Genesis 50:22-26

For the Genesis 50:22-26PODCAST, Click Here!

22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees. 24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. ~ Genesis 50:22-26

Today, we conclude our long study of the book of beginnings, the book of Genesis. This book of Genesis gives us the first of everything including the beginning of all creation, the beginning of sin, the beginning of sacrifices, the beginning of redemption, and the beginning of eternal life. As we have noted before, in this final chapter there are three burials: the burial of Jacob, the burial of Joseph's brothers' sin, and finally the burial of Joseph. Today, we will close out our study of this great book by considering what God has to say about Joseph's death. 

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years."

Joseph was born right around the year 2260 BC. He lived 110 years and he died in the year 2370 BC. Joseph lived 54 years after the death of his father, Jacob. He remained in Egypt for the remainder of his days. When he was 17 years old he was sold into slavery by his brothers to Ishmaelite traders from Midian who took him to Egypt. As a result, Joseph lived in Egypt for 93 years. The remainder of his days were spent outside of the Land of Promise. The only time Joseph left Egypt was when he went to bury his father in Canaan. In all, Joseph was the second most powerful man in Egypt for 80 years.  

In v.23 of today's passage we read, "Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees."

Joseph lived long enough to see his great-great grandchildren. In all, there were five generations of Joseph’s family living at the same time which was in fulfillment of Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh before his death. In the line of Manasseh, only his grandchildren are noted during his life. Being "brought up on his knees" means Joseph's grandchildren enjoyed a close relationship with their grandpa involving the passing on of his wisdom and God's blessings from one generation to the next.

In v.24 of today's passage we read, "And Joseph said to his brethren, 'I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.'"

With the sure knowledge of his soon death, Joseph repeated the promise of God to his brothers. In doing so, Joseph emphasized our absolute need to be defined by the Lord on a day by day basis. While the world and our flesh tells us to be self-confident, the Bible reminds us to find our confidence only in the Lord GOD. Confidence in ourselves is circumstantial. It is often based on our pant size, how much money we make, or whether we fit in to the context we find ourselves. If our confidence is in God, we will grow to be the most secure people in the world. As a result of knowing God and His will for our lives, we will have the courage to take the risks that He calls us to take. We will love others, dream big, and think and do the unbelievable by His grace.

In v.25 of today's passage we read, "Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, 'God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.'"

Joseph knew what he believed and he subsequently belonged. His disposition was rarely determined by anything outside of his faith in the God of the Bible. These are the last recorded words of Joseph. Just like his father before him, Joseph now required an oath from the sons of Israel. Despite bearing an Egyptian name, having an Egyptian wife, and being the second ruler of the land, Joseph remained always and forever an Israelite. His desires for his people and His land never faded and his devotion to the God of the Bible never wavered. And so once again, he repeated the promise of God’s presence among his people and his desire to have his bones buried in Canaan.

In Hebrews 11:22 we read, "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones."

Despite all of the many things Joseph did and the faithful patience he exhibited towards his circumstances and those around him who afflicted him, Joseph was above all noted for his faith in the unseen God. His was a testimony that God simply desires and requires of us simple faith. For many, faith is based on creeds, doctrine, and head knowledge. It's about mastering the "facts" and making sure we give the "right" answer when any spiritual question is asked. But biblical faith is not about mastery but about mystery, and that living in that mystery allows us to focus on our relationship with the God who created us and who is recreating us.

Joseph's request was fulfilled by the Israelites as they marched out of Egypt approximately 286 years later. We are told in Exodus 13 which specifically says that they carried Joseph’s bones out with them. And eventually another generation of Israelites carried them into the land of promise and buried him as is recorded in Joshua 24. And so the narrative of the immediate family of Israel ends with the promise of redemption from Egypt which is based on the oath made first by God to Abraham. 

In v.26 of today's passage we read, "So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."

Upon Joseph's death, he became the second and last person noted in the Bible as being embalmed. After this, his remains were placed in a "coffin." This is the first usage of word "coffin" in the Bible. The next time this word is used will be to describe the Ark of the Covenant. Everything associated with the Ark of the Covenant points us to the Lord Jesus Christ, especially the MERCY SEAT where God sees us as forgiven through the blood of His Son. Joseph’s coffin was probably made of the same wood as the Ark, acacia wood which is incorruptible. 

The book of Genesis began with creation, including the creation man. No sooner had man been created did he rebel against God and spiritual death came to be his norm. Since that time, the premise of the Bible is that man is born to die and physical death has become a scary reality for us all. The book of Genesis ends without the fulfillment of the promise of the savior. But God's promise of our savior and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ has been fulfilled through the cross of Calvary. The Lord Jesus overcame sin and death by laying down His life. When this gospel is met by our faith, we will have similar faith to that of Joseph, bold and confident.

Genesis 50:15-21

For the Genesis 50:15-21 PODCAST, Click Here!

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. ~ Genesis 50:15-21

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 50 which has in it three burials: the burial of Jacob, the burial of Joseph's brothers' sin, and the burial of Joseph. Having considered Jacob's burial, today, we will consider the burial of the sin of Joseph's brothers.

In v.15-18 of today's passage we read, "15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.' 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, 'Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 Thus you shall say to Joseph: 'I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you. Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.' And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, 'Behold, we are your servants.'"

This reconciliation between once estranged brothers pictures the story which this life is all about: Our reconciliation to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. However, Joseph's brothers were worried that Joseph might seek his revenge. Joseph's brothers projected their way of thinking upon Joseph although he never considered their way of thinking that comes as a result of feeding the flesh. This entire story is pregnant with the sin of the brothers who resisted being defined by God. This explains why they had a hard time understanding Joseph's forgiveness.

As we have mentioned before, there are three parts to forgiveness: the injury, the debt created by the injury and the cancellation of the debt. The brothers of Joseph who refer to themselves as the servants of God confessed their sin and asked Joseph for his forgiveness. In doing so, Joseph's brothers got religious with Joseph. Religion requests that we earn the favor of the one to whom we appeal for forgiveness. This is the way of the self life. Oh, it is good to confess our sin to God and to anyone whom we have injured. But, confession doesn't earn anything from the one who decides according to his character whether to forgive or not. 

