Title: Stem of Judah/Genesis 49:1-12
Content Title: Stem of Judas
Text: Genesis 49:1-12
Key Verse: (Gen 49:10) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the staff of a ruler to depart from between his feet; until Shiloh comes, and all the peoples shall be subject to him.
It was a solemn prophecy that showed the future of the twelve tribes of Israel left behind by Jacob. It is right that the stem of David and Jesus Christ should be formed through Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob. However, Reuben's unethical past and his character prevent him from receiving the privilege of being born prematurely in Jesus Christ. “(Genesis 35:22) And while Israel dwelt in the land, Reuben went and had an affair with his mother-in-law Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. These results are recorded as they are in the genealogy of the Lord. The Gospel of Matthew states, “(Matthew 1:2) Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.” .
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. Obviously, this is not a prophecy that Jacob left out of his own will, but it must be that he prophesied as a patriarch under the inspiration of God's will to grasp and unfold the history of redemption.
1. Jesus' mission and ministry were decided.
The beginning of prophecy is that the future Savior Jesus will eventually become the praise of the nation of Israel. He is Shiloh, the Creator, the Giver, and the Messenger of Peace. A person with a guilty conscience and a burden of guilt finds peace by realizing the perfect sacrifice and atonement of Jesus. When he brings the thoughts of all those he rules into captivity with his laws, all conflicts within us are completely pacified. His work 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 Lord of all and the whole world becomes the kingdom of God.
2. His birth was foretold.
The Hebrew kingdom was swift until the Romans invaded and annexed Palestine into a tributary. 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 a new horizon in life. Although he was rejected by the sinful crowds of this earth, his coming was received by the poor shepherds and the angels of heaven. 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. Only wisely discern the signs of His Second Coming and become the saints who look forward to it.
(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."
3. The prophecy that all people will be subject to the coming of Jesus Christ under his rule still carries an important meaning. Only by passing 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. Our sincere prayers are needed here.
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.
apply
1) Think deeply about why God chose Judas as the stem to carry on the cause of redemption.
2) I think that God's great work of redemption was foreordained in detail and accurately in today's Word where the birth of the Lord was prophesied.
3) Check whether a life of complete submission to the Lord's rule and completely obedient to His Word is being realized in me.