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Last words are sacred words.
These are the final words of the father of Israel. The last of the patriarchal trio of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Continued from: Jacob's Parting Prophecy, Genesis 49:1-12).
14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between two burdens;
15 He saw that rest was good,
And that the land was pleasant;
He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden,
And became a band of slaves.
Blessing #6.
Issachar, Leah’s fifth son and Jacob’s ninth, means reward.
One day Reuben, Leah's firstborn, picked some flowers for his mom. The flowers happened to be mandrakes. They were thought to enhance a woman’s fertility.
Rachel didn’t have any kids, Leah already had four. So, Rachel asked if she could have the mandrakes. Leah said, “sure, as long as I can sleep with Jakey baby tonight.” Rachel agreed. That night, Leah was rewarded with her fifth son, Issachar (Genesis 30:14–18).
As per the prophecy, the tribe of Issachar became strong and enjoyed working the land. Their territory described in Joshua 19:17–23, included the fertile soil of the eastern Jezreel River valley, with Mount Tabor to the north and the Jordan River to the east.
The valley is between Mount Gilboa and Mount Tabor. Today,
an Israeli tour guide might say this is the meaning of Jacob’s prophecy,
Issachar lying between two burdens.
Not only were they strong and hard working but in King
David’s day the sons of Issachar were wise, understanding the times and knowing
what Israel ought to do. 1 Chronicles 12:32.
However, it appears, their spine wasn’t nearly as
strong as their shoulder.
Their hard-working salt of the earth, docile demeaner,
led them to bow to two burdens, tillage and tribute. They put their shoulder to
the plow and prospered; but then, they yielded, like a band of slaves, to those
who demanded tribute (rent) and taxes.
Until the Prince of Peace rules the earth, when swords and spears are beat into plowshares and pruning hooks, for now, for us to lead quiet peaceable lives, we may need, at times, to beat plowshares and pruning hooks into swords and spears. Lest we become a band of slaves bound to tribute (rent) and taxes.
16 “Dan shall judge his people
As one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way,
A viper by the path,
That bites the horse’s heels
So that its rider shall fall backward.
Blessing #7.
Dan, Jacob’s 5th son, Rachel’s handmaid,
Bilhah’s 1st.
Dan means judge.
Sampson, from Dan, was one of the judges of Israel.
God used Sampson to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Judges 13:5, 24.
Dan shall be a serpent by the way,
a viper by the path.
Some interpret that to mean that Sampson was shrewd as
a serpent, tripping up the Philistines causing them to fall backward. Judges
13-16.
Others say it refers to Dan being the place where Israelites fell back into great sin by worshipping a golden calf set up by Jeroboam. 1 Kings 12:20-31. The base of that awful altar has been uncovered and can be viewed this very day in northern Israel.
Some say the serpent and the viper represent the devil
and that Dan is the tribe from which the antichrist will come.
Something else to think about. God is giving Jacob the
words of this prophecy, and way back in Genesis 3:15 didn’t God Himself say
something about a serpent striking the heel?
Could the serpent striking the heel of the horse,
causing the rider to fall back, be a reflection of when the serpent (the devil)
would strike Jesus (the cross)? More on this in a moment.
18 I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!
Now from out of nowhere (or perhaps Somewhere amazing)
comes this parenthetical exclamation.
Only three words in the original text.
Qavah:
To wait, to look for, to hope, to expect.
Yeshuah:
Yeshua, Joshua, and Jesus are different
forms of the same Word, same name, with the same meaning, Salvation.
YHWH: yah-veh, Yahweh,
proper name for God. LORD.
Let's say it out loud: Qavah Yeshuah Yahweh. Now,
you've just learned a powerful three word prayer, in Hebrew.
Did Jacob catch a glimpse of that future event? The
serpent’s strike, the Rider's fall onto an old rugged cross, and then, the crushing
of the serpent’s head by the glorious Resurrection?
All at once, at that moment, did Jacob see his Salvation and his Savior, and cry out:
Qavah Yeshuah Yahweh!
“Oh, how I've waited for You Jesus my
LORD!"