Joseph's brothers failed to realize that Joseph had placed his fate and his life in the hands of the Lord from his earliest days. He accepted his lot at Potiphar’s house. He also accepted it when he was thrown into prison, just as he accepted it when he was elevated to the highest position in Egypt. Everything in Joseph’s life revealed his utter trust in God who was directing his every move. He was assured that what his brothers intended for evil, God intended for good. And because of this, when he received their words, he broke down and wept. His brothers didn’t comprehend God’s hand in all of what occurred and how it would affect them. This was all due to their lack of trust in the Lord, even after his many demonstrations of care for them over their lives. They desired forgiveness from a brother who had long ago forgiven them. 

In v.19-21 of today's passage we read, "19 Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.' And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

What is down in the well will always come up in the bucket. Joseph was a godly man because he was being defined by God. Unlike his brothers, he did not even think of usurping God's position as the Supreme Being in his life. This is why Joseph brought attention to it with this question that he asked his brothers. His question proved that he had a very big view of God. When we do not allow God to be the Supreme Being in our lives, we welcome a puny view of Him into our souls.

It was then that Joseph sought to soothe his brothers' consciences. He did not want them to be riddled with guilt or to be estranged from him. Joseph desired complete reconciliation with his brothers. He wanted them to be completely comfortable being around him. He didn’t want anything to separate them. He wanted to make sure that they knew that they were forgiven. Then, to prove his forgiveness, Joseph promised to take care of them and their children as well.   

He then comforted his brothers and spoke kindly to them. There was no bitterness held against them. Joseph had no ill feelings against his brothers who had treated him so poorly. He did not withhold anything from them or hope that something bad would happen to them. He sought to develop the relationship and put on actions in keeping with his forgiveness.

Genesis 50:7-14

For the Genesis 50:7-14 PODCAST, Click Here!

7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering. 10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians." Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. 12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. 13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. 14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father. ~ Genesis 50:7-14

Today, we continue our study of the last chapter of the book of Genesis where Joseph was traveling with his brothers back to their homeland, Canaan, to bury their father. As we mentioned yesterday, there are three burials in this chapter: the burial of Jacob, the burial of Joseph's brothers' sin, and Joseph's burial. In today's passage, we will continue to consider the people's mourning of Jacob's death.

In v.7-9 of today's passage we read, "7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering."

Grief is the emotional suffering we feel when something or someone we love dies. This pain should prompt us to seek the Lord who is truly the only one who can provide healing for our broken hearts. In Psalm 63:1-3 we are reminded that when we find ourselves in a "dry and exhausted land where there is no water," we do well to cry out to the Lord and His comforting presence. In these moments we do well to bring all of our pain and all of our emptiness to Him, asking Him to remind us once again that His  "love  is  better  than  life." He is sufficient to fill the deepest yearnings of our soul. And so, in the end, grief and lamenting is a call to worship.

Seven times the word "up" is used in this chapter, subtly reminding us from where our hope comes. Yes, I know that "up" describes the direction they travelled to get back to the promised land, however, they were returning to the land that God had promised them and they were smack dab in the center of God's will for them. Ironically, God used the death of Jacob to get them back there. Often this is the case where God uses an unwanted experience to get us to where we should be for His glory.

In his book, The Problem of Pain,  C.S. Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." The roar of pain itself can prove deafening. Due to this, we often have trouble discerning its words. Turning down the distortion enough to hear the message requires a response of faith in the God of the Bible on our part. When we seek the Lord’s sufficiency through prayer and the reading of His word, asking Him to calm our souls, we will hear what pain screams into our souls.

Interestingly, the cabinet of Pharaoh traveled with Joseph and his family back to Canaan to mourn the passing of Jacob even though the journey was some 300 miles. The journey was so far that the children and the animals remained back in Goshen. This is the last time that Goshen is mentioned in Genesis. The only time it is mentioned beyond Genesis will be two more times in the book of Exodus. Goshen means "drawing near" and is a great reminder of our need to draw near to the Lord especially when we are in pain.

Along with the many mourners went a multitude of charioteers and horsemen to guard the procession. Because of the arrangement of those in procession, it would not be considered a military threat under normal circumstances, but because of the large number, there could have been a misunderstanding by the people in Canaan. So sending along the chariots and horsemen was a sign of military honor.

In v.10-11 of today's passage we read, "10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, 'This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.' Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan."

Eventually, the procession arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan River. This is only the fourth time the Jordan has been mentioned in the Bible. Jordan means "to descend" or "death." It was there at the threshing floor that the procession stopped to collectively mourn the honored patriarch one last time. In all, another seven days of mourning were observed before Jacob's body was moved to its final resting place. The Canaanites saw the great mourning going on and they certainly heard it as well. The middle eastern funeral was and is an exceptionally loud experience. The Egyptians stayed on the other side of the Jordan River while Joseph and his brothers took the body of Jacob across to his resting place.

In v.12-14 of today's passage we read, "12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. 13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. 14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father."

More detail has been given to Jacob's burial than almost every other burial in Genesis combined. Jacob is one of two embalmed in the Bible, the other was Joseph. The patriarchs came into the world with nothing and they left with nothing. They owned only two plots of land including the cave in the field of Machpelah where the patriarchs were buried. The fact that the patriarchs only owned two plots of land reveals where their true home was located. They saw themselves as mere travelers through the earth. 

In Hebrews 11:13 we read, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

Biblical faith reminds us of a greater future hope that we often see from a distance. It is this faith in the God of the Bible that reminds us that nothing in this world will satisfy us and we must be careful to avoid the lie that it will. When we begin to believe the lie that this world can satisfy us, we are positioned to have our hearts captured by the enemy of our souls. Living as foreigners and strangers in this world frees us to enjoy the father heart of God and His culture instead of being enslaved by chasing the empty promises of this world. It is quite helpful to remember that this world is under the control of Satan himself, and he is not out to lead us to wholesomeness.

