The Promise of Future Blessings part 2

Introduction

It was my intention last week to look at Jacob’s blessings and prophecies for each of his children…but, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, don’t they!

So, this morning we are going to pick up where I left off last week.

On Friday night I got a chance to watch the much ballyhooed “boxing match” between 27 year old, Jake Paul and 58 year old, Mike Tyson. As a young boxing fan who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and knew Mike Tyson as the baddest man on the planet, I must say: it was truly sad to watch. To begin, 58 year old men have no business in a boxing ring. Second, 27 year old men have no business getting into the ring with 58 year old men!

But, the thing that stuck with me from the “fight” wasn’t the fight at all. A few days before the fight a young girl, probably middle school or early high school, was interviewing Tyson and asked him about his legacy. Tyson went on to say that he doesn’t believe in legacy and that we all just live for awhile and then die and it all doesn’t really matter. (Of course, he used much more colorful language to explain that…in front of a child!)

I thought about that and said to myself, “Here’s a guy that at one time had everything the world says a man could want: he was respected, he was feared, he had money, power, and influence. Yet, in truth, he had and has nothing because he believes that all that matters is what’s right in front of him in that very moment. The idea of trying to make a positive impact or leaving a good legacy is completely foreign to him. That’s the real shame.”

I have a feeling that Tyson isn’t alone in this, however. More and more people have been raised to believe that they are the center of their own universe and give very little thought to what kind of long-term impact and influence they would have, how they can be blessing to others, or that there is a God who created them for more than a brief walk on this planet leading to becoming worm food.

As I think about Jacob’s sons, many of them lived with their eyes fixed firmly on themselves and whatever they were doing, and not on future generations or on the God of their forefathers. Jacob is, of course, partly to blame for this. However, using our parent’s failures to justify our own is never going to put us where we need to be as people and keeps us from being blessed and a conduit of blessing to others.

Last week we saw that Judah was the one brother, thus far, who’s “blessing” was truly a blessing. As I mentioned last week, these are more like prophetic predictions for their future generations than they are blessings, per se. But, as I consider Judah’s circumstance and what I know about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I can’t help but wonder if these prophetic predictions were more than that. If they were, like most prophesies, opportunities to turn things around, as Judah had? More on that in a bit.

Body: Genesis 49:13-27

Verses 13-21

It’s interesting that Issachar was actually was older than Zebulun, so one might expect Issachar to come first in order here.

Historically, Zebulun would be the stronger of the two tribes, particularly during the time of Gideon and King David.

Did Zebulun really dwell at the shore of the sea?

No, thus this is a very difficult verse to translate.

Zebulun was within ten miles of the Mediterranean Sea. So it’s possible that it’s referring to their involvement in maritime commerce, not that they would own the land. Specifically, that they would work for the Philistines…not something historically that always worked out well for the Jewish people.

As for Issachar, the key phrase is that the strong donkey is “crouching between the sheepfolds”.

While the donkey was strong, as the tribe often was, it’s probably not referring to a donkey’s strength, but passiveness. They were unwilling to fight for themselves and would eventually submit to the yoke of slavery.

Issachar, like many of the other tribes failed to drive the Canaanites out of its territory and eventually traded their liberty for forced labor.

However, it was under the leadership of Deborah and Barak, from the tribe of Issachar, that eventually they threw off the yoke of Canaanite slavery.

As for Dan, the name “Dan” is a wordplay on the Hebrew word for judge.

When Jacob calls Dan and serpent and a viper, is that something negative or positive?

It’s both. They were dangerous and struck unexpectedly to overthrow larger foes.

Consider the Danite judge, Samson.

However, they would also abandon their land allotment and migrate to the extreme north of Israel.

Dan is even omitted in the list of tribes in Rev. 7:4-8.

What does verse 18 refer too and why is it here?

It’s a brief prayer, showing that without divine deliverance the people will not survive.

I appreciate this because Jacob doesn’t presume on the grace of God, as if something was owed to the people.

Today, people often say, “Yet by the grace of God...” and that is true. We ought to truly believe that. We are owed nothing from God. All that He blesses us with is because of His grace and mercy, which should drive us to worship (corporate worship and living a life of worship).

As for Gad’s “blessing”,

Gad was in constant danger from its southern and eastern neighbors, Ammon and Moab.

The Hebrew word “Gad” sounds like the term for raiders and raid. They would eventually become skillful warriors who used stealth to fend off the invaders.

As for Asher, the land they would inherit would be fertile.

Thus, the focus on food from Jacob. The land was so fertile, in fact, that the tribe would supply food for foreign kings, which bought in wealth.

As for Naphtali, like Asher, Naphtali’s land was rich with natural resources. They would flourish in this area of upper Galilee.

