49:1-12
(1) Reuben
Twice, Jacob described Reuben as "outstanding" because he was the firstborn.
49:3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might and the beginning of my strength,
outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power.
However, Reuben chose a destructive path for his life (refer to the fact that he slept with the concubine of Jacob 35:22).
(NET 35:22 Reuben’s act of having sexual relations with Bilhah probably had other purposes than merely satisfying his sexual desire. By having sex with Bilhah, Reuben (Leah’s oldest son) would have prevented Bilhah from succeeding Rachel as the favorite wife, and by sleeping with his father’s concubine he would also be attempting to take over leadership of the clan—something Absalom foolishly attempted later on in Israel’s history (2 Sam 16:21–22).
v.4a You are destructive like water and will not excel,
(NET) The prophecy says that because of the character of the ancestor, the tribe of Reuben would not have the character to lead (see 1 Chr 5:1).
Reflection: Reuben was born with the privilege, but he destroyed himself with his lust for power or for sexual. He must have felt very shameful when Jacob pointed this out in front of all 12 brothers here. It is not worth losing our fellowship with God for fulfilling our sinful lust.
(2) Simeon and Levi
Their violence referred to their killing to the men in Shechem and took back their sister, Dinah, in chapter 34. Twice, their anger was mentioned v.6,7.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce,
and their fury, for it was cruel.
I will divide them in Jacob,
and scatter them in Israel!
(NET) Divide … scatter. What is predicted here is a division of their tribes. Most commentators see here an anticipation of Levi being in every area but not their own. That may be part of it, but not entirely what the curse intended. These tribes for their ruthless cruelty would be eliminated from the power and prestige of leadership.
Reflection: Is anger one of your problems? Beware that anger eliminates a person from leadership. Does it worth? A brief moment of venting it out and it will take us off from a leadership position.
(3) Judah
From v.8-10, he and his descendants were described as the leader, "your father's sons will bow down before you," "from the prey... you have gone up," "Scepter...ruler's staff...the nations will obey him."
From v.11-12, Jacob blessed him with material abundance.
v.11 His eyes will be dark from wine,
and his teeth white from milk.
(NET) But if it is in the age of abundance, symbolized by wine and milk, then the dark (i.e., red or perhaps dull) eyes would be from drinking wine, and the white teeth from drinking milk.
However, Jacob did not describe what Judah had done. He did not do anything. He inherited the blessings because he was the one next in line. After his 3 older brothers were excluded he got the leadership role. Reuben, Simeon and Levi would be very regret when they heard the blessings Jacob gave to Judah
(4) Jacob
Jacob was dying and he was in Egypt. He talked about his property in Canaan as if he had already owned that. No, he only spoke that because he had faith in God. According to the covenant with God he knew that his ancestor would inherit the land.
Reflection: Does the promise of God give you hope? Because we have eternal life we are not disturbed by the pandemic. Because we will have a heavenly home we do not mind if we do not mind to be poor in material possession. Because of the hope of the future Millennium Kingdom (Kingdom of God) we are not disappointed with the current political chaos.
Audrey
(1) Reuben
Twice, Jacob described Reuben as "outstanding" because he was the firstborn.
49:3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might and the beginning of my strength,
outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power.
However, Reuben chose a destructive path for his life (refer to the fact that he slept with the concubine of Jacob 35:22).
(NET 35:22 Reuben’s act of having sexual relations with Bilhah probably had other purposes than merely satisfying his sexual desire. By having sex with Bilhah, Reuben (Leah’s oldest son) would have prevented Bilhah from succeeding Rachel as the favorite wife, and by sleeping with his father’s concubine he would also be attempting to take over leadership of the clan—something Absalom foolishly attempted later on in Israel’s history (2 Sam 16:21–22).
v.4a You are destructive like water and will not excel,
(NET) The prophecy says that because of the character of the ancestor, the tribe of Reuben would not have the character to lead (see 1 Chr 5:1).
Reflection: Reuben was born with the privilege, but he destroyed himself with his lust for power or for sexual. He must have felt very shameful when Jacob pointed this out in front of all 12 brothers here. It is not worth losing our fellowship with God for fulfilling our sinful lust.
(2) Simeon and Levi
Their violence referred to their killing to the men in Shechem and took back their sister, Dinah, in chapter 34. Twice, their anger was mentioned v.6,7.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce,
and their fury, for it was cruel.
I will divide them in Jacob,
and scatter them in Israel!
(NET) Divide … scatter. What is predicted here is a division of their tribes. Most commentators see here an anticipation of Levi being in every area but not their own. That may be part of it, but not entirely what the curse intended. These tribes for their ruthless cruelty would be eliminated from the power and prestige of leadership.
Reflection: Is anger one of your problems? Beware that anger eliminates a person from leadership. Does it worth? A brief moment of venting it out and it will take us off from a leadership position.
(3) Judah
From v.8-10, he and his descendants were described as the leader, "your father's sons will bow down before you," "from the prey... you have gone up," "Scepter...ruler's staff...the nations will obey him."
From v.11-12, Jacob blessed him with material abundance.
v.11 His eyes will be dark from wine,
and his teeth white from milk.
(NET) But if it is in the age of abundance, symbolized by wine and milk, then the dark (i.e., red or perhaps dull) eyes would be from drinking wine, and the white teeth from drinking milk.
However, Jacob did not describe what Judah had done. He did not do anything. He inherited the blessings because he was the one next in line. After his 3 older brothers were excluded he got the leadership role. Reuben, Simeon and Levi would be very regret when they heard the blessings Jacob gave to Judah
(4) Jacob
Jacob was dying and he was in Egypt. He talked about his property in Canaan as if he had already owned that. No, he only spoke that because he had faith in God. According to the covenant with God he knew that his ancestor would inherit the land.
Reflection: Does the promise of God give you hope? Because we have eternal life we are not disturbed by the pandemic. Because we will have a heavenly home we do not mind if we do not mind to be poor in material possession. Because of the hope of the future Millennium Kingdom (Kingdom of God) we are not disappointed with the current political chaos.
Audrey
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