Genesis 49-50
1. The meeting between Joseph and Jacob which completed the reunification of their family and guaranteed the continuation of the promise made to Abraham and Isaac by God in the past.
2. The meeting between Jacob and the Pharaoh. The greatest living servant of God meets the greatest king of the time.
- We also witnessed the blessing of Joseph's sons which was to be significant later on because each son was to have an equal standing with Joseph's brothers - a demonstration that he received the double portion of the first born.
*In this final scene we will see Jacob going on to bless and prophecy concerning each one of his sons.
I. Prophecy concerning the tribes - 49:1-
- Jacob is near death and calls his other sons and will prophecy concerning their future.
- As a father he has insight into their character and patterns of behavior; as a servant of God he can also prophecy about their future.
- He gives each one information about their future generations as a way of encouraging or warning for correction and change.
- He begins with the eldest.
1. Reuben - vs. 3-4 (READ)
- He confirms what is true about firstborns in general, that they are a joy and testimony to a man's youth and strength.
- However, Reuben, because of his sin with Bilhah, is told that he will not amount to much.
- This prophecy is fulfilled in the future:
o The tribe of Reuben never produced a great leader.
o Reubenites were first to settle, not wanting to cross the Jordan with the others.
o They erected a false place of worship (Joshua 22:10).
o In the days of Deborah, they failed to answer to the call to take arms and defend the nation (Judges 5:15).
*So Jacob's prophecy about Reuben not amounting to much was amply fulfilled.
2. Simeon and Levi - vs. 5-7
- These are mentioned together because they were close and always operated together.
- Jacob disassociates himself from their violent acts and motives.
o They killed the Shechemites and destroyed their property in wanton, cruelty and violence.
- He then says that he will split them up.
o Two bad boys who get into trouble together need to be separated.
- Later we learn that they were divided and did not form a union between their two tribes.
o Simeon was absorbed by Judah and eventually scattered outside of Israel. Very little is heard of them after Solomon's reign.
o Levi, of course, was the tribe that Moses and Aaron come from and the priests and temple servants were assigned from this tribe.
o They were not given land but dwelt in cities given to them.
*It seems that the tribe of Levi put their natural zeal for better usage because they became very enthusiastic defenders of the Law and were honored by serving as priests.
3. Judah - vs. 8-12
- By the time Jacob gets to Judah, he has some good things to say.
- His name means "praise" and in the future his brothers would praise him for several reasons:
o He would subdue his enemies.
o He would assume the mantle of leadership normally held by firstborn. Joseph received the double portion/Judah received leadership.
o He would be as secure as a mature lion in its den.
o He did receive the scepter of leadership but not until David (who was from the tribe of Judah) became king 640 years later.
§ All previous leaders were from other tribes but once David became king, Judah was the dominant tribe from then on.
- He says that the "scepter" the rule or role of dominance and rulership would not pass from Judah until Shiloh came.
- Historically this was proven to be true.
o Although Israel was attacked and deported throughout the years, Judah remained the dominant tribe.
o It was Judah and Benjamin that came back from captivity and by the time of Jesus, the Israelite nation became synonymous with the tribe of Judah because all the other tribes had been assimilated or destroyed.
o The term "Jew" comes from the root word for Judah.
o Shiloh is a Hebraic word that can be translated several ways:
§ Unto Him all people shall gather
§ The One who brings peace
§ Until he come whose right it is
- In either translation the meaning comes out; Jacob said that the tribe of Judah would ascend to rulership and remain there until a certain "one" (who will bring peace, who will gather the people, who has the right) arrives.
- This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ because Judah did remain the dominant tribe until Jesus (prince of peace, gathered the church, sent by God and therefore had the right to do these things) Judah lasted in dominance until Jesus (Shiloh) came.
- In 70 AD, after Jesus departed, the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and took captive her people - more importantly there was never again a Jewish king from the tribe of Judah - to this day.
o So the scepter did stay with Judah until Jesus came and then was removed and given to the church.
o Jesus was from this tribe.
- Judah predicted this 2000 years before Christ.
4. Zebulun and Issachar - vs. 13-15
- These are two other sons of Leah and Jacob touches on each briefly.
o Zebulun would live and thrive towards the sea and his later territory extended between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean.
o Jesus' later ministry was conducted in this area.
- He says that even through Issachir was wealthy in land, he was lazy by character and eventually this laziness would cost him.
o Eventually this led to him being overrun and enslaved.
*In the end Issachar was in servitude to others just as Jacob had prophesied.
5. Dan - vs. 16-18
- Dan was a son of a handmaid but assured by Jacob that he would have land and a place of leadership.
- Jacob also reveals some of the events in Dan's future:
o The reference to the serpent may refer to the fact that Dan was one of the smallest tribes but quite fierce in defending its borders.
o Also the idea of the serpent suggests evil and we know that it was Dan that introduced idolatry on an official basis to the land (Judges 18:30).
o Also Dan was the place where Jeroboam, who led a revolt against Solomon, set up idolatrous calves for worship.
*First time "salvation" is used in the Bible.
