THE BOOK OF GENESIS
CHAPTER 49
ISRAEL BLESSINGS BIBLE STUDY
JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS STORY
Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our Israel Blessings Bible study looking in to the interesting Jacob Blesses His Sons story and how it affects your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.
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CHECK OUT THE GENESIS STUDY
FROM THE BEGINNING
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THE BOOK OF GENESIS
CHAPTER 49
ISRAEL BLESSINGS PURPOSE
JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS PROPHECY
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.
ISRAEL BLESSINGS EXPLAINED
WHY JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS
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?
Frequently in the Bible, the End Times is referred to as the 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.)
ISRAEL BLESSINGS DEFINED
JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS WARNINGS
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.
ISRAEL BLESSINGS SUMMARY
JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS CONCLUSION
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.
CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STUDY
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