October 24 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Genesis 49:8–12

Devotional

Jacob, the father of twelve sons, blessed them as he approached his death. He had a special blessing for his son Judah. “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.” Judah did not deserve this favor, for he was a sinner. It was only God’s grace that distinguished him from others. Yet there was something special about Judah. We can remember how Judah, when he was in Egypt, pled for the life of his brother Benjamin. Judah offered himself as a slave to deliver Benjamin. He was willing to pay for Benjamin’s debt. We see Judah as a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The tribe of Judah also had something special. For later on, where was the mighty temple of Israel erected? It was in the land of the tribe of Judah. When the tribes fell away from the house of David, who remained faithful? It was Judah. Judah still preferred Rehoboam’s scorpions above Jeroboam’s calves.

Later, when the tribes of Israel fell away from the true service of the Lord, we read that things still went well in Judah (2 Chron. 12:12). In the other tribes numerous families gained the royal throne, but in Judah the descendants of David stayed on the throne. Jacob said to Judah, “Thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.” This is fulfilled above all in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from the tribe of Judah. No one could be saved through Judah for he, too, had to bow before this King. Jacob also said, “Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies.” This is again fulfilled in Christ who crushed Satan’s head. He conquered the seed of the serpent.

Moreover, “Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?” Who would dare arouse this lion? Judah went up front in battle. He was ferocious and strong and yet it was only because of Christ who is the Lion. Christ is the Lion of Judah’s tribe.

Jacob continues, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah.” The scepter is the sign of government and the issuing of laws. Judah would do that. This is again fulfilled in Christ. He will have dominion and of His kingdom there will be no end. “Until Shiloh come.” Shiloh means the one who brings rest. Christ the Lion is at the same time the Lamb. His blood is shed and in His blood is peace—peace with God. In Christ, God finds rest for His anger, and His people find rest from an angry God.

This is great comfort for all those who have no rest in their lives. Those outside of God experience great unrest. For such people Christ has come. He came to give rest to people who have no hope outside of Him. He says to them, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.