19 “Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him,
But he shall triumph at last.
Blessing # 8.
Gad, 7th son of Jacob, Leah’s handmaid
Zilpah’s 1st.
Gad means, fortune or fortunate or,
troop.
When Zilpah bore a son, Leah said oh how fortunate,
and named him Gad. Genesis 30:11.
The Gadites became a powerful troop, mighty men of valor,
men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were
like the faces of lions and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.
1 Chronicles 12:8.
Gad was one of the tribes that settled on the east
side of the Jordan. So, they needed to be extra vigilant for invaders.
They told Moses, this land on the east side of the Jordan
is good for livestock, we have livestock, do the math, we’d like to stay
here. Numbers 32:1
But Mo said, no, you big chickens. You want to stay here while your brothers go fight? Not happenin'!
They said, no Mo, we’ll go and fight to the last
square inch is conquered, then, we’ll return here to the east
side of the river. Numbers 32:16-17.
Moses said oh, okay. But, if you don’t, it will be a great sin against God. And surely your sin will find you out! Numbers 32:23.
So, that’s what they did. Even though they picked
their land first, they willingly waited to the end to settle in it.
They crossed the Jordan and fought shoulder to
shoulder until their brothers conquered their territories, then, they crossed back
over the Jordan to their land.
Just as Jacob said, triumphant, at last.
20 “Bread from Asher shall be rich,
And he shall yield royal dainties.
Blessing # 9.
Asher, 8th son of Jacob, Leah’s handmaid
Zilpah’s 2nd.
Asher was a blessed baker of bread and royal dainties
thus, Asher means, Krispy Crème, or Pillsbury. No just kidding, it means, happy or blessed.
Dt. 33:24, Moses said Asher is blessed and shall dip
his toe in oil.
To this day the territory of Asher is the breadbasket
of Israel in the north. (Judah, in the south).
21 “Naphtali is a deer let loose;
He uses beautiful words.
Blessing # 10.
Naphtali, Jacob’s 6th son, Rachel’s
handmaid Bilhah’s 2nd.
Naphtali means, my wrestling or, striving. Because Bilhah had a second son Rachel said, “I’ve wrestled
with my sister and won.” Genesis 30:8.
In Judges 5:18, Debrah praises the warriors of
Naphtali.
Jacob waxes eloquent and says, Naphtali is a deer
let loose; He uses beautiful words.
Evidently Naphtali navigates words as graceful as a
deer in the woods.
Psalm 42:1, As
the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
Pause a moment and notice the unique characteristics among Jacob’s sons. Judah like a lion, Issachar like a donkey, Dan like a serpent, Gad a warrior, Asher a baker, Naphtali like a deer, just to name a few.
Like members of the family of Christ, each different, yet all having their own Divine Eternal Purpose and calling contributing to the strength and beauty of the body of Christ.
Thank You Lord Jesus for making each of Your children
one of a kind, second to none, world champion, YOUnique.
22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a well;
His branches run over the wall.
23 The archers have bitterly grieved him,
Shot at him and hated him.
24 But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the
deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the
breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors,
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his
brothers.
Blessing #11.
Jacob’s 11th son, Rachel’s 1st.
Joseph means, he will increase or add. Rachel said, “The
Lord add (Yoseph)to me another son.”
More is recorded in history concerning Joseph than any
other of Jacob’s sons.
Joseph gets the blessing of the firstborn, a double
portion, for Ephraim and Manasseh.
Joseph is a fruitful, bough (branch) by the well.
He stayed close to his Source.
Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the
man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”
John 4:14, “Whoever
drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that
I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into
everlasting life.”
John 7:38, “He
who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water.”
Joseph stayed close to his Source.
We should do the same.
Our Source is Jesus.
Joseph’s branches run over the wall.
Joseph was generous. His branches spread over the
walls to others. He didn’t withhold; he didn't hoard. He lived generously.
The Lord's object lesson in generosity: a
tree bears fruit to give.
John 15:5,
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in
him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Proverbs 11:24-26,
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to
become poor. A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will
himself be refreshed. The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing
will crown the one who sells it.