Genesis 50:1-6

For the Genesis 50:1-6 PODCAST, Click Here!

1 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. 4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.'" 6 And Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear." ~ Genesis 50:1-6

Today, we transition into the last chapter of the book of Genesis where three burials are evident: the burial of Jacob, the burial of Joseph's brothers sin exacted upon Joseph, and Joseph's burial. Death is an inevitable part of life. While rituals conducted around death vary from culture to culture, most of them are grounded in a hope which transcends the grave. 

Through Jacob, God had spoken to the sons of Israel and told them that they would be judged according to their ways. The determinant for them would be whether they would be defined by Him or by themselves. He promised them a new heart and a new spirit but only if they would simply turn to Him for salvation from self. Israel went from life to death. But in Christ, there is the hope of new life and even the resurrection to life from the dead.

In v.1-3 of today's passage we read, "1 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days."

After Jacob died, Joseph showed his emotions by weeping over him and kissing him. This is the sixth time that we’ve seen Joseph weep in the book of Genesis. Throughout our lives, we all have been forced to deal with grief. And, all of us deal with our grief differently. The effects of our losses are often numbing and sometimes debilitating even to our faith in the God of the Bible. We all do well to have a process that allows us to come to terms with the death of a loved one. When we do not process our grief the emotions can become monstrous in our lives. This happens because feelings that are buried are always buried alive. When it comes to our grief, out of sight is not out of mind, they will come back to haunt us if we do not somehow deal with them. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger."

"The physicians" mentioned in v.2 of today's passage were also called "healers." This word is used 67 times in the Old Testament and the most memorable use of this word is found in Isaiah 53:5 which reads, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

The word translated physicians implies healing, like a physician would provide after an operation. Since we know that while the human body is alive, it is inextricably connected to our soul. Our soul animates our body. When that which animates departs, the body ceases and it dies. The Egyptians wrongly believed the soul after mummification would return to inhabit the body at some point after death. 

In 1 Peter 2:24 we read, "(Christ) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." 

Although this verse is very often incorrectly used to imply physical healing, in context the Apostle Peter spoke of healing from our sin. It is through the cross of the Lord Jesus that we have been spiritually healed and by the Lord's work believers are restored into a personal relationship with God. This is what the embalmers of Egypt had hoped for, but it was never to be because their sin problem had not been remedied. The sin problem is only reversed after we have come to trust that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin.

Joseph had the physicians embalm his father because he knew the process of embalming would cover up the foul smell that would surely come, especially since Jacob's dead body would not be buried for quite some time. The need for embalming is a testimony to the lowly state of our bodies that when the soul departs, it immediately begins to break down and smell really bad, and become offensive to everyone near. It is from this world of corruption, not to this world of corruption, that the believer in the Lord Jesus looks.

In v.4-6 of today's passage we read, "4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, 'If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 'My father made me swear, saying, Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me. Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.' 6 And Pharaoh said, 'Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.'"

After 70 days of mourning, Joseph made a request of the Pharaoh that he be allowed to go back to Canaan to bury his dad there in the cave that was in the field of Machpelah. Instead of speaking directly to Pharaoh, Joseph spoke to the "household of Pharaoh" in anticipation of them then going to speak directly to Pharaoh on his behalf. By going through them, Joseph respected their authority in the matter and he was extending a courtesy that they would know in advance of his desires and intentions. In response, the Pharaoh gave his approval that Joseph could travel back to Canaan to bury his father.

Joseph was a man who understood the value of being submissive under authority. Submission is not a popular term in our world. Sadly, all degrees of sin come from our unwillingness to submit to the authority and rule of God. God has placed a system of authority in our world that requires faith to operate under its boundaries. These authority structures God has placed in our lives to protect and to guide us to His will. God created all authority to bless and to give life, but through our rebellion against His authority, we have allowed the process to become twisted. Authority no longer works as intended. Rather than acting as a skeletal structure for our good, authority can be misdirected to empower evil. There is only one limitation to the believer’s submission to human authority: namely, any law that would require disobedience to God’s Word.

Genesis 49:29-33

For the Genesis 49:29-33 PODCAST, Click Here!

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. ~ Genesis 49:29-33

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 49 where we will witness the final words and moments of the life of Jacob. These are the last moments of a man who had finally come to live in anticipation of the great promises of God. These promises had guaranteed great things to come in Jacob's future, even after his death. Jacob's life and his hopes had transcended his earthly reality that was a civil war in his soul between the deceiver and the prince with God or the believer and the unbeliever. The hope of Jacob was his sure hope of the coming Messiah and His eventual victory over sin through His death on the cross. 

In this passage we see the names Abraham, Isaac and Jacob known as the patriarchs of the nation of Israel. These three are never used in the Bible in reference to the Church, only in reference to Israel. One's understanding that Israel and the Church are two separate entities is very important when it comes to one's interpretation of the Bible. Throughout the Bible, these three names are used by God to identify Himself with the nation of Israel and His commitment to them.

In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "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.'"

These final words of Jacob are proof of his undying faith in the God of the Bible. Admittedly, there were moments in his life when it was not as obvious, but his faith in the God of the Bible endured to the end. When Jacob said, "I am gathered to my people" it meant that he was well aware of what God had promised his father and grandfather and subsequently to him. When Jacob mentioned the purchase of this cave and this field by Abraham so long ago proves he was anticipating the coming of the Messiah. He knew that all of the sons of Israel were to participate in ushering into the world the Messiah who would conquer sin and death. 

Hidden in all of this is the fact that Abraham also believed in the resurrection from the dead. In Hebrews 11:19 we read of Abraham, "... concluding that God was able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense." This is the only explanation that makes sense of the scene in Genesis 22 when God ordered Abraham to slay his son as a sacrifice. It was the hope of the resurrection that caused Abraham to be within inches of thrusting the knife through his son. In fact, Abraham had told his servants that he and his son would return from the mountain. When Abraham tied up his son and raised the knife high over him, it was all because he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead. When the angel stopped Abraham and God provided a substitute for Isaac, there was still a sense in which Isaac had been raised from the dead, if only figuratively.

