Genesis 49:19-21 Gad, Asher and Naphtali!

19Gadwill be attacked by raiders,

but he will attack their heels.

Moses says in Deuteronomy 33:20Concerning Gad he said:

“Blessed is he who enlarges

the domain of Gad!

He lies down like a lion

and tears off an arm or a head.

21He chose the best land for himself,

because a ruler’s portion was reserved for him there.

He came with the leaders of the people;

he administered the LORD’s justice

and His ordinances for Israel.”

“This has been the blessing of many a child of God – to fight, and apparently to lose the battle, yet to win it at the end” (Spurgeon).

20Asher’s food will be rich;

he shall provide royal delicacies.

Moses says in Deuteronomy 33:24Concerning Asher he said:

“May Asher be the most blessed of sons;

may he be the most favored among his brothers

and dip his foot in oil.

Apparently Asher was also able to produce royal luxurious food.

21Naphtali is a doe set free

that bears beautiful fawns.

Moses says in Deuteronomy 33:23Concerning Naphtali he said:

“Naphtali is abounding with favor,

full of the blessing of the LORD;

he shall take possession

of the seaand the south.”

Other versions say, “he gives beautiful words.” 

“Ya’akov (another form of Jacob) used a metaphor to describe Naphtali and said in the near historical future he would be productive and produce many descendants.”

“The rabbis also teach that the phrase bears beautiful words,”

https://www.jaymack.net/genesis-commentary/Lm-Naphtali-is-a-Doe-Set-Free.php

Yesterday evening when driving out our driveway we were blessed with seeing a doe with a beautiful fawn and when they saw us they both ran in opposite directions. 

What has God blessed you with lately? 

Blessings, David 

Genesis 49:16-18 Dan introduces idolatry!

16Danshall provide justice for his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

Judges 13:24So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him. 

Samson was one of the most prominent judges that came from the tribe of Dan.

17He will be a serpent by the road,

a viper in the path,

that bites the horse’s heels

so that its rider tumbles backward.

Judges 18:30The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses,and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

The tribe of Dan introduced idolatry into Israel, what a legacy!

18I await Your salvation, O LORD. 

“What a happy breathing-space is this! When you and I also are near our journey’s end, may we be able to say, as Jacob did, ‘I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.’” (Spurgeon)

Hebrew word for salvationis “yeshuwah.” Knowingly or not, Jacob calls out to Jesus! 

Yeshuwah be with you!

Blessings, David 

Genesis 49:14-15 Lying down between the sheepfolds!

14Issachar is a strong donkey,

lying down between the sheepfolds.

15He saw that his resting place was good

and that his land was pleasant,

so he bent his shoulder to the burden

and submitted to labor as a servant.

When I first read these verses it didn’t occur to me that the tribe of Issachar was lazy. They were the third largest tribe according to, Numbers 26:25These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

“The meaning seems to be that Issachar was strong, but docile and lazy. He would enjoy the good land assigned him but would not strive for it. Therefore, eventually he would be pressed into servitude and the mere bearing of burdens for his masters.” (Leupold)

But I have to admit that it’s easy to become lazy. As I age I am unable to do the things I use to do and pain becomes my master. 

I find myself lying down between the sheepfolds.

Do you?

Blessings, David 

Genesis 49:13 Devoted to David!

13Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore

and become a harbor for ships;

his border shall extend to Sidon.

Jacob skipped the birth order focusing on the sons born of Leah.

The tribe of Zebulun was noted for its devotion to David supplying the larges number of soldiers than any other tribe.

1 Chronicles 12:33From Zebulun: 50,000 fit for service, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, who with one purpose were devoted to David.

The tribe of Zebulun settled the piece of land sitting between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. They looked both east and west toward the sea. To the right of Cammat is the Sea of Galilee.

“who with one purpose were devoted to David.” What a tribute! 

My parents named me after King David. When we lived in Tucson I use to look up at the night sky, at the stars and be in awe of Gods creation. In my quiet time with the Lord, I’d wonder what it was like for David as a boy tending the sheep and talking, praying to the Lord under the stars.

Do you spend quiet time with the Lord on a daily basis?

Blessings, David 

Genesis 49:8-12 Judah is a young lion 🦁

8Judah,your brothers shall praise you.

Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies;

your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

9Judah is a young lion—

my son, you return from the prey.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down;

like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

10The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the staff from between his feet,

until Shilohcomes

and the allegiance of the nations is his.

11He ties his donkey to the vine,

his colt to the choicest branch.

He washes his garments in wine,

his robes in the blood of grapes.

12His eyes are darker than wine,

and his teeth are whiter than milk.

“The dying patriarch was speaking of his own son Judah; but while speaking of Judah he had a special eye to our Lord, who sprang from the tribe of Judah. Everything therefore which he says of Judah, the type, he means with regard to our greater Judah, the antitype, our Lord Jesus Christ” (Spurgeon).

Judah, the son didn’t show exemplary character because of the way he wanted to sell Joseph for profit, Genesis 37:26.

Or the way he treated Tamar,  Genesis 38:18, 38:26.

But he showed good character when he offered himself in place of Benjamin, Genesis 44:18.

What will be said about your character?

Blessings, David 

Genesis 49:5-7 Simeon and Levi, cursed be their anger!

5Simeon and Levi are brothers;

their swordsare weapons of violence.

6May I never enter their council;

may I never join their assembly.

For they kill men in their anger,

and hamstring oxen on a whim.

7Cursed be their anger, for it is strong,

and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will disperse them in Jacob

and scatter them in Israel.

Genesis 34:25Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male. 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away.

Ephesians 4:26”Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

The tribe of Simeon started out from Egypt being the third largest tribe.

Numbers 1:23 those registered to the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

But some 35 years later they became the smallest tribe.

Numbers 26:14 These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

Both the tribes of Simeon and Levi were scattered and both were cursed but the tribe of Levi gained a blessing.

“Happy is that man who, though he begins with a dark shadow resting upon him, so lives as to turn even that shadow into bright sunlight. Levi gained a blessing at the hands of Moses, one of the richest blessings of any of the tribes” (Spurgeon).

Moses was from the tribe of Levi.

The tribe of Levi turned a curse into a blessing, they were still scattered but they worked in the service of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 23:24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.

Do you let the sun set upon your anger?

Blessings, David  

Genesis 49:3-4 Rueben, uncontrolled as the waters!

3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might,

and the beginning of my strength,

excelling in honor,

excelling in power.

4Uncontrolled as the waters,

you will no longer excel,

because you went up to your father’s bed,

onto my couch and defiled it.

Genesis 35: 22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it.

Because of Rueben’s sin with Bilhah, Jacob demoted his son, forty years later!

He would no longer have the privileges of a firstborn son. 

No one great came from the tribe of Rueben, no judge, prophet, ruler, or prince! 

Sin has consequences and because of Rueben’s sin a generational curse followed his tribe.

Notice his fathers statement, “4Uncontrolled as the waters”. He could not control himself or his appetites.

https://www.gotquestions.org/tribe-of-Reuben.html

What appetite does your sin control? 

But we have hope with Jesus!

Turn your sin over to Him and tell Him you need His help, pray for strength!

Blessings, David