Daily Devotions
Genesis
"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Proverbs 29:1
Text: Genesis 49:1-33
SIMEON AND LEVI
Jacob could never forget that fateful day, Simeon and Levi masterminded the slaughter of the Shechemites! This dreadful sin had to be brought up once again.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
Let not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honour be united to their assembly;
For in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel.”
GENESIS 49:5-7
Israel noted that these two brothers were particularly close to each other. Unfortunately, when they got together, they fed off each other’s personality. They were full of wrath and self-will. They became “instruments of cruelty”. They would not lose their inheritance, but to prevent their being too close to each other, he would scatter them in Israel. Sin had exacted a terrible toll on these two sons of Jacob. They must heed this word of admonition or suffer worse consequences in the future.
JUDAH
Jacob’s heart must have gladdened as he addressed Judah. High words of praise came from his lips this time. Israel was given a special prophetic glimpse of the glorious destiny of Judah. He was the one who offered to take the place of Benjamin in prison!
“Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father’s children shall bow down before you.
Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up,
He bows down, he lies down as a lion;
And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
GENESIS 49:8-10
Israel’s word concerning Judah was prophetic. God had revealed to him that the kingly line would come from Judah. But even more important than the royal lineage was the mention of Shiloh. Deeply veiled within this word which means “Sent” was the hope of the Messiah and to Him would be given “the obedience of the people”.