Jacob then identified the field of Machpelah as being before Mamre in the land of Canaan. The word "before" means "in the face of." Literally, it was "in the face of Mamre." He then noted that the field was bought from Ephron the Hittite as a possession. Ephron means "of the dust." His name reminds us of the fact that God created man from the dust of the ground.  Man is a unique combination of earthly, natural material and life-giving power from God Himself. In addition, the word Hittite means "terror." Jacob's reference to Ephron the Hittite provides for us a picture of Adam who chose Lucifer's definition of himself rather than God's. This resulted in Mankind being brought to a state of terror. From Ephron, a fallen man, Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah. Machpelah means "double." It signifies the double delivery from death which the Lord Jesus procured for all who would believe in Him. The Lord Jesus came to purchase the title deed for the Jews and also for the Gentiles. His death filled this double role.

The cave that was in the field of Machpelah is symbolic of the earth, the repository for the dead. This is seen time and time again in the Bible. Jacob knew his body was going to that repository to be buried with his people. Instead of saying the cave bought by Abraham, he first said, "the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite." Then, he called it "the cave that is in the field of Machpelah." With the addition of the word Machpelah reveals it was a double cave. It contained Jew and Gentile, male and female, all who are redeemed by the Lord.

The next word mentioned in v.30 is Mamre which means "bitter." It represents the bitter, fallen world which the Lord Jesus came to redeem and to reclaim. After this, Canaan is mentioned. Canaan means "humbled" or "subdued." Only those who have been ravaged by sin and broken and thus "humbled" are qualified for Christ's redemption. Once qualified and we have turned to the Lord for help are we "subdued" by the Holy Spirit.

In v.31-32 of today's passage we read, "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."

Buried in this cave which was bought from Ephron the Hittite were Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. With the addition of Jacob in the cave, there will be the three great patriarchs and their wives, each of which was an ancestor of the Lord Jesus. That is six people, male and female, who then represent all humans with six being the number for incomplete man. And then, as a final follow up, Jacob mentioned one more time that the field and the cave were purchased. They had a new owner. The old owners were "the sons of Heth" or the sons of fear. Again, the name Heth comes from the word Hittite which means fear. These words provide for us a picture of all the people of the world who are in Adam and who live in fear of death because we cannot meet God’s standard of perfection.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "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."

Jacob’s words were a command which looked forward to the wondrous day when the world of terrified, fallen man would be bought back by the Lord. And now, at the end of a long life filled with blessings and trials, joys and sorrows, Jacob was ready to receive his final reward. Jacob lived 147 full years and finally expired in the year 2316 BC. The most recorded and detailed life in the book of Genesis finally came to an end in a most peaceful way. Jacob "drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last." Having blessed his sons from a sitting position, sustained by God Himself, Jacob laid down and breathed his last breath picturing the condition of all who have been forgiven of their sin.

Genesis 49:27-28

For the Genesis 49:27-28 PODCAST, Click Here!

27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil." 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. ~ Genesis 49:27-28

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 49 where Jacob is blessing his twelve sons before his death. Jacob was blessed of God in order to bless his sons. This is why God blesses us, He rarely only blesses us with only us in mind. Having already blessed all but one, today we will consider the blessing that Joseph gave to his last son Benjamin. While Jacob addressed Benjamin, he utilized the metaphor of a wolf which was the fifth animal he used to characterize the future course of his sons’ descendants. He also utilized a lion to describe Judah in v. 9, a donkey to describe lssachar in v.14, a serpent to describe Dan in v. 17, and a deer to describe Naphtali in v. 21.

In v.27 of today's passage we read, "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil."

Benjamin’s blessing seems at first contrary to what one might expect of a son of Rachel, but it exactly reflects the future of his people and even the work of Christ Himself on the cross. The word translated "ravenous" indicates "to tear apart." Wolves typically kill more than they can eat, and so this metaphor tells us the tribe of Benjamin will satisfy himself and then divvy up the leftovers. The idea of him devouring in the morning and dividing the spoil at night indicates a ceaseless effort. 

Ultimately, as with all of the others, Benjamin’s blessing points to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 53:12 we read, "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

What God has given us in these things is for the purpose of seeing His plan of redemption centered on Christ. This is not a plan for our prosperity because it is all about the Lord Jesus Himself. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He paid the penalty for our sin. From Him and for Him and to Him are all things. He has earned the victory over all foes on our behalf. We are merely the fortunate recipients of His love and His grace.

In v.28 of today's passage we read, "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."

This is the first time in the Bible that we hear of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob blessed his twelve sons in a way that was particularly suited to each of them. He disciplined and blessed them appropriately. In Hebrews 11:21 we read, "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff." The key here was the fact that Jacob was acting "by faith" in the God of the Bible. By faith Jacob was being defined by God as evidenced by his obedience to God's definition of things. And that which defines us is that which we worship. And that which we worship is that which we love. And that which we love is that which defines us.

Even though Jacob had his struggles in his walk with the God of the Bible, he never completely stopped trusting Him. Jacob had to walk by faith in the God of the Bible because he encountered many struggles and challenges, and the victories came very hard for him. Most often, the light was quite dim in Jacob's life, sin was often heavy, but his faith never waned. The story of Jacob alternates between calling him "Israel" which means "prince with God" and "Jacob" which means "deceiver." Like you and me, he had his good days and he had his bad days. Yet, fundamentally, he remained faithful because his God was faithful. 

Jacob's staff had become necessary to him, because his hip had been dislocated in the wrestling match he had with God in Genesis 32 when God changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Leaning upon that staff, Jacob would always remember the miracle that God had wrought in his life that night when He broke his stubborn self-will. When Jacob leaned upon his staff he was reminded of his helplessness, moment-by-moment dependency upon his God. He was also reminded of the grace of God which is what motivated him to obedience in the end. Jacob worshipped God as the result of becoming a broken man.

Jacob's staff was a rod with a short crossbeam. Strategically, his staff points us to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only through that cross that any of us have an operative faith in the God of the Bible. It is only through the cross of Jesus Christ that our faith could be acceptably placed in Him. The message of the cross comes to us best on the heels of our brokenness or those moments that we are reminded that we need the Lord most. 

