Genesis 49: 1-28

Genesis 49: 1-28 (summarized)

Jacob gathered his sons, blessed and presented his vision concerning each of them.

Reuben was his firstborn, his might, and said to have excelled in honor and power but because he went up onto his father’s bed, his birthright was forfeited and his excellence was sacrificed.

Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence and caused them to kill men and bring destruction to all other creatures. Thus Jacob said to them “Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.”

Judah was declared a would-be ruler of nations as he was considered a lion’s cub which returned from the prey. His brothers would bow down to him Jacob said.

Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.

Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.

Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.

Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king.

Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.

Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

Message:

This part of Genesis made me understand the consequence of each action by a person and that such a consequence will be known to an individual at the time of judgment. Jacob blessed each of his children in accord to their characteristics, abilities and previous acts. Reuben’s sinful act – sleeping with Bilhah in Genesis 35:22 got him forfeiture of birthright, so his excellence in power was also forfeited. Simeon and Levi had been fierce and vengeful as proven by their killing of those who raped their sister Dinah in Genesis 34; hence, they were separated and Levi’s descendants became priests (Matthew Henry, n.d.). Judah’s act of repentance and excellent leadership blessed him kingship and Joseph’s meekness made him earn the best blessing of all.

Application:

I will always pray for God’s guidance in my every undertaking so that doing something unpleasing to God may be avoided. I will think of God’s judgment of my actions and not of men for me to be deserving of His blessing.

Prayer:

Dear God, I come to You as a sinner. Father, had I been like any of Jacob’s sinful children, cleanse me Lord that I may be worthy of Your blessing. You know how I desire to do good, to be a blessing to others thru the abilities that You have given me and to be with You as judgment day comes. Father if these abilities will make me worthy of Your blessing, use me Lord. Let me utilize them Lord to overcome my weaknesses that most often than not cause me to sin. I pray for Your guidance. Let Your ways be known to me Lord and empower me God that I will be able to manifest them in my daily existence. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.