In Genesis 49 Jacob/Israel brings all of his sons before him to bless them and tell them what will come of them and their descendants.  At the end of the chapter he gives them burial instructions and then he breathes his last.  As Jacob address each son, the one that stands out the most is his words to Judah. Jacob says that Judah and his descendants would be the leading tribe of all Israel. The years that would follow would prove this prophecy to be true as Judah would become the most prominent and preeminent tribe in all Israel.  In verse 9 Jacob presents an image of a lion when referring to Judah.  At this point in Jacob’s Prophecy concerning Judah, his words seem to go beyond Judah or any ordinary man to someone greater.  In Revelation 5:5, Jesus is referred to as “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah.” In verse 10, Jacob says ,“The scepter shall not depart from Judah,” which is a prophecy that the kings will come through Judah’s line.  And then he says that this reign will be ultimately and eternally fulfilled when “Shiloh comes (until tribute comes, or h comes to whom it belongs).”  This clearly points to the promised seed of Genesis 3:15 – the Messiah. This would have surely brought great Hope to Judah and even his brothers as they were currently living in a land that was not their own. It would have also brought great Hope to the original recipients of Genesis, who were living in a desert preparing to do battle in the Promised Land. It would remind them that no matter how bad things are or how bad things might get, they had Hope in the LORD who would be faithful to fulfill all of HIS Promises.  It brings hope to me as well, for I know that the LORD is faithful to keep all of his promises. I long for the day when Jesus comes again and establishes his eternal kingdom.  Lord, may I live every day for that day.

– Bryan McKenzie

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