Additionally, they were free like a doe in that they had no northern border, with the ability to expand to the north if they so chose.

In Judges, they were distinguished for their bravery in battle.

Interestingly, Moses says some very good words about the tribe of Naphtali:

Deuteronomy 33:23 ESV

And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake and the south.”

Suggesting that this is another son who followed after the Lord, even when his brother Dan turned away.

Verses 22-26

In verse 22, Jacob seems to suggest that Joseph is well-watered and fruitful.

Ironically, it was Rachel who was infertile for much of her life, but her son Joseph would produce the most fruitful tribe.

fruitful bough by a spring = well watered (has what it needs to strive)

branches run over the wall = his people would be prosperous

Then in verses 23-24 Jacob refers to the many hardships Joseph faced.

But, what does “from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel” mean?

Throughout this entire section there are more direct references to the Lord God than in any of the others.

This is because of Joseph’s emphasis on the sovereignty of his God, no matter what misfortune and suffering he faced.

God is called Mighty One of Jacob, Shepherd, Rock of Israel, God of your father, and Almighty in the section.

Think about those titles:

God is the one who is mighty over all of Israel’s enemies and hardships…ours as well!

He is the Shepherd of His sheep…which should draw our minds to the Good Shepherd.

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The Rock of Israel is the solid ground they could build their homes and their lives upon...”Our hope is built on nothing less...”

Father and Almighty both point to parental care of His people…as He does for us!

Look at all the ways Joseph would be blessed:

“blessings of heaven above”

Fertility of land from above. Likely well-watered crops.

“blessings of the deep that crouches beneath”

Fertility of land from below. Again, probably water and possibly rich soil.

“blessings of the breasts and of the womb”

Fertility of body.

Then, in verse 26 we see the highest blessing that Jacob could voice.

Jacob sees himself as more blessed than his forefathers and wants even more blessing for Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Verse 27

Is Benjamin’s blessing a positive or a negative one?

Benjamin’s tribe would eventually have a fierce reputation.

They were known for their archers and slingers. They would also defend the wickedness of Gibeah in Judges.

It’s probably not shocking, then, that King Saul would be of the tribe of Benjamin.

King Saul who tried killing David on multiple occasions and murdered everybody in the city of Nob.

Not to mention, Abner, Sheba, Shimei, and Saul of Tarsus were all of the tribe of Benjamin.

All that being said, when the nation was divided after Solomon’s death, the tribe of Benjamin remained faithful to the line of David, staying with Judah. Together they would form the kingdom of Judah.

So What?

So, this message was information dense and could potentially be seen as interesting, yet unhelpful. But, I want us to consider a few things this morning:

First, we assume that the prophetic predictions given here reflect the personality of the brother in question. And, biblically we can see these all reflected in their descendants. Does this suggest that we don’t have any free will whatsoever and we are bound to follow in the sins of those who came before us?

Of course not. As we saw with Judah, God allows second chances. God gives us the opportunity to turn from the direction we have been going and turn to Him. We call it repentance.

I shared a few weeks ago that I’ve often struggled with the idea that God loves me…I wonder if Judah had a similar struggle?

Here’s good news for people like Judah, and Jacob, and me, and maybe you: God forgives even those who believe they are unforgivable, worthless, unimportant, below average, etc. God glories in blessing people like us and making us conduits of blessing.

But, we must turn to Him in repentance...

Second, Joseph was highly favored. He was favored by his father and he was favored by God. There’s never an explanation of why Joseph was favored, just that he was favored. Want to know something amazing?

Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

If you are a follower of Christ, you have obtained an inheritance, which means you too are highly favored by God!

You might say, “If I’m favored, then why have I gone through so many trials and tribulations?”

My answer: Um, talk to Joseph about trials and tribulations! See, God uses trials and tribulations to grow our faith in Him, our dependence on Him, our compassion for others, and to do something that will ultimately bring glory to Himself through the testimony of our lives.

That’s Joseph’s story. It should be ours as well!

Third, continuing with Joseph, least we forget, Joseph did not receive his blessings because of his great faith. God never said, “Because Joseph is such a man of faith, I guess I’ll bless him.” No, instead, Joseph’s faith stemmed from the fact that he knew the God of his forefathers well enough that God could take his circumstances and use them for Joseph’s good and God’s glory.

Why do I mention that? Because faith is not a performance. We don’t perform faith in order to get something out of God. We recognize this biblical truth:

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Look closely:

As God lovers, God works together all things (good, bad or indifferent) for good.

As God lovers, we are called according to His purposes…whatever those purposes may be!

Therefore, our faith is a response to who God is and what we know He does, not a performance where we do things to get things.

So, it’s vital that we, like Joseph, Judah and Jacob, learn to know our God more and more.