Studies in Genesis

1. Studies in Genesis Presentation 71

2. Jacob’s Blessings 1. Gen 49v1-12 Presentation 71

3. Introduction There are remarkably few dying testimonies of Biblical characters. We do not know what Adam, Noah, Abraham or Isaac said with their dying breath but when we reach Jacob's life it is a different story. His words not only reveal Jacob's insight into his sons’ character but also his awareness under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of the future impact which his sons families would have among the people of God. Jacob’s words carry a strong prophetic character. What did Jacob have to say about his boys? Presentation 71

4. Reuben He first addresses Reuben v4 his eldest child born to him by Leah. It was customary in those days for the eldest to receive the greater honour and a more significant inheritance than other members of the family. As previously mentioned Reuben, by his earlier conduct, lost the advantages that could have been his as the first born. They were blown from his grasp by his sin recorded in Gen.35.22. The brevity of the account appears to indicate that it was a passing incident in his life a mere moment of sinful pleasure but it had long lasting and far reaching consequences. Presentation 71

5. Reuben Reuben is described as as unstable, undisciplined, 'turbulent as the waters' and because of his sin neither he nor his descendants would excel in Israel. “We never find that any one of the tribe of Reuben was distinguished by peculiar honours…none of the ancient heroes whose names are yet famous belonged to this tribe. There were kings of different tribes but none as far as we know of the tribe of Reuben”. Reuben was converted but conversion, while bringing forgiveness did not erase the consequences of his sin. Satan blinds us to the fact that sin has consequences! And it is not only we but others who suffer as a result. Presentation 71

6. Simeon and Levi Simeon and Levi are next to be addressed in v5-7. Brothers can be a great help and encouragement to one another or drag each other down. Simeon and Levi had the ability to encourage a violent and treacherous streak in the other. Is Jacob thinking of the violence they carried out on the unsuspecting people of Shechem [Gen 34]? Jacob does not excuse their past but distances himself from it. As he pronounces his prophecy he says, they were to be ‘dispersed in Israel’. Because of their cruelty they were to lose their proper share of the tribal territory in Canaan. It is helpful to view a map which indicates the areas of land in which each of the tribes of Israel eventually settled. Presentation 71

7. Simeon and Levi Simeon appears to be settled around the Southwest of Judah around Jerusalem but in Joshua 19 where the distribution of the land is described we find that Simeon's territory was actually a part of the land allotted to Judah, v9 reads 'so the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah'. A further scattering is recorded in 1 Chron.4.39 ,42. The tribe of Levi were also scattered throughout Israel but in a different way. They were given no tribal territory but became the priestly tribe scattered throughout 48 Levitical cities in the promised land, from where they taught the Lord's statutes to the people. Presentation 71

8. Simeon and Levi In this regard note that, 'the door of God's judgement can lead into the field of his blessing.' Neither Simeon nor Levi would possess a distinct territory of their own - a judgement that was felt keenly! But judgement led on to blessing for both tribes. The descendants of Levi were chosen by God for the honour of priesthood, to them God promised that he himself would be 'their portion'. Moreover with the exception of the tribe of Judah, Levi contributed more distinguished leaders to Israel that any other, think of Moses, Aaron, Phineas, Ezra, John the Baptist. The tribe of Levi is a remarkable example of how God can transmute, what began as judgement into great blessing. Presentation 71

9. Simeon and Levi Simeon too would go on to experience the blessing of God although the manner in which God's blessing operated differed. Simeon was absorbed into Judah's territory. But that would become a place of safety. When the northern kingdom of Israel set up idolatrous worship they were eventually taken off into captivity in 721 B.C. the southern kingdom of Judah experienced the grace of prosperity for a further 135 years before she too was led into captivity. Simeon having been absorbed into Judah experienced both a shorter spell of captivity and in time had the opportunity to return to the land of promise. Presentation 71

10. Simeon and Levi God judges sin righteously but so often his corrective judgements are turned into blessings. Today someone may be aware of suffering as a result of past sinful behaviour. You may have experienced the forgiveness of God but the consequences of your behaviour still shadow you. Is that the ground for despair? No! Washington Irving perceptively comments : “It lightens the stroke to draw near to him who handles the rod”. When we draw near to God, we draw near to one who delights in mercy. His forgiveness is freely available as is God's capacity to transmute his judgement into blessing. He can make not only to make the consequences of our sin bearable but go on to produce lasting fruit in and hrough us. Presentation 71

11. Simeon and Levi As we read these prophetic utterances, which realistically address Jacob’s sons, it is easy to lose a sense of spiritual perspective. We may ask, ‘How do these apparent losses square with their conversion?’ The believer who has experienced the grace of God's forgiveness but who continues to live with the consequences of his sin can be tempted to despair! However, the significant and overriding blessing, which each of Jacob’s sons experienced was the place given them in the family of God and in the work of God. They became the fathers of the tribes of Israel with a place of inheritance in the promised land! Presentation 71

