Jacob’s Parting Prophecy, Genesis 49:1-12

Genesis 49:1
 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: 2 “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob,

And listen to Israel your father.

Jacob called his sons together to hear the first intentionally declared prophecy by man.

Final words are sacred words. This prophecy tells of the future for his boys, but not only theirs, ours too.

Notice he told them to hear Jacob (the name he was given at birth, the name that  means trickster, the name that represents who he once was).

But then, he tells them to listen to Israel, (the name given by God, the name of the man he had become after an intense encounter with God, the name of the nation they would become, Israel). Genesis 32:28.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

My might and the beginning of my strength,

The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.

Strength, excellence, dignity, power...

Reuben’s chest puffs out, head swells up, “Hear that boys, that’s me. One of you go fetch me some water.”

4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it— He went up to my couch.

Ruh roh. He remembers that? That was 40 years ago.

Reuben slept with his stepmom, Bilhah. Genesis 35:22.

To add insult to injury he did it while dad was mourning the death of Rachel.

Unstable as water. No prophet, judge, or king came from Reuben. Instability characterized this tribe.

God looks for stability of character and integrity; not the biggest and best, the talented or gifted. 1 Cor. 1:26-27.

Jacob transferred the birthright from Reuben to Joseph and made Joseph’s boys joint heirs as if they were his own sons.

1 Chronicles 5:1-2, Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed 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 the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; ² yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s—

 

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. 6 Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Simeon and Levi, 2^nd and 3^rd sons of Jacob and Leah.

By deceit and vengeance, they slaughtered all the males of the town of Shechem, Genesis 34:25.

Actions may be forgiven, but they may carry consequences that come calling years later.

The Lord remembered, and reminded Jacob, of what Simeon and Levi did twenty years prior.

Sin often produces natural consequences that we must pay for, even if we’ve repented.

They become small tribes.

Simeon the smallest, ends up not with a territory of their own, but is absorbed into the land of Judah. Joshua 19.

Levi did not receive a territory of their own, but the Lord turned their curse into a blessing because they stood on the side of the Lord, when the rest of their brothers were singing and dancing before the golden calf.  Moses. Exodus 32.

Levites become the priests of the Lord.

Draw night to God and He will draw nigh to you, James 4:8.

Sowing and Reaping, a principle in the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Hosea 8:7, “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; it shall never produce meal. If it should produce, aliens would swallow it up.

 

8 “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;

Judah, 4^th son of Jacob and Leah.

Judah means praise.

Judah wasn’t always praiseworthy.

Judah was the one who suggested his own brother be sold into slavery, Genesis 37:27.

Didn’t deal honestly with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar. Genesis 38.

Judah had three sons, Er, Onan and Shelah.

Er, erred and God struck him dead. Er and Tamar had no children, so according to the law back then, Onan was obligated to marry Tamar to ensure the line of Er didn’t die.

Onan took the pleasure without responsibility by pulling out and emitting on the ground. The Lord was displeased and struck him dead too.

Judah told Tamar to wait for Shelah to come of age, and then he would marry her.

Tamar waited, and waited, and waited.

Shelah became of age. However, Judah (probably nervous that Shelah would wind up dead), didn’t give his son to Tamar.

In the meantime, Judah’s wife died.

So, Tamar put off the widow’s clothes and put on those of a harlot and sat by the road where she knew Judah would travel.

Then, along came Judah, thinking Tamar was a hooker, took her, and slept with his own daughter-in-law. Gen. 38:16-18.

Wild huh? Whoever said the Bible’s boring, never read it.

Then guess what happens.

Yep, Tamar is pregnant by her father in law. Not just pregnant, but doubly pregnant—with twins. Two boys, Perez and Zerah.

So, Judah gets two sons, and grandsons, at the same time.

But God takes it a step further and Perez becomes one of the ancestors of Jesus!

Redemption, a principle in the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Ephesians 1:7, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Matthew 26:28, For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.    

Judah revealed that he had been redeemed when he offered himself as a slave in place of his brother Benjamin.  Genesis 44:33-34.

By the amazing grace of God, Judah became the tribe of Judah, which delivered to us the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who offered Himself, to deliver us from the slavery of sin.  

8...Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

Your father’s children shall bow down before you.

The tribe of Judah would often be victorious in battle, especially through the hand of King David. Psalm 18:40.

Ultimately through Jesus.

Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Phil. 2:10-11.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him?

Now buckle up and hold on tight for the prophecy takes wing and flies past us into our future.  

Notice the repeated word, “lion.” Herein, is conceived the phrase: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah; birthed in Revelation 5:5.

