Saturday, March 19, 2016

Saturday - Genesis 49 - The Last Days

Jacob called his sons in and prophesied about the natures and roles of their respective descendants. Israel, old and weak, called to them, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days." 
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph & Benjamin were all blessed and charged by their father. Surely they didn't understand everything that he told them... in fact, probably HE didn't even understand it all, but is was significant nonetheless. And, he knew that he was prophesying.
There were many messianic references included in Jacob's blessing, namely when he spoke of Judah's future. We know that the Christ was from the tribe of Judah, so in retrospect it is easy to find Jesus in every line of Judah's blessing. He would be praised and would conquer His enemies. Men would bow to Him. He would be a lion (Revelation 5:5). He would be a royal ruler and immortal lawgiver and would unify the nations. He would be a judge of unrighteousness and bring tranquility to the race.  Yes, all of that and more is found in this chapter. Additionally, when Israel got to Joseph, he added that his God would send from Himself "the shepherd" and "the stone of Israel" (I Peter 5:4 & 2:7).  What a spiritual heritage (Revelation 21:12).

So, Israel left Judah, Levi and Joseph with what we know as prominent positions in the nation. Then, after his sons promised to take his body back and bury it with the bodies of his wife, parents and grandparents... he died.

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