today and next week we’ll discover Jacob’s blessing for each son as they are gathered around their beloved father.
1. The Defiler
1. The Defiler
3-4
Jacob begins with Reuben the firstborn. He is the son of Leah (the wife Jacob didn’t want 29:31-35). God had given 6 sons to Jacob by Leah and he starts with the oldest. “Reuben you are…” There was always something special about being 1st born. In ancient Israel, he received a double portion of the inheritance—1 more share than his brothers. He was also to be the natural leader of the family once the father died. That was expressed in vs 3—preeminent in dignity/power. Those are terms that describe the nature of God. Jacob is heaping praise on the 1st born until it is met with what has been described as “one of the fiercest denunciations in Genesis.”
“Uncontrolled as water…” this character trait of Reuben’s is describing his turbulent, reckless behavior. Water can be tame and gentle but when it is turbulent it can bring much destruction. This is what Reuben’s act of defilement did to those around him as he defamed his father’s honor and looking to take his place as head of the family prematurely.
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.
The prophecy takes away preeminence from Reuben and relegates him to a position of insignificance as far as his brothers are concerned. Jacob confronts Reuben at this time (not certain he did earlier) “b/c you went up…” and then Jacob explains the act to Reuben’s brothers “he went up to my couch.” Truly a shameful deed.
The turbulence and instability of Reuben is attested later in the history of the tribe. 2 of the more prominent descendants are named Dathan and Abiram. They joined the rebellion of Korah (the Levite) in Numbers 16. They questioned the leadership of Moses and Aaron and God’s judgment came quickly upon them as the earth swallowed them and their families.
The tribe’s instability is featured in the Song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5. There were tribes that volunteered in the battle against Sisera in Judges 4—Zebulun and Naphtali (which were praised for the willingness to risk their lives). Reuben was criticized for his instability.
16 “Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
He was more concerned with hearing the piping for the flock than his patriotic duty. It is the same today of people who let personal concerns take precedence over being involved in the work of the Lord and serving the church.
Jacob’s prophecy had come true by the time of the Exodus and 40 years of wandering that his preeminence was fading. In the census taken at the end of those 40 years Reuben had moved from 7th place to 9th place. This much have been of great concern for Moses b/c when he was blessing the tribes before he died he prayed:
6 “May Reuben live and not die, Nor his men be few.”
There were no prominent people that came from Reuben, no prophet, military leader, or judge. Will Varner says “the most impressive contribution made by Reuben seems to be the lending his name to a delicious corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich!” I don’t know if that’s true but you get the idea.
Lessons from Reuben—#1 far reaching effect of unbridled, uncontrolled passion that stems from 1 fleeting act. What Reuben did in that immediate moment was not worth the permanent sacrifice.
#2—sin can be forgiven. That’s the promise and provision of the cross. Your sin against God will be forgiven when you trust the LJC. There may be long-term effects of your sin but the sin itself can be forgiven. Jewish tradition tells us that Reuben did later repent but his descendants would bear the brunt of his sin.
2) The Warriors
2) The Warriors
5-7
Simeon and Levi were the only 2 mentioned together and we know why. When their sister Dinah had been raped by Shechem they flew off in a genocidal slaughter of the Shechemites, killing every male—including Shechem and his father Hamor. They decimated that group and when Jacob confronted them in Gen 34 they withstood his rebuke saying:
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.” 31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?”
In his last words to them Jacob says vv 6-7.
On account of their anger/wrath Jacob rejected these 2 and prophesies what would become of these. The tribe of Simeon virtually disappears after the time of conquest. And the tribe of Levi is given responsibility of the priesthood and serving the Lord and their people were not allowed to have their own territory.
Acting under the impulse of uncontrolled rage is extremely dangerous.
28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.
George Lawson The History of Joseph “In the heat of passion a man is not his own master, he is the slave of an infernal lust. He is worse than a madman, because he has no more command of himself than a madman, and what understanding is left to him only serves to fit him for doing the greater mischief.” B/c you are in Christ, you have the HS. One of the manifestations of the HS’s control (fruit) is self-control. Simeon’s & Levi’s vigilante justice (while we understand the sentiment) it was unrestrained rage and brought devastation upon all of Israel—especially their 2 tribes.
3) The Ruler
3) The Ruler
8-12
Judah is the next brother to be addressed. His older brothers had received harsh words from their father. He may have expected the same as Judah is the one who impregnated Tamar, the wife of his deceased son. He thought he was visiting a Canaanite prostituted but it was Tamar who had disguised herself. While he could of expected harsh words from his father, Judah had changed. He humbled himself:
26 Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.