Behold I saw in the hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll. I wept because no one was found worthy of opening the scroll. But then I was told not to weep for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. So, I looked and behold there stood a Lamb, that appeared to have been slain. Revelation 5:1-6.

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes...

Scepter, represents authority to rule.  

Shiloh, traditionally means, "He to whom it belongs," 

It comes from the root word, shalah, meaning "to be at rest" or "to be tranquil." Related to shalom, meaning peace.

Shiloh, refers to the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.

From Israel’s first king to their last king, they held the right to rule; the scepter.

However, when Shiloh came, the scepter was taken and given to Whom it belongs.

Early in the first century Rome took away from the Jews the right to execute.

On that day the Sanhedrin, put on sackcloth and ashes marched through streets crying, “the scepter has departed, but Shiloh has not come.”

They cried because they no longer had the right to execute people.

They implied God broke His Word. The scepter departed but Messiah has not come.

What they did not know, was that not so long ago, just five miles south of Jerusalem, in the little town of Bethlehem, in a manger, to a virgin, betrothed to a carpenter...

A Child was born, a Son was given. And the government would be upon His shoulder. And His name would be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. Isaiah 9:6-7.

Upon the arrival of the Prince of Peace, the scepter went from the tribe of Judah to the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Hallelujah!

 Are you holding on tight? We’re about to travel far and fast.

Then Jesus, by living sinless, dying blameless, rising victorious, turned the trajectory of HIStory for all mankind.

Then we were allowed the honor of listening to a heavenly conversation between Father and Son, (so powerfully important it's repeated at least nine different times):

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42-43, Acts 2:34-35, Hebrews 1:13, 10:12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:25, Ephesians 1:20-22).  

From that day to this that’s where He’s at, seated at the right hand of the Father.

One day, maybe today, He’s going to call those who are His to come Home. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

Then after seven years of tribulation it’ll finally be time to put His enemies under His feet...

Revelation 19:11,  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

Then, the Lion of the tribe of Judah with a scepter of iron and His enemies under His feet, ushers in the millennial reign.

10 ...And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

Then there will be peace on earth, goodwill toward men.

11 Binding his donkey to the vine,

And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,

He washed his garments in wine,

And his clothes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine,

And his teeth whiter than milk.

Then, the fruit of the vine will be as plentiful as water for washing your garments.

Micah 4:4, But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid;

Then, there will be such abundance, no one will steal from the other.

Isaiah 2:4, They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Then, while the Prince of Peace rules, there will be no need for weapons of war, only tools for gathering the harvest.

Isaiah 11:6, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Then, the earth will be like the garden of Eden.

Although the heart of man will still be corrupt, but held in check by the sword of the Lord, and there will be no tempter roaming about like a roaring lion. 

What an awesome ride. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart imagined the awesomeness God has in store for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9.

I pray you know and love Him. Forever. 

As promised, following is a breakdown of Jacob's sons by birth order, blessing order, the mothers, and meanings of the names.

Birth order:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, (Dinah only girl), Joseph and Benjamin.

Blessing order:

1 Reuben, 2 Simeon, 3 Levi, 4 Judah, 10 Zebulun, 9 Issachar, 5 Dan, 7 Gad, 8 Asher, 6 Naphtali, 11 Joseph and 12 Benjamin.

Mothers:

• Leah, mother of: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah
• Rachel, mother of: Joseph, Benjamin
• Bilhah (Rachel's maid), mother of: Dan, Naphtali
• Zilpah (Leah's maid), mother of: Gad, Asher

Birth order, mother and meaning.:

1. Reuben: Leah: "Look, a son!" or "The Lord has seen my affliction".
2. Simeon: Leah:  "The Lord has heard" or "Hearing".
3. Levi: Leah: "Joined" or "Attached".
4. Judah: Leah: "Praise" or "To praise".
5. Dan: Bilhah: "Judge".
6. Naphtali: Bilhah: "My wrestling" or "Striving".
7. Gad: Zilpah: "Fortune" or "Fortunate".
8. Asher: Zilpah: "Happy" or "Blessed".
9. Issachar: Leah: "Reward" or "He will give".
10. Zebulun: Leah: "One who is exalted" or "Dwelt".
11. Dinah: Leah
12. Joseph: Rachel: "May he add" or "May he multiply".
13. Benjamin: Rachel: "Son of my right hand"

 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us how clearly You see the end from the beginning. Mostly thank You for helping us change the trajectory of our destiny from hell bound to heavenward. Thank You for speaking to us and through us to help all those You’ve given us, do the same.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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