Genesis 49
Jacob’s Departing Words
V.1-2 Blessings and prophetic utterances
V. 2 “Jacob and Israel”-
Gal 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
V.3-4 Reuben will no longer excel (Gen. 35)
Matt 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
V.5-7 (Gen. 34 )
“We’re all good by nature.” Really?
Ps 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Rom 3:23 There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The Levites would later redeem themselves
Ex 32:26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
Sexual sin and anger… A constant battle
Col 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
How do we do this?
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [Sexual sin and anger may not be your besetting sin] 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
V.8-12
1. You will assume the rights of the firstborn (V.8a)
2. You will be strong (V.8b)
3. You will be a ruling/kingly tribe (V.10)
4. You will be prosperous (V.10-12)
Why such a blessing? (Gen. 44:30)
V.10 A future ruler
· See Rev 19:11
V.13 “Zebulun”-
1 Chron 12:33 men of Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty-50,000;
V.14-15 “Issachar”-
· Large in number and occupied large territory
· Eventually enslaved
Beware O Sluggard
Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
V.16 “Dan”
· Samson
· Introduced idolatry into Israel (Judges 18:30).
· Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-30)
· Dan became a center of idol worship in Israel (Amos 8:14).
V.18 Jacob pauses to praise God
V.19 “Gad”- Ammonites
V.20 “Asher”- Prosperous
V.21 “Naphtali”
Matt 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali- 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
V.22-26 “Joseph”
· Mighty One of Jacob
· Shepherd
· Rock of Israel
· The Almighty
A familiar story
See Heb 10:32
V.27 “Benjamin”- Judges 19-20
V.29-32 Jacob’s death request
V.33 Jacob breathed his last in this world and breathed his first in paradise
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.