January 18, 2010 - Blessings For The Future

Meditation on Genesis 49

On his death bed, Jacob called together all his twelve sons and proclaimed his blessings upon them for the future. As a man of God who followed God's leading and a father who knew his sons, his blessings upon them had a lot to do with the character of his children. Their future vocation, settlement and expansion were predicted by Jacob. For example, Levi and Simeon were predicted to be scattered among other tribes because of their cruelty. (They killed the Shechemites in Genesis 34) Indeed, later on Moses appointed the sons of Levi to be priests who would live among all the tribes in different cities. God was merciful! Most notably, Judah was the son who had the ability to get consensus from his brethren. So he was prophesied to be the ruling tribe of the nation. Indeed King David was from Judah. Furthermore, the Messiah would come from them. He will have the authority to judge the world described by the book of Revelation.

What kind of the character and talents one has may affect the blessings he has for the future. May we be careful to develop a good character today.