The greatest blessing we can pass along to those who follow us is the assurance that God is faithful and at work in our lives. In v.28 of today's passage Jacob closes with three usages of the word "bless" illustrating the fact that God eagerly seeks to bless His people. It is His blessing, in all of its varieties, that creates the context for the greatest adventure for all willing enough to believe. That adventure is a personal relationship with Him whereby we look for Him daily for His leadership in our lives. As we encounter what He has planned for us, we marvel at His genius.

Genesis 49:22-26

For the Genesis 49:22-26 PODCAST, Click Here!

"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." ~ Genesis 49:22-26

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 49 where Jacob has pronounced his blessing upon 10 of his 12 sons. Today we’ll look into Jacob's blessing of Joseph. In this blessing, we will again see that every word pronounced points us to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the Lord Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of every Old Testament type, picture, story, and sacrifice, the Bible truly makes no sense. It appears disjointed, hard to follow, and without any ultimate purpose. It appears to be a convoluted book of meandering stories that often seem bizarre or irrelevant. But when see that all of the Bible has one main character, the entire book not only begins to make sense, it becomes a cohesive whole that makes absolute sense. 

In v.22-24 of today's passage we read, "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.)"

As we have seen before, the name Joseph is based on two words. The duality in his name prompts us to look backward and also forward. The first is "subtract" and the second is "add." In Joseph's name is pictured what the Lord Jesus has done for us on His cross. As we read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." For all who are humble and honest enough to admit that we need a Savior, the Lord Jesus has taken the judgement of God for our sin and He has given to us His righteous acceptance before God.

Jacob said first to Joseph, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall." The fruitfulness of Joseph in the sons which descended from him points us to the secret behind their success. It is the God of the Bible through the faithfulness of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who makes all who trust in Him acceptable before His holy and perfect presence. The faithfulness of God means God is unchanging in His nature, true to His Word, and can be trusted to keep His promises forever. Nothing in heaven or on earth can prevent God from accomplishing all that He has promised us. 

In v.23 of today's passage, Jacob guides us to look into Joseph's past. Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his special robe, shoved him into a pit and sold him into slavery. The genius of Joseph is that he recognized immediately that his trials aided his growth in the Lord. He was able to do this because he was connected to the vine, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Despite the attacks by the archers, meaning his brothers of the past, the bow of each remained in "strength." This word used in v.24 reveals that Joseph's past factored into a prophecy of the future. The word "strength" means to go on forever without cessation, such as a flowing stream. Such is the strength of Christ in the yielded life of the believer.

In v.25-26 of today's passage we read, "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."

It is the Shaddai, "the Almighty" who is the One who provides fruitfulness and protection to His people. This name of God is used six times in the Bible and all of the references paint a picture of a God who is mighty to faithfully do as He has promised. The blessings of which Jacob spoke ultimately point to God's greatest blessing which is a personal relationship with Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It was the separation of Joseph from his family that set him on a journey that landed him in the second most powerful position in the world at that time. Necessary were the pains of those many uncertain years for Joseph for they separated him into the very presence and favor of the Pharaoh. The word for "separate" in v.26 is the same as the word Nazarite. There is a two-fold meaning in this word, as well. It points not only to the fact that Joseph had been separated from his family by a long period when he was persecuted and humiliated, but also his elevation to such preeminence.

A careful study of God's name, El Shaddai throughout the Bible makes clear that He is the God who overcomes. So often in life we feel that we are being overcome. We all get weary battling the many temptations which come with living in this world. It is truly a constant struggle to remain faithful to the God who loves us more than we do ourselves! The Lord Jesus said, "Take heart because I have overcome the world." The cross, for all its scorn and shame was the very place of victory for God. It may have looked like the world had overcome Him but actually it was God’s sovereign and invincible plan that the Lord Jesus would go to the cross to die in our place for our sins and to be raised to life again. When things looked at their worst, God overcame on our behalf. And now that we belong to the Overcomer, it means we will never be overcome.

Genesis 49:19-21

For the Genesis 49:19-21 PODCAST, Click Here!

"19 Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, but he shall triumph at last. 20 Bread from Asher shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21 Naphtali is a deer let loose; he uses beautiful words." ~ Genesis 49:19-21

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 49 where we will witness Jacob blessing three more of his sons. God spoke the universe into existence and by the power of His word, it stood firm. From nothing came all things. In a mere six days God fashioned everything suitable for His highest creation, man – a temporal/spiritual being; one intended to fellowship with God in a unique way. Before God made man, He knew man would fall. The spiritual would be lost and man would be separated from Him. God slowly revealed Himself through His word and His creation which finds its culmination in the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, but he shall triumph at last."

To the next three sons of Jacob today, he will bless the sons of his concubines. Dan was the first and now Jacob turns his attention to his seventh-born son, Gad who was the third son born to a concubine and the first born to Leah’s maidservant Zilpah. Elijah, the prophet, came from this tribe. Gad means "troop." This son was a reflection of Leah’s sad condition. Unlike her other children, Leah never invoked the name of the Lord when he was born. Instead, He was sadly left out in the naming of her son. 

Jacob's blessing to Gad literally is translated, "troops shall troop on him, but he shall troop on their retreat." Jacob’s prophecy to Gad points us to the tribe that came after him. They would be warlike out of necessity. As a tribe, they settled to the east of the Jordan instead of in the land of Canaan. Because of this, they were exposed to sudden incursions of plunderers without the protection of the greater body of Israel around them. In their many conflicts and difficulties, they made war alongside the other tribes who settled to the east of the Jordan. 

In v.20 of today's passage we read, "Bread from Asher shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties."

Next, Jacob pronounced blessing upon his eighth-born son, Asher. He was the fourth son born to a concubine and the second born to Leah’s maidservant Zilpah. Asher means "happy." This prophecy was fulfilled literally in the land allotted to the tribe of Asher when it was granted. Positioned in the lowlands along the seacoast between Mt. Carmel and Tyre, Asher was an area fertile and abundant in both grain and oil. Because of the rich soil of the area, Asher’s bread was rich. 

