The Sons of Jacob - Part 3.

P. Ben [June 2015]
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Genesis 49 presents the prophecy of the last days- ‘which shall befall you in the last days’ (v1).

As mentioned earlier Joseph and Benjamin prefigure Christ while the other ten refer to the moral history of the nation of Israel.

Reuben, Simeon and Levi present the spiritual bankruptcy of the nation in two ways- corruption (Reuben’s immorality-v4) and violence (instruments of cruelty-v5).*

*Corruption and violence characterized the antediluvian age (Gen 6:11). In Proverbs, these two cardinal failures are presented under the types of adulteress and evil man. Compare Proverbs 2:16 and Proverbs 1:11, 2:12. Corruption is moral failure-idolatry while violence is social injustice.

The nation’s history during the times of the Judges particularly relate to the gross idolatry of Baal and to the unjust social evils.*These were the times referred to under the typical characters of Reuben, Simeon and Levi.

*For idolatry (Judges 2:12, 10:6…) and for violent travesty of justice (Judges 19).

Judah brings a mighty change to the nation’s spiritual life. He brings in Shiloh (v10).*

*Shiloh means the ‘One who brings peace’ or the ‘Man of Peace’ who is Christ Himself.

Judah presents the significant intervention on God’s part to bless the nation and the world*. This is done by introducing Christ (Shiloh) of the tribe of Judah. Thus Judah presents to us the house of David taking up royal power in anticipation of the coming Messiah (Son of David) - ‘the sceptre shall not depart from Judah…until Shiloh come’ (v10).

*In v10- ‘and to him will be the obedience of peoples’ (JND). It includes the whole world and not just the nation. Shiloh came and proved the sign of the ass’s colt (v11- compare with Matt 21:2) but was rejected. With His rejection, the counsels of God to bless the nation and the world could not be realized. In Zechariah 11, the prophet as the type of Christ breaks the two staffs- Beauty and Bands. The staff ‘Beauty’ was the covenant ‘made with all the peoples (JND)’-Zech11:10. It was the blessing of the world but it had to broken because of Christ’s rejection. The staff ‘Bands’ stood for unification and stabilization of the nation of Israel under Messianic power (Zech 11:14). It was for Israel’s blessing but it too had to be broken because of Christ’s rejection. However, this should not be thought as the nullification of divine counsels. Both Israel’s and the world’s blessing is postponed (due to Christ’s rejection) but will be eventually fulfilled in the future (after the return of Christ). Christ’s rejection postponed the millennial joy but meanwhile laid the foundation of all the divine counsels- the cross (atonement and expiation of sin).

Reuben, Simeon and Levi refer to the time of Judges while Judah refers to the national history under the house of David till the presentation of Shiloh (Christ) to the nation.*

*Here in Genesis 49, the rejection of Shiloh is not brought out, though implied later under the character of Joseph (Christ)-‘the archers have sorely grieved him’ (v23).

To be continued in the Lord’s will.

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