Judah truly begins to show his changed life as he pleads for Benjamin before Joseph and offers himself as a substitute so that Benjamin could return home to their father. Judah was the one Jacob chose to lead the way to Joseph as the family was moving to Egypt and Jacob would be reunited with his son. There was a change in him. There was trustworthiness. He had grown immensely from that young man who thought there was a profit to be made in selling Joseph instead of killing him.
Jacob begins: vs 8. It is appropriate that Judah would be praised by his brothers b/c that’s what his name means (praise).
35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Judah’s brothers would bow down to him, recognizing his propensity for leadership. It was a character trait of Judah—the brothers followed his leadership in selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites and he was the spokesman for the family when appearing before Joseph in Egypt. During the 40 years of wandering, when the tribes would set out, Judah went first (Num 10:14). Judah would have the largest population of his brothers in the 2 chapters where a census was recorded (Num 1 & 26).
Jacob prophesied of the dominance of Judah “your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies” which shows total dominance, overcoming all enemies with superior power. That power, Jacob says is the power of the lion. This is the ferocious picture that Judah would become, and distinguished from his brothers—vs 9. The lion would grow up to become the adult lion that no one would dare challenge b/c he would be torn apart. This would be Judah—the tribe of Judah.
He would become a great conqueror and ruler (vs 10). Of course, this was fulfilled during David’s rule. David was a great conqueror and expanded Israel’s borders in every direction. David composed a song about that recorded in 2 Sam 22; Ps 18.
40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me.
Judah would be known as the “lion tribe” and this imagery of being the king of beasts is carried throughout Scripture and highlighted in
5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
That is a reference of LJC—the most prominent member of the tribe of Judah.
That scepter will not depart “until Shiloh comes.” The name Shiloh has been interpreted in various ways. It could be the name of a town, it could mean “tribute to him” “until tribute comes to him”, or similarly “to whom it [scepter] belongs”. The most likely is that Shiloh is a personal name of the Messiah. The right of kingship will always be with Judah until the Messiah comes and to Him all nations will render obedience.
Hebrew scholars have said Shiloh can easily be related to Shalom (peace).
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
5 This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
Even Jewish commentators have taken the position that Shiloh refers to the King Messiah. So Jacob’s blessing on Judah is a striking prophecy in the development of the promise of the coming Messiah in the OT and people kept looking from that time to the one who would come from Judah.
Jacob’s Dozen: A Prophetic Look at the Tribes of Israel Judah Will Produce the Messiah
In Genesis 3:15 we are told simply that the deliverer will come from mankind (the seed of the woman). In Genesis 9:26, another characteristic is mentioned: He will be a descendant of Shem, one of the three sons of Noah. Years later, God again delineated His genealogy by saying that among the descendants of Shem, Abraham would be the progenitor of Him in whom all families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3). That messianic line was further narrowed to one of the two sons of Abraham, namely Isaac (Gen. 21:12). The messianic line was again narrowed to one of the two sons of Isaac, namely Jacob (Gen. 25:23). Of Jacob’s twelve sons, Judah is chosen as the one through whom Messiah will come (Gen. 49:10). Later in Israel’s history, God chose a descendant of Judah, David, to be the family through whom the Messiah would come (2 Sam. 7:12–16). Then the genealogy was narrowed once more when a specific town within Judah, Bethlehem, was chosen as the site of Messiah’s birth (Mic. 5:2).
Anyone who claims to be Messiah must demonstrate these credentials. And Jesus is the only One who perfectly does this. Matthew’s genealogy shows his qualification from the tribe of Judah. The birth narrative in Matt 2 demonstrates that as He is born in Bethlehem.
What will the manner of his reign be? What will the kingdom of Messiah (Shiloh) look like: Gen 49 11-12
11 “He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 “His eyes are dull from wine, And his teeth white from milk.
There will be so much abundance and extravagance in which wine (fruit of the vine) will be as common as water. There will be so many grapes that Messiah will tie His donkey to a choice grape vine and there will be no concern that the donkey will eat the grapes b/c there will be so many grapes and people won’t even think twice about washing garments in wine b/c of its abundance. Messiah’s kingdom will be extravagant and the picture of strength and power—vs 12.
And how did Jesus announce the age to come in His first miracle?
John 2:1-11;
From Genesis thru Revelation the unifying message is God’s promise of the coming Messiah who would rule over God’s creation—having reconciled it back to the Creator. The NT shows us that Christ came in fulfillment of OT prophecy, died on the cross and was resurrected—having provided redemption for all who believe in Him. Trust Him today and rejoice that your sins have been forgiven.