In John 6:41, He then spoke saying, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." And then repeating Himself and expanding on that, He said in John 6:51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

Here, the Lord Jesus refers to the personal relationship with Him that is granted to us once we have come to the end of ourselves. It is at this point that we recognized that we were sinners in need of God's help and that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God sent by God to go to the cross and to pay the penalty that separated us from God. As the bread He is the source of eternal life and once we have trusted in Him illustrated here by eating of Him, we are made born again.

In v.21 of today's passage we read, "Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words."

The final blessing upon the son of a maidservant falls to Jacob’s sixth-born son, Naphtali. He was the second son born to a concubine and the second born to Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah. The land of Naphtali ran all along the shores of Galilee and it was from there that the ministry of the Lord Jesus began. Naphtali means "my wrestling." The result of Jacob’s blessing upon him set him free. Instead of being bound, Jacob said that Naphtali was likened to a deer let loose. In Psalm 18:33 we read, "He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
 and sets me on my high places." Naphtali was free to roam and feed upon any pastures he desired. 

Naphtali provides a picture of the person who has come to the end of himself and has received from the Lord a personal relationship with God. Once we entered into a personal relationship with God, we began a journey of being taught from where our true identity comes. As we are being defined by God, we will find ourselves obeying Him according to what He says is true. It is God's desire that we are free to be who He made us to be, and not who others or life circumstances have told us we were meant to be. We should be defined by God from the inside out, not the outside in. Most importantly, we should be defined by how the Father sees us and what His Word says about us. We will know that we are being defined by God when we obey Him.

As believers in Christ, everything we need for a fulfilling life is found in the person of Jesus Christ. In order to understand our identity in Christ, we must understand how God sees us. He sees us through the perfection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we mustn't be compelled to do things to get others, even God, to like us because Christ has earned our perfect standing before God. Everything else, including what we and others think of us, does not matter. Our true identity is ultimately based on what God has done for us. Before God we are worthy because the Lord Jesus earned that status for us.

Genesis 49:13-18

For the Genesis 49:13-18 PODCAST, Click Here!

"13 Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon. 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. 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. 18 I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!" ~ Genesis 49:13-18

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 49 where Jacob, at the end of his earthly life, is delivering blessings upon his twelve sons. To this point, we have considered four of the twelve sons. Today, we will consider the next three. Each word in this passage is prophetic of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to purchase fallen man back to God. In this we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all things good and truthful. It was He who said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father but through Me."

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon."

Jacob, after blessing Judah, now turns his attention to his tenth-born son, Zebulun. Judah was the fourth son of Israel, so this seems out of place, but Zebulun was born to Leah, not to one of the maidservants. And so the blessing is upon her sons first. However, Zebulun has another brother, Issachar, who was born to Leah before he was. And yet, Jacob first blessed Zebulun before he blessed Issachar.

Zebulun means "Glorious Dwelling Place." The word "sea" was written in the plural here. Literally, it reads, "Zebulun at the shore of the seas shall dwell," implying is that this tribe would fill the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Zebulun's inheritance included a shore where ships unloaded revealing the people of Zebulun would be a people predominantly engaged in commerce next to the town of Sidon.

Sidon was the firstborn of Canaan and his territory was at the norther end of the land of Canaan.

Sidon means "catching fish" confirming that Zebulun would have a portion of coastal territory. As each son of Jacob so far has pointed us to the Lord Jesus Christ, this one does too. Zebulun describes that place where Christ brings all who trust in Him into the presence of God through His work on the cross.

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "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."

Issachar was Jacob’s ninth son, the fifth born to Leah. Issachar means "He is wages." In addition, he is called a strong donkey. This type of donkey is a service animal, used like an ox for plowing and other such heavy work. In addition, Issachar will be placed between two borders, the region of Syro-Phonecia on one side and Samaria on the other. The word translated here as "burdens" is used only twice in the Bible. The other time, it is translated as "sheepfolds" indicating Issachar would be like a servant animal who finds rest in a comfortable spot. 

The word "rest" is the same word used to describe the still waters in Psalm 23. Due to his peaceful surroundings and his well-placed position between two areas where there is safety and rest, he will be willing to bear a heavy burden upon his shoulder in order to obtain what he desires. As Issachar means "He is wages" the idea is that in his future he will be a man of hire. In other words, his labors will be his pay; he will be a bondservant. No one but the Lord Jesus fits this bill.

In v.16-18 of today's passage we read, "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. 18 I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!"

In the final blessing today, that of Dan the fifth born son to Jacob and the first of four born to his two concubines. Dan was the first born to Bilhah, the maidservant of Rachel. Dan means "to plead the cause of." In Dan we see a most striking and clear picture of the work of the Lord Jesus. 

In John 6:38 the Lord Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." Then in John 9:39, He said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." Then, in John 10:10 He said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." In 1 John 2:1 we read, "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Jacob likened Dan to a serpent which is the same word used for the serpent in Genesis 3:1. Dan is likened to this serpent, which is the same word used in John 3:14-15 which reads, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." In addition, Jacob described Dan as a "viper" which comes from the Hebrew word which means "to bruise." In Genesis 3:15 we read, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."

At the end of v.18 of our passage today, we have the first usage of the name "Yeshua" in the Old Testament. Of course, Yeshua is Jesus. In Acts 4:12 we read, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The name of whom Peter spoke that day was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the suffering Messiah predicted by the Psalmist a thousand years before His coming. 

In Psalm 22 we read, "16 For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." The Lord Jesus could not have orchestrated these events if He were a mere man. This is one of many passages in the Old Testament which all point us to the One who is the God who became a Man in order to save us by paying our penalty on His cross.

Genesis 49:8-12

For the Genesis 49:8-12 PODCAST, Click Here!

