ISRAEL’S BLESSINGS

BOOK OF GENESIS

CHAPTER 49

            Greetings to all of you fellow Daily Bread readers.  Today we’ll start off with a couple of little Daily Bread crumbs.  In Bible times, there weren’t formal distributions of property when a person died, as it is today which are called a last will and testament.  Back then, before a dad died, he gave blessings to his children and usually passed the birthright (the major portion of the inheritance and power in the family also a spiritual power) down to the firstborn son.

            Also, you may be wondering what all the hype is about the firstborn.  Over and over we’ve read about it and it still may not be clear as to what’s so exceptional about them.  One way to describe why they are so special is to use analogies.  The first of something is always the purest.  Is a freshly brewed cup of coffee better than one from the bottom of the pot?  Each time gold is melted it becomes weaker.  When food grows on a plant, the first harvest is better quality because the plant is younger and stronger.  Remember God was pleased with Abel’s gift, a firstling of his flock.  Back in Bible times, people were much more concerned about things of this nature.  Purity was something that was respected and the “firstfruits” of anything was special to God.

            Now, back to the birthright going to the firstborn, we’ve seen a few instances where things haven’t exactly happened that way, and in our last segment, we found that Israel won’t be following that tradition either.  That doesn’t mean that he’s going against God, because remember, these people who we’ve been talking about who have deviated from this custom, have been God inspired.  So let’s find out what happened. In other words ... God chooses whom He will.

            Israel said to all of his sons, Gather yourselves together and I’ll tell you what will happen to you in the last days.  Now what do you suppose he meant by that … last days?  If you guessed that he was going to tell them what would happen to their descendants throughout history until the end of this world, then you’re a pretty good guesser. 

             Israel continued ... Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power (his firstfruits).  You are unstable as water and you will not do extremely well because you went up to your father’s bed. Israel is referring to Reuben having slept with his dad's concubine years ago.

            Simeon and Levi are alike, cruelty is in their character.  Israel was remembering when they killed all the men in Shechem.  He went on, O my soul, let me not be remembered for what they did, because in their anger they killed and without advice they destroyed an entire city.  Cursed be their anger, for it was terrible and their fury was cruel.  I will separate them and scatter them in Israel. 

            Judah, you are the one who your brothers will praise.  You will be stronger than your enemies.  Your brothers will bow down before you.  Judah is a lion's young, protected from the prey by the old lion.  Who will bother him?  The power will not leave Judah, and no lawgiver will come from Judah until Shiloh (the One who is sent - Jesus) comes; and to him will the gathering of the people be.  (This is prophecy of the Messiah.)

            Zebulun will live at the seaside and he shall be a harbor for ships.

            Issachar is like a strong mule slumped down with two loads on either side.  And he saw that rest was good and the land was  
            pleasant and was willing to become a servant to authority.

            Dan will judge his people.  He will be a serpent that bites the horse heels so that its rider will fall backwards.  

            As for Gad, a troop will overcome him, but in the end, he will win.

            Asher will be rich, and he will produce kingly luxuries.

            Naphtali is a deer set free, he giveth goodly words.  goodly = comely, handsome, considerable.

            Joseph will be like a fruitful branch by a well, whose branches grow over the wall.  You have been deeply grieved and hated, but you were strong and your arms and hands were made strong by God who will bless you with abundant blessings.  The blessings I give you are greater than the blessings of my forefathers unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills they will be on you who was separated from your brothers.

            Benjamin will be like a hunting wolf.  In the morning he will devour the prey, and at night he will divide the spoil. 

            All of these are the twelve tribes of Israel.  These are the blessings that he gave them.  And he told them to bury him in the cave in the field of Ephron where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah were buried.  And when he had finished talking to his sons, he pulled his feet up into the bed and died. And Israel was gathered to his people. 

            For some of the children of Israel, things sound very promising according to the blessings they received from their father while others don’t sound so honorable.  In any case, these are God’s chosen people and we’ll just have to keep reading on to find out exactly what the future holds for each of them.  So keep your Daily Bread close at hand and we’ll be back next time with the last chapter of the book of Genesis. 

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