Jacob calls his sons and predicts their future. Instead of leaving his wishes as a will, he tells the descendants of Israel what God will do.

 Genesis 49:1-12, Jacob's Blessings and Curse - Causality and Repayment 

Topic

   God is the one who pays back what he has done.

Key question

   Looking back on my actions, is my life truly a life of God's grace?

Jacob blessing his sons

1. Entering

   God is the God of love. Because you have forgiven us through the vicarious death of the single-born Jesus Christ. For sin I must die, but Jesus died instead. God forgives you, but made sure that life pays for your sins.

   Jacob, who is human and must leave the land, bless Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph, at his last moment, and make a will to Joseph to bury his body in the land of promise. And from today's text, I proclaim blessings and curses to each of my sons.

   But in the text, we can see that Jacob's prophecies about Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, and Jacob's prophecies about Judah are completely opposite. For Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, they prophesy a curse, not a blessing. And he prophesies great blessings for Judah.

   Why did Jacob make conflicting predictions to his four sons?

2. In the text

   Jacob curses against crime.

   In Sections 2 through 7, Jacob mentions the crimes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. He is proclaiming a curse, saying for himself the crime of rushing Reuben, of adultery, of defaming the family, and of killing all the men of Shechem with the cruelty of Simeon and Levi.

   You wanted to curse your sons as Jacob, but Jacob knew that God, who pays back what he did, was looking at it as righteousness. Therefore, he foretells that sin will be cursed and punished, leaving a warning for future generations.

   Jacob blesses the sacrifice.

   Before going to Egypt to buy food, Judah once told Jacob that he was responsible for Benjamin's life and would be collateral (Genesis 43:9). And in Egypt, Joseph's test, in a section not exceeding 44:18, he conveyed to Joseph his filial heart for his father Jacob.

   As a reward for Judas' sacrifice of love and service, Jacob foretells blessings. Along with the blessings of abundance and beauty, we predict that the descendants of Judah, Messiah and Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind, will come.

   He will obey all the people until Shiloh comes to him, for he does not leave Judah and the ruler's staff does not leave between his feet.

   prophesy blessings and curses, as they have done.

   Jacob in his old age didn't favor anyone in particular and give them such blessings and curses. They foretold blessings and curses in the hope that God will repay them as they have done. He foretold the curse of the son who did evil, and the blessing of the son who showed sacrifice and love.

3. On your way out

   Our God is also a righteous God and a judge. Just as Jacob prophesied blessings and curses according to the actions of his four children, the God of righteousness will repay them according to our deeds.

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.(Revelation 2:23, ESV).

   Faith is important and actions that represent the practice of faith are also important. Like two wheels of a cart. Faith and deed are both important, just as the carts roll well with two wheels. May we have faith in God and do what we say today. May you be blessed like Judah, a family that enjoys the grace of God to the heavens.

4. Prayer

   And Jacob, the Father of God, taught his sons about God who pays back what he did. By prophesying blessings and curses to his sons, God left righteousness as a will. May my life be a life of faith in God and of doing what I have been said.

   May God guide you to be honest, upright and living in faith when you see it with fiery eyes. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

5. Prayer title

• Let it be a life loved by God, and let it be honest and upright.
• Let our nations be united by the gospel, and let us be a nation that preaches the gospel of the Lord to the whole world.
• Lead our children's way, and let them live a life that pleases God.