Fri.’s Devo - Rueben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah

Read Gen 49:1-12 Jacob gave a special blessing to Joseph and his sons privately then invited all his sons in for their blessings. He wasn’t blessing them as much as he was prophesying over them, and it wasn’t even for now… it was for the last days. For us. He started with Reuben, the first born and worked down. Rueben was rebuked and cursed for dishonoring him and sleeping with his concubine. He called him unstable and told him he would not excel. Rueben stands for the entitled group of people that think because they call themselves Christians they are can live their lives for themselves and rely on a gracious Father to forgive them. They will be unstable and not be able to hold down a job because they despise authority. They dishonor God with their testimony and think it is O.K. Simeon and Levi were called “instruments of cruelty”. They had killed a man out of rage and tore down someone’s wall. In the last days they would be scattered and divided. The Simeons and Levi’s are the people who live their lives with a chip on their shoulder and revenge in their hearts. They tear down other people’s walls and expose their sins instead of covering them with love. They will walk divided and not in unity with the body. Judah would be praised by all and choke the enemy. Generations would bow before them. He was referring to Jesus who would be born of this tribe. He likened him to a lion. Jesus was called the lion of the tribe of Judah. He went on to say that Judah’s rule would never depart and until they enter into peace, then they will gather before him. Jesus reign is eternal and when we enter the millennial peace we will gather and worship around the throne. Verse 11 says that the foal will be bound to the vine and the blood of this vine would wash their garments. His eyes would be red with wine and his teeth white with milk. Jesus was bound to his father and his own blood washed him and the world of sin. Everything he sees is from the perspective of the blood and wisdom would be the milk of the word of God. This is a good description of the body that looks like the head. This is the bride. Lord, may we hail from the tribe of Judah.