The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 31 -- God Chooses A People – Blessings To Salvation

Reuniting with Joseph in Egypt brought joy back to Jacob in his old age.  As he came closer to the end of his life it was time to pass on the birthright and blessing to the grandchildren of his first born son of Rachel, Joseph.  Manasseh and Ephraim, Josephs sons are brought before Jacob for a blessing.  By this time, Jacob’s eyesight had become rather dim.  Joseph presents his two sons to Jacob with Ephraim, the second born, at Jacobs left and Manasseh, the first born at Jacob’s right hand.  Jacob crosses his hands placing his right hand on the younger instead of the first born.  Joseph protests because Manasseh should receive the greater blessing.  But Jacob refuses Joseph, telling him that he knew what he was doing.  He said that Manasseh too would become a great nation, but his younger brother would be greater and become a multitude of nations. 

Genesis 48:18-20 ESV And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."  (19)  But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."  (20)  So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'" Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

So Jacob, the second born, who stole his brother Esau’s blessing and birthright; passes over Joseph’s first born Manasseh and gives the greater birthright blessing to his younger brother Ephraim.  This actually follows the line and pattern that God established as He instructed Abraham to pass over his first born, Ishmael and give the birthright to Isaac.  He in turn, passes over Esau and blesses Jacob.  Reuben was actually Jacobs first born, but the blessing went to his younger brother, Joseph and now the younger, Ephraim.  This pattern is a God established pattern with His chosen people, Israel.  Jesus Christ establishes this as a pattern in the Kingdom of Heaven through the Parable of the Vineyard Workers when He said:

Matthew 20:16 KJV So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

In chapter forty nine of Genesis, Jacob calls all of his sons together to bless them and to prophesy over them of what would become of their descendants; ultimately down through the ages unto the “End Time.”  Whenever the King James Version renders a phrase, “the last days;” [which occurs 7 times] or “in that day:” [which occurs 112 times]; or “end of the world” [which occurs 7 times]; or “The day of the LORD”[which occurs 5 times] it is referring to the “End Time.”  When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, about the “end of the world;” we need to look at the original language to understand this more completely.  The Greek word here is aion [αἰών – which means age].   It is the end of the age and not the physical destruction of the earth.  It refers to the second coming of Jesus Christ and that time just before that great event.  It refers to modern times today.  See Matthew 24:3

Genesis 49:1 KJV And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

Today, we look at the nation of Israel, which was formed in 1948.  That nation does not include all of the descendants of Jacob called Israel in the Bible.  Those ancient people became two nations when all of Israel rebelled, under Jeroboam, against the house of David, against the tribe of Judah when King David’s grandson Rehoboam became King.  The Kingdom of Judah (made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) becomes separate from the Kingdom of Israel (the other ten tribes). 

1 Kings 12:19 ESV So, Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

God allowed this split of His people Israel.  When Rehoboam assembled Judah and Benjamin to fight against the rest of the tribes; in order to unite the Kingdom; God said not to.

           

1 Kings 12:21-24 ESV  When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.  (22)  But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:  (23)  "Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,  (24)  'Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.'" So they listened to the word of the LORD and went home again, according to the word of the LORD.

The separation of Judah and Benjamin from the rest of the nation of Israel was God’s design.    


In 2 Kings 16:6 the term Jew is first used to distinguish those of the Kingdom of Judah from those of the Kingdom of Israel.

2 Kings 16:6 KJV At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews  from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

The Jews of the New Testament were not only Judah and Benjamin, but were also the remnant of Israel.  The Jews were the covenant people of God in contrast to the Gentiles (Greeks, Romans and all non Jews).

As the Jews returned to the Holy Land in the newly formed nation of Israel; restored in 1948; we are looking at basically the restored Kingdom of Judah.  Now let’s look at what Jacob prophesied for the descendants of his son Judah.  He clearly singles out his son Judah and says that the scepter (the rod or staff; royal authority to rule), would always be with Judah.

JACOB’S PROPHECY TO JUDAH

Genesis 49:9-10 ESV Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?  (10)  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (11) Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

The prophecy to Judah is not only about the enduring reign of God’s chosen people but of the salvation of all people that would come from Jesus Christ, of His father David of the House of Judah.  Christ being both High Priest and King of kings.  He is the WORD; the Lamb of God and He is the Lion of Judah.  Jacob’s prophecy even made reference to how Jesus would make His triumphant entrance into Jerusalem before the last supper, how He would ride on a donkey and a colt.  The reference to “his vesture in the blood of grapes;” is a reference to the outpouring of our Savior’s blood.

 Revelation 19:13 KJV And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The Apostle Paul confirms that the scriptures or oracles of God were entrusted to the Jews.  This is also part of the scepter promise given to Judah. 

Romans 3:1-2 ESV Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?  (2)  Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God

The word oracle comes from the Greek word logion λόγιον meaning utterance.  The oracles are the utterances of God, the WORD of God we call scripture and the Holy Bible.  

What God began in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah; set the stage for salvation in Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  Jacob’s prophecies given to twelve sons; tell about what will happen to their descendants in the last days and the Day of the LORD.  The prophecies refer to our time and what lies shortly ahead.  The entire Gospel message of salvation is founded upon the promise given to Abraham’s descendnts.

Genesis 12:3 KJV And, I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Prayer:  Father in Heaven, your WORD is truth.  Thank you for calling me into the marvelous light of your truth.  Thank you for salvation through your blood, in Jesus’ name, Amen.




Copyright © 2006, 2011  Thomas C. Blake