12. Judah Having heard the sobering denunciations of his three older brothers, Judah must have shivered in anticipation about what might be said to him. A shadow hung over his past. He had suggested selling Joseph for gain. He had been involved in an unsavoury incident with Tamar Gen 38. But no word of judgement is spoken. Instead, Jacob speaks of praise, pre-eminence and prosperity. The word Judah means 'praise to God' but in Jacob's prophecy the emphasis is upon praise which Judah will receive from his brothers v8.... He would be praised for his supremacy. From Judah would come the kings of the nation. Presentation 71

13. Judah Jacob not directing attention from God to man for it is possible to praise God through our praise of men. We can acknowledge the accomplishments of others in a way that acknowledges God as author of the blessings they bring. Do we do a good job in the situation God has placed us? Are we praised for it? There is nothing wrong in that. The danger lies in failing to pass praise on to God for we are unprofitable servants. There is a lovely picture of this ‘passing on’ in Rev. 4. 10 - the elders, who symbolise the church, place their crowns before the lamb and worship him. These crowns were given to the saints in recognition of their spiritual victories. They were saying our victories could not have been achieved without Jesus. Presentation 71

14. Judah Jacob also speaks of Judah’s pre-eminence - normally the right of the first born. Might we not have expected that the right to rule would have been given to Ephraim to whom the rights of the firstborn had been transferred? But it is to Judah that this blessing is given. Think of the kings who would come from Judah: David, Solomon, Josiah… then after the captivity Zerubbabel was the governor of the returned remnant and eventually Judah’s line takes us to Mary a simple village girl and to Joseph a carpenter, the adoptive father of Jesus. No family in all of history was as prominent as Judah's. Presentation 71

15. Judah Judah was also blessed with prosperity cf v11-12... The land of Judah would be so prosperous that every man would have his own donkey and his own vine. The fruit of the vine would be so plentiful that he could wash his clothes in it! This prosperity would come from God. Are you able to look back upon beans on toast years when you lay awake wondering how to make ends meet but now find that your circumstances have improved? If you have prospered God is the source of that blessing. Judah did not deserve the prosperity he enjoyed, nor do we. It is all of grace. Presentation 71

16. Judah…Jesus If Judah was to be the object of his brother's praise, how much more true is this of Christ, whose praise is the great occupation of his people. If Judah was made pre-eminent, how much more pre-eminent is Jesus, exalted to the highest station before whom every knee will bow. Judah is described as tearing his enemies apart in order to dominate his kingdom. Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil. The Bible describes the activity of two quite different lions. There is the Satan the ‘roaring lion’ who prowls around looking for those whom he can devour and there is Jesus, the ‘lion of the tribe of Judah’ who defeated him and tore from his grasp those who throughout their lives were subject to bondage. Presentation 71

17. Judah…Jesus If prosperity came through Judah think how much more true this is of the prosperity that comes to us through Christ. Not mere material prosperity but the vast storehouse of spiritual blessings he has opened up for his people. Our sinfulness is replaced with a robe of righteousness, our alienation with acceptance in God's family, the storm of guilt has been replaced with a calm of peace, our fears are replaced by assurance our present sufferings are injected with ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory’. Did Jacob understand the messianic fulfilment of his prophetic words? Presentation 71

18. Judah…Jesus The messianic climax is found in v10.... one of 3 explicit messianic prophecies in Genesis. The first is 3. 15... where a deliverer is promised who would destroy the Devil. The second in 22.18 promises redemption for both Jew and Gentile. The third here speaks of the Messiah’s enduring rule which will be recognised by all the peoples of the earth. The text literally speaks of the coming of 'Shiloh’. What does Shiloh mean? Some say, 'the one whom God will send', others including Calvin suggest 'son’, others, 'peace' or, 'he who gives rest’. The translators of the N.I.V. favour 'to whom it belongs'. In which case it would be an exact parallel to Ez. 21.27, where God speaks of the overthrow of the monarchy saying, 'It will not be restored until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; to him I will give it.' Presentation 71

19. Judah…Jesus What would be the function of the eternal ruler from Judah's line? The nations of the world, will be gathered to this one king to obey him and to be prospered by him. Prior to his coming God’s work of salvation would unfold in a tiny geographical area Canaan and through one people - the Jews. God would enter into a special covenant relationship with this people. They would be entrusted with scriptures that revealed his character and purposes. God would speak to this people through his prophets. And eventually God would sent them a King, a Saviour whose work would prepare the way for God to call a people to himself from all the nations of the earth. Presentation 71

20. Judah…Jesus The fulfilment of this prophecy is wonderfully described in Rev 7:9-10 “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”. Presentation 71

21. Conclusion As we read through all of the blessings conferred upon Jacob’s sons we realise that they were undeserved and unmerited. These are the blessings of grace! God blessed this family despite themselves! If we have trusted in Jesus for salvation then their God is our God. Are you a believer who is aware of past failure and sin which is confessed and forsaken? But you are still living with the consequences. They do not nullify the grace of God or prevent you from experiencing his blessing. "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.“ Num. 6.24-24 Presentation 71