Title: Stem of Judah (Genesis 49:1-12)
Contents Jacob's testament was a solemn prophecy that showed the future of the twelve tribes of Israel.
It is right that the stem of David and Jesus Christ should be formed through Reuben, Jacob's eldest son.
However, Reuben's unethical past and his personality prevent him from receiving the privilege of being an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Gen. 35:22).
(Genesis 35:22) “While Israel was sojourning in the land, Reuben went and had an affair with her mother-in-law Bilhah, and Israel heard this.”
These results are recorded in the genealogy of the Lord.
“Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers” (Matthew 1:2).
In the Gospel of Luke, there is no mention of the brothers, continuing to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judas, and Perez.
The will with the prophecy of Judas, who will become the father of Christ, is to reveal the coming of Christ and its future.
This very prophecy is spoken by the Holy Spirit through the lips of this old man.
(John 11:50) You do not think that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation should not perish.
(John 11:51) He did not say this by himself, but because he was the high priest in that year, Jesus did for the nation.
(John 11:52) And he foretold that he would die not only for the nation, but also to gather the scattered children of God and make them one.
Obviously, this was not a prophecy that Jacob left out of his own will, but it must have been that he prophesied as a patriarch under the inspiration of God's will to unfold the history of redemption.
1. Jesus' mission and ministry have been decided.
The prophecy begins by saying that the future Savior Jesus will eventually become the praise of the nation of Israel.
He is indeed the Creator, the Giver, the Messenger of Peace.
A person who has a conscience and is burdened with sin finds peace by realizing the perfect sacrifice and atonement of Jesus.
When he reigns and brings the minds of all men captive to his law, all the ways within us are completely at peace.
His ministry is not just for individuals, but for all humans, the world, and the universe.
At the cross, peace was made, it was proclaimed by the Holy Spirit, and it will be complete when God becomes the Lord of all things, and the whole world becomes the kingdom of God.
2. His birth was foretold.
The Hebrew kingdom lasted until the Romans invaded and annexed Palestine into a vassal state.
And then Shiloh came.
The pious Jews like Simeon and Anna quoted these words to teach the coming of the Messiah.
The Messiah they taught has finally come to this earth and opened up a new horizon in life.
Although his coming was rejected by the sinful crowds of this earth, he came as he was welcomed by the poor (pure-hearted and poor in life) shepherds and the angels of heaven.
(Luke 2:11) Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2:12) This will be a sign for you, and you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
(Luke 2:13) Suddenly, a great host of heavenly hosts were with the angel, praising God, saying, (Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.
(Luke 2:15) And the angels departed and went up into heaven, and the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see what has been done, which the Lord has made known to us.
Now, what we have to wait for today is not his birth, but his second coming.
There is no need for further prophecy because Jesus Christ, who ascended into heaven, will come again in that form. (Acts 1:11)
(Acts 1:11) He said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand and look into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw him go into heaven."
Therefore, we should only wisely discern the signs of His coming and become saints who look forward to His coming.
3. His reign is inevitable.
The prophecy that all peoples will be subject to Jesus Christ, who will come from the stem of Judas, still carries an important meaning.
Only by going through that path of obedience can man enter into the peace of the Lord.
Therefore, we must know that the only way to truly see the Lord is obedience.
Here is what our sincere prayers are all about.
Teach me obedience and keep all your commands, waiting for you with joy, that I may know the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.
my soul ! Think deeply about this. When we obey him, peace like a river will abound in us.
(John 14:1) Do not let your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.
“Application”1). We need to think deeply about why God chose Judah to continue the cause of redemption.
2). In today's Word where the birth of the Lord was prophesied, we must consider that God's great work of redemption was foreordained in a delicate and precise manner. (Alexand the Great) Greek Culture
3). We need to check whether the life of being completely subordinated to the Lord's rule and completely obedient to His Word is being realized in me.