At age 147, Jacob had
considerably weakened. He had lived 17 more years since coming to Egypt.
Sensing that the end of his earthly life was near, he called for Joseph his
son. After he had adopted his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he made him swore
to carry his bones and have them buried with his fathers. He then summoned for
his other sons so that he could impart his blessings. Gathering round Jacob that
day were all his sons, eagerly awaiting his blessings. Surrounding him were Leah’s
six sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, and Issachar. Then there were Dan
and Naphtali, the two sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. With them were Gad and
Asher the two sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid. And finally we have Joseph and
Benjamin the two sons bore to him by Rachel whom he had loved dearly. We can
imagine each one, with eager expectation, was hoping to hear something positive
to take into their future. Although all of them expected to receive words of
blessing but some words Jacob pronounced over some of his children appeared
more like curses. The emphasis of Jacob’s blessing was on Judah and Joseph. Out
of this poem of twenty five verses, ten of them were pronouncement over Judah
and Joseph.
Jacob started with Reuben, his
firstborn. By right he should have had the preeminence, but he did something offensive.
In terms of his birth position he should have been greatly blessed. He should
have possessed the leadership with might and strength and had pre-eminency in position
and power. But he forfeited them all because of his sin. He lusted after his
father’s concubine. Jacob pronounced that he would not excel and his tribe will
be unstable like running water. In usurping his father’s power by committing
incest with his father’s concubine, he had forfeited the blessing of the first
born. History verified that no leader, nor king, nor prophet ever came from
this tribe. Here we learn that sin has its attending consequences. Although he
was forgiven, what should have been rightly his was taken away. Don’t trifle
with sin or one will live to regret it.
In verses 5-7, Jacob had some very
harsh words for Simeon and Levi. They both must have anticipated to receive Reuben’s
lot since their father had renounced his right to leadership. To their
disappointment, they were also disqualified. Their violence were cited. In their
anger they hatched the murderous plan and killed all the males in Shechem. They
deceptively had them agreed to undergo circumcision and then killed them when
they were rendered helpless by the surgery. Here Simeon and Levi were condemned
for their anger and violence. Jacob pronounced that they would be scattered and
divided. This literally came to pass. Joshua 19:9-10 tell us that the tribe of
Simeon was allotted a plot within the allotment of another tribe. They were
scattered among the tribe of Judah. The Levites were also scattered throughout
the land. They were given the role of priesthood and were scattered all over
and never given any territory in the Promised Land to own.
The first three sons of Jacob show
us how needful it is for us to develop self-control. When we give vent to lust
or anger, it’s often because of the lack of self-control. We need to cultivate
self-control. And being led and controlled by the Spirit of God will help us to
develop this discipline. Let’s develop self-control so that we will be able to cultivate
a God-pleasing life.
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