Joseph stayed near his Source, lived generously,
therefore when the archers bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him (verses
23-24)...
He got better not bitter.
His brothers were jealous of him, despised him, mocked
him, stripped him, threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery.
Potiphar’s wife tempted him with fiery darts of lust.
With thorns of the flesh, she grieved him.
But Joseph clung to his God, not her flesh and said, "How
can I do this great wickedness and sin against my God?" Gen. 39:9.
When she prevailed not, she shot, flaming arrows of
lying fury, and landed Joseph in Pharaoh's prison.
But Joe's bow remained in strength (verse 24), his
arms made strong, by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.
In my weakness, His strength is made
perfect. 2 Cor. 12:9
Also notice that Jacob knows God personally, (Verses 24-25). He calls Him, Mighty, Shepherd, Stone of Israel, God of your father, Almighty. (Rather than "the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac" as in Gen. 31:42).
Now Jacob has a personal conviction that He who
has helped us, will help us.
We dear Family of God build our faith upon
our Ebenezers, our sacred memorial stones of God's blessed faithfulness.
2 Tim. 1:12. For
I know whom I have believed and am fully persuaded that He is
able to keep what I've committed to Him until that day I see Him face to face.
Phil. 1:6. For
I am confident that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to
complete it.
Romans 8:37-39,
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loves
us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Knowing these things, will keep you far from being
bitter, and near being blessed beyond measure.
Speaking of blessed. The word bless appears eighty-eight times in Genesis. Nine times in Genesis 49. Six times in a row, in two verses
of Joseph’s blessing (Genesis 49:25-26).
This is the blessing grand finale.
Blessings by the God of your father who
will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you.
Blessings of heaven above.
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath.
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Blessings
of your father, have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, up to the
utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
Blessing by the God of your father. Jacob
prays for a blessing on Joseph, but God commands the blessing. Jacob is
telling his son, remember your Source, is not my words, not your wisdom
and cunning, not the favor of Pharaoh or the riches of Egypt, or the gods of
Egypt, but the God of your father, Jacob. The greatest blessing is that my
God, be your God.
Blessing of heaven above.
Blessings of provision, fair weather, sunshine and rain, and protection from
storms both physical and spiritual.
Blessing of the deep that lies beneath. This
verse started an oil company. The founders of Zion Oil and Gas believe this
verse refers to the blessing of natural resources under Israel. Go to their
website zionoil.com and you will see
these two verses on their front page: Genesis 49:25-26 Deuteronomy 33:13-16.
Perhaps they are sons of Joseph?
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. Children
safely born and comfortably nursed. But it’s more than simply having lots of
kids. The blessing of the Lord leads the children to being born again
and nurtured strong in the Word of God.
John 3:3,
unless you are born again, you will not see the Kingdom of God.
1 Peter 1:23,
having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the Word of God which lives and abides forever.
Prov. 22:6,
raise up a child in the way they should go... (the
ultimate inheritance).
Blessings of your father, have excelled
the blessings of my ancestors, up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
Abraham blessed Isaac but sent Ishmael and other sons
away with gifts. Isaac, blessed Jacob, with no blessing left for Esau. Abraham
and Isaac were blessed abundantly financially, however the fruit of their womb,
not so much.
On the other hand, Jacob will excel the blessing of
his ancestors and be fruitful and multiply and increase (definition of Joseph's
name) into a great nation, Israel (Jacob's name given by God). Israel
will produce the Blessing (Jesus) that will rise above and beyond the everlasting
hills of this earth to the eternal streets of glory.
26... These blessings shall be on the head
of Joseph who was separate from his brothers.
The blessing of the Lord falls not on the people
pleasers or crowd followers, but on those, like a Nazarite, separated
unto the Lord.
Psalm 84:10,
For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand
elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
In the morning he shall devour the prey,
And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
Blessing #12.
Jacob’s 12th son, Rachel’s 2nd, and the last thing she did. Upon giving birth to Benjamin, she died. Genesis 35:16-20.
