Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!" Psalm 150:3
Text: Genesis 49:1-33
ANOTHER FAVOURITE SON
Jacob had two sons that he loved more than the other children. Joseph was certainly the apple of his eye. When he thought that Joseph had died, he turned his affection on Benjamin. However, despite his love for him, the word that he gave concerning his youngest son bordered on the ominous side.
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
In the morning he shall devour the prey,
And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
GENESIS 49:27
A wolf is an untamed animal. He hunts. He is savage. He kills. From the line of Benjamin would come the first king of Israel – Saul. He more than most typified what Jacob predicted would characterize this particular tribe.
TO EVERYONE AN INDIVIDUAL BLESSING
Once again, we are reminded of how to read and interpret these blessings.
“All these are the twelve tribes of Israel,
and this is what their father spoke to them.
And he blessed them; he blessed each one according
to his own blessing.”
GENESIS 49:28
Some of the blessings were uttered with more tenderness than others. But all of the blessings uttered are to be traced to the Lord as the Source!
Could the unpleasant statements concerning some of the sons be considered “blessings”? Yes, for in their being given forewarning, the sons are challenged to seek the Lord’s grace – and if possible turn things around, especially the wrong things.
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE BURIAL PLACE OF JACOB
Jacob knew that he had come to the end of his days. With supreme effort, he gave clear instruction as to where he was to be interred. With great clarity of mind, Jacob spoke of wanting to rest with Abraham and Isaac!
” ‘I am to be gathered to my people; 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
with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for
a burial place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife,
there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there
I buried Leah….’
And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons,
he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last,
and was gathered to his people.”
GENESIS 49:29-33