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Lesson #13 - Jacob Prophesies About His Sons
Series: The Life of Joseph - A Tapestry of God's ProvidenceLESSON #13
Jacob Prophesies About His Sons
1. Were Jacob’s predictions a “God-inspired prophetic utterance”? / Genesis 49
These words were spoken in the assembly of all of Jacob’s sons. – vs.1
It is logical to conclude that all of Jacob’s sons were also present for Jacob’s blessings of Joseph’s two sons. – cf. 48:8-20
~ This, too, was a prophetic utterance - - guided by the hand of God - - Jacob was speaking “in the Spirit”.
~ It was important for all of the sons to recognize the “engrafting” of Ephraim and Manasseh into the Twelve Tribes.
2. Were Jacob’s predictions set in stone?
On his deathbed, God gave Jacob a profound and prophetic glimpse of the future. cf. Heb.1:1
Were it not for the gift of prophecy, Jacob could only have guessed as to their future.
Nothing Jacob predicts takes away the free will of any of his sons.
~ Jacob’s valedictory contains both good news and bad news.
~ As with Noah’s farewell prophecy to his sons (Gen.9:25-27), Jacob’s words address the general future of each clan.
“Such general characteristics…do not preclude many individual exceptions…” / Henry Morris in The Genesis Record.
3. Breaking down the prophecy.
Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; and listen to Israel your father. – vs.2
This prophecy appears in poetic form and abounds in imagery which requires some “digging” to grasp.
Vss.3-27 record prophetic prognostications concerning each clan (the twelve tribes).
Reuben (vss.3-4) … Simeon & Levi (vss.5-7) … Judah (vss.8-12) … Zebulun (vs.13) … Issachar (vss.14-15) …
Dan (vss.16-18) … Gad (vs.19) … Asher (vs.20) … Naphtali (vs.21) … Joseph (vss.22-26) and Benjamin (vs.27).
He blessed them, every one with blessing appropriate to him. – vs.28b
~ Which of these prophecies do you understand the best and which do you understand the least?
~ e.g., Reuben is told: uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence (vs.4)
Jewish history records that the tribe of Reuben never furnished a leader of any kind for the nation as a whole.
Note especially the “messianic prophecy” regarding the tribe of Judah. – vs.10
Shiloh is a derivation of shalom (peace) and is a reference to Christ - - The One who brings peace”. cf. Isa.9:6
Jesus Christ came into the world through the lineage of Judah. – cf. Mt.2:5-6 and Jn.7:42 with Micah 5:2-5 and Rev.5:5
4. Review Jacob’s final (collective) charge to his sons.
…Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in
the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought. – vss.29-30
Jacob’s grandparents (Abraham & Sarah) … parents (Isaac & Rebekah) … and wife (Leah) were buried there. – vs.31
(After) charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. – vs.33
Next week’s assignment 4 Read Genesis 50 - - regarding Jacob’s funeral.
