Daily Scripture Reading Genesis 48:17 - 49:15
Self-control is not something that comes naturally to people. We tend to be selfish and give in to our natural impulses. However, the New Testament encourages self-control, and today’s passage about the life of Jacob illustrates why self-control is good.
When Jacob was nearing the end of his life, he made Joseph swear to bury him with his fathers. Later, Joseph brought his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob so that Jacob could bless them; and Jacob claimed them for his own, meaning Manasseh and Ephraim would be counted among the tribes of Israel. During the blessing, Jacob placed his right hand on the Ephraim, the younger son, and his left hand on Manasseh, the oldest son.
Gen. 48:17 ¶ But Joseph saw that his father set his right hand on Ephraim’s head, and it was displeasing in his sight; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
Gen. 48:18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.”
Gen. 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become the fullness of nations.”
Gen. 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
Not only was the right hand significant, but the order of the names conveyed prominence.
Gen. 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Gen. 48:22 And I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
Notice the word “Amorite”. The Amorites lived in Canaan (see Genesis 10:16, 14:13, and 15:16).
Look at the phrase “which I took from the hand of the Amorite”. The Bible does not tell us about this event or when it happened. It probably took place after Jacob left Laban and returned to Canaan. Joseph was still living with his father in Canaan at the age of 17 (see Genesis 37:2) and he was 39 when Jacob moved to Egypt during the famine (see Genesis 41:46 and 45:6). That means there was a time period of at least 20 years during which Jacob could have been fighting the Amorites.
Gen. 49:1 ¶ Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Gather together that I may tell you what will befall you in the last days.
Gen. 49:2 Assemble together and hear, O sons of Jacob;
And listen to Israel your father.
Gen. 49:3 ¶ “Reuben, you are my firstborn;
My might and the beginning of my vigor,
Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in strength.
Gen. 49:4 Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence,
Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.
This is a reference to the time when Reuben lay with his father’s concubine (see Genesis 35:22).
Look at the expression “uncontrolled as water”. The problem with Reuben was not just that he lay with his father’s concubine, it was that he had a wild streak. The wild streak is what caused him to lay with his father’s concubine. Another way to express this is that Reuben did not have self-control.
Reuben’s offense against his father cost him his preeminence as the first-born. Since Reuben was the first-born, any future kings of Israel should have come from the tribe of Reuben. That means Jesus should have been born into the tribe of Reuben. However, since Reuben did not have sufficient self-control, the tribe of Reuben was not the ruling tribe of Israel and Jesus was born into a different tribe.
Self-control is not something that comes naturally to people. We tend to be selfish and give in to our natural impulses, like Reuben did. However, the New Testament lauds self-control. It is something we should seek and pursue, lest we harm ourselves, just as Reuben harmed himself.
Gen. 49:5 ¶ “Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their swords are implements of violence.
This is a reference to the time when Simeon and Levi killed all the men of Shechem (see Genesis 34:25).
Gen. 49:6 Let my soul not enter into their council;
Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
Because in their anger they killed men,
And in their self-will they hamstrung oxen.
Ponder the first two lines of verse 6. Jacob made it clear that he did not approve of Simeon and Levi’s action against Shechem.
Look at the terms “anger” and “self-will”. Simeon and Levi also lacked self-control.
Gen. 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong;
And their wrath, for it is cruel.
I will divide them amongst Jacob,
And scatter them in Israel.
Take note of the phrase “divide them amongst Jacob”. Simeon and Levi also paid a price for their lack of self-control.
When the Israelites returned to the promised land several centuries later, Simeon was given a portion of land, but it was within the portion given to Judah. Eventually, Simeon was swallowed by Judah and Simeon ceased to exist as a separate tribe. Meanwhile, Levi was the priestly tribe, so they were never given an allotment of land. Instead, they were scattered all throughout the other tribes of Israel.
Gen. 49:8 ¶ “Judah, as for you, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
Notice the complimentary nature of Jacob’s words regarding Judah.
Gen. 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He crouches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lioness, who dares rouse him up?
Gen. 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
The words “scepter” and “ruler’s staff” indicate the tribe of Judah would rule over Israel. This was fulfilled when David, a descendant of Judah, became king.
Gen. 49:11 He ties his foal to the vine,
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine;
He washes his garments in wine,
And his robes in the blood of grapes.
Notice the words “vine”, “wine”, and “grapes”. When the promised land was divided amongst the Israelites, the tribe of Judah was given an allotment that was good for producing grapes and wine.
Gen. 49:12 His eyes are dark from wine,
And his teeth white from milk.
Gen. 49:13 ¶ “Zebulun will dwell at the seashore;
And he shall be a shore for ships,
And his flank shall be toward Sidon.
This indicates Zebulun would dwell along the Mediterranean Sea, near Sidon. Sidon was north of the Promised Land.
Gen. 49:14 ¶ “Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between the sheepfolds.
Gen. 49:15 And he saw that a resting place was good
And that the land was pleasant,
So he bowed his shoulder to bear burdens,
And became a slave at forced labor.
The men of Issachar were workers.
The Bible lauds self-control, but self-control is not something that comes naturally to people. Instead, it is something we need to intentionally pursue. It is one of the traits parents should try to instill in their children.
Reuben, Simeon, and Levi did not have self-control. They gave in to their impulses and brought disgrace and self-harm upon themselves. Their self-destructive actions are an example to us of why we should pursue self-control.
What is an example of harm you brought upon yourself because you lacked self-control?
What can you do to increase your self-control?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”