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GENESIS 49
Jacob’s prophecies concerning the future of his sons and of their offspring, and Jacob’s death -- (DATE: 1644 BC and some years later.)
DISCOVER Genesis 49: Anticipating his encroaching death, Jacob called for his sons to assemble before him one last time, so that he may tell them about their future and bless them according to it. He began with his firstborn, Reuben, who was supposed to be the preeminent among his siblings, but he had defiled Jacob’s wife Bilhah, costing him this very quality. -- Simeon and Levi he pronounced as birds of a feather, who are vengeful and quick to anger and cruel. He not only distanced himself from their terrible behavior, but also saw them scattered among the rest of their brothers and their offspring, (so that their evil tendencies would not surface again). -- To Judah he promised not only that his brothers would praise him, but also that they would bow low for him, for in him is the strength of a lion that destroys his enemies and no one would dare disturb him. Therefore he and his sons would have the scepter and staff of the ruler and the people will come to him and pay tribute, while he would wash his clothes in the blood of grapes from a vine. -- To Zebulon Jacob predicted a prosperous life by the sea. -- And for Issachar, even though he would be enduring and strong as a donkey, he foresaw that because of his submissive nature his offspring would settle well, but would not always be free to work for themselves. -- Dan Jacob put up as the judge of his people, however, he forewarned that he was deceitful as a serpent (and thus would not always be fair). Therefore Jacob appealed to the LORD for salvation (from Dan’s inherently unjust character). -- While Jacob predicted that Gad would suffer from frequent raids, he promised him the cunning and swiftness to pay them back in like manner. -- In Asher his father saw a bright future as a tribe rich in food and delicacies. -- Naphtali he likened to a fruitful doe, bringing forth many fawns to enrich his tribe. -- Joseph he blessed beyond all of his brothers, for he would be a strong branch by a spring, destined to grow and thrive no matter the attacks he’d suffer. For he was to be the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel, and he would prevail against countless enemies through the help of the Mighty One of Jacob. The God of his father would bless him from above and below. -- His youngest, Benjamin, Jacob likened to a voracious wolf, who will go out and devour his prey, but with the heart to know to share his spoils with others. -- After he had said all this, Jacob commanded them all to bury him near Hebron with his fathers Abraham and Isaac and their wives Sarah and Rebekah, in the field where he had also buried his wife Leah, in the land of Canaan. Jacob then died in his bed, surrounded by his sons.
PRAYER: LORD God of Jacob, we thank you for this moving fatherly insight into the future of Jacob’s twelve sons. You showed him the stairway to heaven in Bethel, he wrestled with you on the banks of the Jabbok River, and you guided his key decisions with your revelations. So Jacob had intimate fellowship with you over the years. We thank you that through this you endowed him with your wisdom to foresee the future lives of his sons’ descendants. We are deeply touched to see that already back then the later role of Judah as king in Jerusalem was in view and that Joseph with his descendants Manasseh and Ephraim would play a key role in the Land of Canaan, later specifically in the northern parts of this promised land. This comforts us, because it teaches us that you are in charge of the course of history and you fulfill your aims at the right time and in the right way so that your salvation and your kingdom can come with might. Amen.
QUESTION 49: What did Jacob foresee about his sons Judah and Joseph?