"8 Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you. 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? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 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." ~ Genesis 49:8-12

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 49 where Jacob is blessing his sons. Having considered Jacob's blessing upon the first three sons, today, we will contemplate Jacob’s blessing upon Judah, his fourth son. The Bible speaks more about the tribe of Judah than any other single tribe of Israel. Through Judah came the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite his sexual failure with his daughter-in-law, Judah developed into a leader. If we desire to be leaders, we, like Judah, must be willing to confront the truth, even hard truths about ourselves, repent of our sin and turn to God. In the development of Judah as a leader, a drama developed which would only be consummated through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v.8 of today's passage, we read, "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you."

Judah was the fourth son born to Jacob and Leah. The name Judah means "Thank you, God."  The term "Jew" comes directly from the name Judah. The Apostle Paul used this term in Romans 2:28-29 which reads, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

Jacob’s note in today's passage is that God was praised for him at his birth. Judah first began to attain ascendancy when he spoke on behalf of all the brothers before Joseph revealed himself to them. After that, he was sent by Jacob ahead of the others as they traveled to Egypt to point the way to Goshen. Judah was the first tribe to march ahead of the other tribes as they carried the Ark of the Covenant into Canaan. Once in Canaan, Judah was repeatedly selected as the first of the tribes to go into battle. After Joshua’s death, Judah was the first to be assigned land as it was divided among the tribes. The first judge of Israel, Othniel, was of the tribe of Judah. From Judah came King, David. Judah, meaning "thank you, God" sets the example for all of us. In all things, let gratitude lead.

In v.9-10 of today's passage we read, "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? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people."

Judah was a young lion, one of little power. At this point in the history of Judah, he was one among his brothers, with no seeming advantage above them. However, the tribe of Judah eventually matured into a grown lion in its own right. It became the largest of the tribes and was known for its many conquests, defeating prey in all directions as they prospered. Jacob employed symbolism of a lion that crouched over his prey, with no worries about it being taken from him as he devoured it. 

The scepter has always been the symbol of rule and authority. This was prophesied by Jacob of Judah as the predominate and ruling tribe. To Judah was given the rule and the acknowledgment of that rule was in the scepter. As the ruler, Judah would rest his staff between his feet while sitting on his throne. Judah, like many others in the Old Testament points us to none other than the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is called the Lion of Judah who has triumphed over temptation, sin, and death. The Lord Jesus is the Lion who retreats before nothing! The word "Shiloh" means peace, the peace of the coming Messiah. It is the law or truth of God that brings order to things. The name and person of Judah points us to the Prince of Peace. Judah was the lawgiver until the true Lawgiver came.

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "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."

In the land of Judah, vines have always been in great abundance. So much so that a donkey could be tied to them almost anywhere. The "choice vine" has a purple berry without any seeds and it is highly valued. And yet, it would be so common that that the donkey’s colt would be tied to it. The same terms for donkey and donkey’s colt were used in Zechariah 9:9 which foretold of the coming Messiah. And, even the vine has a fulfillment in the Lord Jesus. In John 15 he said, "I am the true Vine." Under the law, donkeys are considered unclean animals and thus they represent the gentiles, impure and ignorant of spiritual matters and yet once tied to the true Vine, the Lord Jesus, the gentile believer is given the very wisdom of God that confounds the unsaved world. 

In the land of Judah, wine was so common, it could be used like water for the most ordinary purpose, even washing clothes. This is why Jacob prophesied that the Messiah would wash His clothes in the blood of grapes. The Lord Jesus is our goel, He is both our Kinsman Redeemer and Avenger of blood. Both of these roles come from the same Hebrew word, goel, as we have previously pointed out. As our Kinsman Redeemer, Christ has put on garments of flesh and has become like us in His human nature. He, in fact did wash his clothes in His own blood, becoming entirely red in His apparel, from head to foot in order to redeem you and me. His bloody garment became our righteousness because He has avenged us of our sin. In Revelation 19:13 we read, "He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."

Genesis 49:1-7

For the Genesis 49:1-7 PODCAST, Click Here!

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. 3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. 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." "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." ~ Genesis 49:1-7

Today, we transition into Genesis 49 where the sons of Jacob are being given a history lesson of God's faithfulness. Following that Jacob pronounced blessing upon each of his sons. These blessings were actually prophetic utterances of what the sons should have expected in the remaining days of their lives. Jacob himself had been in some hard spots during his life but he discovered through it all that the God of the Bible was "the Stone of Israel." Today, we will consider Jacob's blessing upon just three of his twelve sons. 

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "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.'"

In this chapter, the names Jacob and Israel are both used five times. The usage of these names illustrates the civil war that exists in every believer in the Lord Jesus. As Jacob, he was the man who fed his flesh or the evil desires within. As Israel, he fed the Spirit of God who worked in his life. As Jacob, he was defined by sin and as Israel he was defined by God. With this as the background, Jacob called his sons into his presence so that he could pronounce upon them divinely inspired blessings that would prove to be prophetic.

In v.1, Jacob used the phrase "in the last days." This is the first of 16 times that this phrase is used in the Bible. Despite the fact that portions of this prophecy extend well beyond our time here on earth, they will be fulfilled in Israel’s later history during the Tribulation and the Millennium.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. 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."

The firstborn son of Jacob was Reuben. Since he was the firstborn, he should have been blessed with the rights of a first born which included the birthright, the priesthood, and the kingdom. But Reuben disqualified himself due to his sexual indiscretion. Jacob described him as "boiling over like water" which means Reuben was unstable in how he conducted himself. Jacob was saying that Reuben couldn’t control himself. As a result, nothing of superiority or excellence is noted concerning Reuben in the rest of the Bible. Not even one person of renown came from him. At the same time, two of the Bible’s most noted bad men, Dathan and Abiram, who came against Moses later, came from Reuben's lineage.

In these last words ever uttered to his oldest son, Jacob used the third person as if Reuben was not even in the room when he was saying these words. Jacob's disgust of Reuben's actions was clear. Later, Reuben and his tribe would be separated from the land of Canaan by the Jordan River. His inheritance forever remained on the eastside of the Jordan. It was as if he and his people were always on the outside looking in. Reuben, when he had his sexual fun was in search of intimacy. Sadly, that was what he lacked for the remainder of his days.