She called him, Ben-oni: son of my sorrow. But Jacob called
him Benjamin: son of the right hand.
Obviously, Jacob was led by the Holy Spirit, or he
would've been kinder to his youngest son of beloved Rachel.
The Benjamites were aggressive, ferocious warriors,
Ehud, the second judge, (Judges 3:15) and Saul, the first king, were warriors.
Mordecai and Esther, were used by God to destroy
enemies of the Jews. Esther 4:14.
In Judges 20 they ravenously as wolves, defended
wicked Gibeah.
The apostle Paul devoured his prey, the Church, before
he was saved. Rom. 11:1, Phil. 3:5-6.
Genesis 49:28
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke
to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own
blessing.
Jacob blessed each of them.
Jacob, who swindled his
own brother out of the birthright and then had to run for his life.
Jacob, who woke up after
his wedding night in bed and married to the wrong woman.
Jacob, whose oldest boy
slept with one of his wives.
Jacob, whose next two
kids committed mass murder slaughtering all the men in the entire city of
Shechem.
Jacob, whose fourth son
got his own daughter-in-law pregnant
Jacob, whose sons sold
their own brother into slavery.
Jacob, who’s almost
blind and about to die in a foreign country.
This Jacob says, I'm blessed above my ancestors.
This Jacob blesses all of his sons.
So, dear friend, no matter what you've been through,
you too can be a blessing. Which, by the way, is the surest way to be blessed.
God created you to be a blessing.
Oh, and just in case you’re thinking that some of
Jacob’s blessings sounded more like curses. Please remember this:
The Truth, told in Love, is always a
blessing. Even if it hurts. Even if it’s not received as a blessing.
29 Then he charged them and said to them: “I am to be gathered
to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of
Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is
before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of
Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burial place. 31 There they buried
Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and
there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave that is there were purchased
from the sons of Heth.” 33 And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he
drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his
people.
He didn’t say, he’s going
to the grave, He said he’s going to be gathered to his people. He’s going to a
family gathering.
You're having a funeral;
I'm having a family reunion.
He knew where he was
going. He knew this wasn't the end.
Like my wife Roxy's mom.
We got the call. If you want to see her, you better come quick. Everyone said
their goodbyes. She was ready to go Home, but she waited and waited and waited
for weeks she waited. Then, one day, just like that, she went Home. It took us
a minute to realize that day was the first day of spring. One last message to
her hundred-plus kids and grandkids. This isn't the end; it's just the
beginning.
In that same nursing home
where Roxy's mom spent her last days, we heard many amazing stories. One was
about a lady we'll call Mrs. Smith. She said, tomorrow I'm going Home. Well, in
a nursing home they all say that, so the nurse just smiled. The next day, Mrs.
Smith, said, today, I'm going Home. The nurse's aide just nodded and smiled.
Later when they brought Mrs. Smith her supper, she said, "Thank you dear,
after supper, I'm going read Psalm 23, then, I'm going Home."
An hour or so later when
they came in the room, there sat Mrs. Smith, Bible in her lap, opened to the
23rd Psalm, but she wasn't there, she'd gone Home.
Dave's first wife hadn't
stood or walked in a long time, but she kept saying she wanted to be standing
when Jesus came to get her. One day, she said, "Help me up I want to be
standing when Jesus comes." Dave tried to comfort her, get her to rest.
She wouldn't have it. "No, I want to be standing for Jesus."
Dave helped her out of
bed and to her feet. When she stood up, her face lit up as she whispered,
"Jesus."
Her lifeless body
collapsed into Dave's arms as she stepped into the arms of Jesus.
I wonder if her first
Words were, Qavah Yeshuah Yahweh. Oh. how I've waited for You
Jesus my LORD.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, Qavah Yeshuah
Yahweh! Oh, how we eagerly expectantly hopefully wait for the glorious day we see
You face to face. Until then, we pray You find us faithful, busy about Your business,
winning the lost and making disciples.
Longing for Your soon
return, we love You, forever.
Amen.
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This was feed for you to
read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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