6. Gad, Asher, Naphtali - vs. 19-21
- Gad is assured that although he was geographically vulnerable from attack, he would be able to repel his attackers.
- Asher would receive a choice and rich piece of land but history showed that because of this ease and luxury the tribe failed to conquer all of its rightful land and eventually because insignificant.
- Naphtali would be known for swiftness as well as the literate minds and production. Deborah's victory song fulfills partially this ability with words (Judges 5:1-31).
7. Joseph - vs. 22-26
- Jacob's best words are reserved for Judah and Joseph. To one the promise of spiritual blessing s and leadership and strength (Judah).
- To the other the blessings of physical prosperity in family, abundance and strength.
- Both were faithful (one from a young age, the other grew faithful with time) but both because so through adversity.
- God is referred to here as the shepherd and for the first time - the rock or stone, all figures repeated by Christ in the NT.
*Jacob acknowledges that he had greater blessing than his father or grandfather and that he wanted to shower greater blessings on Joseph and his grandchildren (played the spoiling grandparent with them).
8. Benjamin - vs. 27
- Of the final and youngest, Jacob predicts that he will be strong and aggressive but become cruel and voracious.
o They were almost destroyed because of a battle waged against them for having attacked and raped a woman.
- Later on Saul, from this tribe, became the 1st king.
*With this all the sons have been blessed or warned and Jacob utters his last words.
II. Jacob's last words - vs. 29-33
- His final instruction to all of them is to bury him with his father and grandfather and their wives.
- This will be a testimony of their combined faith that they believed God even though they did not receive the promise.
*Gathered to his people is not just buried but gone to join the others like him who believed and await the coming of the Lord.
III. Jacob's burial - 50:1-21
vs. 1-3 (READ)
- Jacob's death is mourned not only by his sons but also by the nation.
o The embalming process took 40 days.
o The national mourning 70 days.
- It seems that Jacob had become recognized as a great man even among this pagan nation.
vs. 4-9 (READ)
- Joseph was in subjection to the Pharaoh and needed permission to go which he readily received.
- The group that went with him shows that the nation accorded this burial the same importance as a state funeral.
- The families however had every intention of returning to their prosperous land and now home in Egypt.
vs. 10-14 (DON'T READ)
- This passage describes the funeral itself and the elaborate ceremonies both Joseph's family and the Egyptians went through when they arrived at the burial cave.
vs. 15-21 (READ)
- An interesting sideline here is that the brothers become afraid that now with Jacob's death, Joseph would have nothing holding him back to take vengeance.
- They even try to make restitution by offering themselves as his slaves, like they made out of him.
o He is touched deeply, finally convinced of their sincerity and repentance.
- He refuses their offer and reassures them in 2 ways:
o He promises to continue supporting them and their children.
o He acknowledges that even though it was evil, God used it for good and so even he had to defer to God's will not to punish.
IV. Joseph's death - vs. 22-26
vs. 22-23 (READ)
- Jacob died when Joseph was 56 years old.
- Man's longevity was declining after the flood:
o Abraham - 175
o Isaac - 180
o Jacob - 147
o Joseph - 110
- Joseph was blessed in that he lived to see and bury his father and enjoy his own great, great grandchildren.
vs. 24-26 (READ)
- Interesting that Joseph, who was the second youngest dies before his brothers.
- He uses the occasion to remind them that God's original promise was to give them the land of Canaan and even though they are in Egypt (comfortably) God will eventually take them out.
o His prophecy will be fulfilled 400 years later by Moses.
- As a testimony to his faith, he makes them promise that when they do, they will take his remains and bury him in the promised land.
o This also was fulfilled in Ex. 13:19 - the children of Israel took his bones with them when they left Egypt under Moses.
- He was embalmed and like great leaders of Egypt, his crypt was known publically.
*This is the end of Genesis and the story of the creation of the world, the selection of God's people and their settling in Egypt. Next week - some reflections on our own journey through Genesis.
Lessons
1. Nothing stops God's promises
- Joseph was sold, the famine (may have been a work of Satan to destroy the family), the hardship and separation, none of it could stop the promise of God to this family from being fulfilled.
*Satan may work against you and he will, but never doubt that God will fulfill His promises to you personally.
2. Looks are deceiving
- It didn't look like it but Jacob was the greater man when compared to the king.
- The church looks puny and helpless at times, small and powerless in comparison to the forces in this world.
*Don't judge by outward, superficial appearances, the church is invincible (the gates of Hell will not prevail) nothing will destroy it, nothing will outlast it - don't ever be discouraged about that.
3. God forgives and forgets - even when we can't
- The brothers had been forgiven but they couldn't forgive themselves and kept trying to do something to make restitution, but nothing they could give could pay back the 13 years in prison and slavery that Joseph suffered.
- His offer of forgiveness is like God's offer - based on grace.
- Jesus makes restitution for all the evil we've done and when we accept Him in repentance and baptism, God forgives and forgets all of our sins (in the sense that He covers them over).
*If God forgive us then we can forgive ourselves and put our sins behind us because they won't be there when we meet God in judgment.