In v.5-7 of today's passage we read, "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."

Here Jacob blessed his next two sons, Simeon and Levi. He  blessed them together. Of all the sons to be blessed by Israel, only Simeon and Levi are united in a single blessing rather than individually. They were sons of the same mother, and they together killed all the men of Shechem in response to the rape of their sister Dinah by the man named Shechem. Because of their actions Jacob described them as "instruments of cruelty."

Since Simeon and Levi killed the entire city of men with the sword, Jacob removed them from their positions of honor that should have followed Reuben’s disqualification. Jacob was careful to curse their emotions and not the sons. Even in his condemnation of their actions, he still granted them the blessing of the covenant. They were family but they failed to make choices accordingly. Throughout the Bible we learn that there is a place for wrath. It is the obvious result of offense, but wrath is to be tempered and appropriate to the situation. In the case of these two brothers, they allowed their wrath to make a mockery of justice. This cost them a prominent blessing from their father. Instead, in their blessing, came a prophetic rebuke concerning the generations which followed them. 

Jacob’s words to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi were more like anti-blessings. Reuben lost the rights of the firstborn because he had sex with his father’s wife. Simeon and Levi lost their positions as next in line because they murdered the men of the city of Shechem. The tribe of Simeon virtually disappeared from the biblical narrative after the conquest of the promised land under Joshua. And, the tribe of Levi had no inheritance in the promised land. 

The prophetic blessings of Reuben, Simeon and Levi point to the future history of their people and they also point us to the work of God in the Lord Jesus Christ that was required to redeem us from our sinful ways. Time and time again, God allows us to pursue the definitions of this world so that we would hopefully be redirected to His Son. Through the destruction that sin brings, God desires to awaken us out of our sleep and to prompt us to be defined by Him. Without the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, there is no lasting purpose and there is no ultimate point to our existence. But in the Lord Jesus there is eternal hope, abounding peace and enthusiastic joy due to His abiding presence in our yielded lives. 

Genesis 48:17-22

For the Genesis 48:17-22 PODCAST, Click Here!

17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." 19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow." ~ Genesis 48:17-22

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 48 where Jacob has just blessed the two sons of Joseph. As we have seen, the names of these two sons are quite revealing because Manasseh means "to forget a debt" and Ephraim means "ashes made double fruitful." Jacob blessed the second-born Ephraim with his right hand and the firstborn Manasseh with his left hand. In doing that, Jacob pointed us to the cross of the Lord Jesus. The word "knowingly" was used by Moses to describe the crossing of Jacob's hands. Joseph misunderstood this detail because he did not understand that God was in the details, directing all who seek Him for the remedy of our "ashes to ashes" problem. This was not a mistake, but was the full intention of Jacob under the inspiration of God according to v.14.

In v.17-19 of today's passage we read, "17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' 19 But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.'"

The order of the blessing upon the boys, from that time on, would affect all of redemptive history, for both Jew and Gentile. Ephraim is the name associated with the ten northern tribes of Israel. They rejected God's definition of things. And so, God rejected them and they were exiled from their homeland. But in their exile, God never forgot them and He was gracious to them later extending the possibility of them entering into a personal relationship with Him. 

Jacob guided his hands knowingly, crossing them over so that the blessing would fall upon Ephraim, the younger son, instead of Manasseh, the older brother. Every detail of what occurred was given to picture the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in redemptive history. Where Adam failed and incurred a debt, the Lord Jesus Christ prevailed and His work on the cross has made it possible for all of Adam’s fallen sons to share in the grace and mercy of God. It is the same story being re-explained and repeated over and over again in the book of Genesis so that we don’t miss what God has done and that the Lord Jesus is understood to be the Messiah.

At that time however, Joseph didn’t understand. He thought his own father Jacob was confused about the placement of the sons and so he attempted to rectify it by intervening in the placing on of the hands. Joseph failed to recognize the hand of God’s Spirit upon Jacob as he prophesied and blessed his grandsons. It further says that he was displeased. What Joseph saw as an error, was a repetition of God’s continued selection of the second over the first. In this case, it would turn out to be one of the great moments in redemptive history.

Joseph's failure was his attaching God’s grace to the order of nature. It is the same failure that we all have made, we attempt to shove God into a box of our own choosing. We perceive that the world should work in a particular way and we think that God will act in that way. Jacob had the hand of God upon him for what would become the reality of the supremacy of Ephraim over Manasseh, and he had the hand of God upon him for what would become a picture of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The hidden wisdom of God cannot be limited by flimsy human understanding.

From Ephraim came Jeroboam who became the first leader of the Ten Tribes of Israel as they broke away from the southern kingdom of Judah. Because of this, the northern tribes are often called both Israel and Ephraim. The southern tribes were known as Judah. It was the ten northern tribes that was exiled by Sennacherib King of Assyria in 722 BC. From this exile, they were dispersed to the ends of the world, losing their identity and mixing in with the gentiles. This exile included both tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. It doesn’t sound like greatness, unless one understands what occurred in their dispersion. The phrase translated "multitude of nations" in v.19 is best understood in the phrase used in the New Testament, "the fullness of the gentiles." The waywardness of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh led to the possibility of the gentiles being allowed into God's family.

In v.20-22 of today's passage we read, "20 So he blessed them that day, saying, 'By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'' And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, 'Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.'"

While the Jewish people, represented by the tribe of Judah is currently under God's punishment according to the law, God has presently directed His attention to the Gentiles, represented by the dispersed tribe of Ephraim. And He is, in us, continuing on today with His remarkable plan of salvation. The Gentiles have been brought into the commonwealth of Israel because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Jacob’s words reveal the miracle of the church age which we are in at this current time.

The final words of blessing uttered by Jacob in today's passage were words of prophecy and faith. Not only would Joseph and his seed after him return to Canaan, but they would receive their inheritance as is now granted to them. The one requirement for receiving the blessing of forgiven sin and a personal relationship with God is that they receive their inheritance, the Lord Jesus Himself who was promised so long ago in the Garden of Eden just after the Fall.