The Vision (12.12.25): The scepter shall not depart from Judah

 

Image: Snow covered branches, North Garden, Virginia, December 2025.

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Genesis 49.

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be (Genesis 49:10).

In Genesis 49 Jacob offers a prophetic blessing upon his sons who will form the twelve tribes of Israel. The blessing on Judah (vv. 8-12) is a prophecy of Christ.

Judah’s name means “praise.” From him would come the kingly line. Jacob says he will be at the neck of his enemies (v. 8b). His father’s children will bow down before him, just as they had bowed to Joseph (v. 8b).

His sign is a lion (v. 9). The ancient Hebrews also knew this animal as king of the beasts, the most powerful and fearsome.

Then Jacob prophesies that the scepter of rule shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from his feet (from his line of descent), until Shiloh come. Some suggest the name “Shiloh” means the peacemaker or Saviour (M. Poole). One commentator called it a “cryptogram” meaning “Messiah” (MacArthur Study Bible).

From Judah would come King David, and his descendants would rule in one form or another all the way up to the time when Herod the Idumean (Edomite) was made the King of the Jews by the Romans. And who was born then? The Lord Jesus Christ, Shiloh, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. In John’s vision of heaven in Revelation 5:5 one of the elders says to him, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” But when John looks he sees “a Lamb as it had been slain” (v. 6).

Jacob says, “and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (v. 10b). This means all his elect people, Jew and Gentile.

In v. 11 it says he washed his garments in wine. This figure anticipates the shedding of his blood in his atoning death on the cross. We see this in Revelation 19 when John sees Christ as a victorious champion riding on a white horse in his second coming, “clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God” (v. 13).

In Genesis 49:12 it adds his eyes shall be red with wine. This does not mean bloodshot but that the pupil of his eye will be full and dark, a sign of extraordinary health and vigor. And his teeth white as milk, pure and strong.

This is the apex of Jacob’s prophetic blessing. It points us toward the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer! He came from the line of Judah through King David, in the fullness of time, born in Bethlehem.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

WM 355: KEACH on the DIVINE AUTHORITY of the Holy Scriptures: Part 7 of 17: PROPHECIES

 

JTR

The Vision (12.5.25): Behold I die: but God shall be with you

 

Image: Snowy country lane. North Garden, Virginia. December 2025.

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Genesis 48.

“And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers” (Genesis 48:21).

Genesis 48 describes how Jacob (Israel) on his sick bed blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. Paul said in Romans 15:4 that all the Scriptures were given for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of them might have hope. Here are three lessons from Genesis 48:

First, we learn from the model faith and piety of Jacob.

Though in the land of Egypt, he still trusted in the promises the LORD had made to him (48:4).

He acknowledged God had done more for him than he ever could have asked or imagined, He had not only seen Joseph again but also Joseph’s sons (v. 11).

He acknowledged that God had fed him “all my life long unto this day” (v. 15).

He desired to direct his son and even his grandsons to share in the covenant blessing which he and his fathers had known.

Second, we learn about the sovereign election of God.

Through Jacob, the Lord chose to bless Ephraim above Manasseh, even though Ephraim was the second born (vv. 14-20).

This recalls the teaching about election in Romans. In Romans 9:13, Paul writes, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Likewise, in Romans 9:18 Paul said the Lord has mercy upon whom he wills, and whom he wills he hardens.

Those are examples of Biblical teaching on election to salvation, but there is also election to service, which may be more appropriate to Ephraim and Manasseh. God chooses whom he will among his saints to serve in various ways and to bless as he sees fit. Ours is not to wonder why, but to serve gladly wherever he places us with contentedness.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul noted that God chose him to plant churches and Apollos to water or nurture them, but it was God alone who gave the increase.

Ephraim had one role and Manasseh another, just as Paul had one role and Apollos another, just as each of us have our own roles of service as sovereignly chosen by God.

So let us rest in his wisdom and do our duty.

Finally, we learn about the Immanuel promise of God to his people, that He will be with us and with those who come behind us.

Jacob knew that he would soon die, but God would continue to be with his children (v. 21). As the prophet Isaiah puts it, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever” (Isa 40:8).

One generation passes away and another arises (Ecc 1:4). But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever (Heb 13:8). The one who lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again on the third day told his disciples before he ascended, “and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt 28:20).

Christ is always with us!

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

WM 354: KEACH on the DIVINE AUTHORITY of the Holy Scriptures: Parts 5-6 of 17: AGREEMENT & PENMEN

JTR

WM 353: John Owen (Biblical Theology) on the Septuagint

 

JTR

WM 352: KEACH on the DIVINE AUTHORITY of the Holy Scriptures: Part 4 of 17: HOLINESS

 

JTR

Vision (11.28.25): Joseph: A Man of Virtue and Diligence

 

Image: Joseph sold into slavery by his brethren, floor tile, Gloucester Cathedral, England.

Note: Devotional based on last Sunday's sermon on Genesis 47.

“And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household…” (Genesis 47:12).

We are right to suggest that there are whispers (types) of the experience of Christ in the life of Joseph, though we would also admit that this connection is not explicitly drawn within the NT itself, unlike the connections that are made with other OT types (cf. Jonah as a type of Christ in Matt 12:40).

The historical Joseph of Genesis is not mentioned directly in the NT Gospels, although our Lord’s legal father, Joseph of Nazareth, the husband of Mary, was named after him, as was Joseph of Arimathea, the man who took Christ’s lifeless body down from the cross.

The historical Joseph of Genesis is mentioned in only two places in the NT: First, in Stephen’s speech before his martyrdom (cf. Acts 7:12-15), and second, in the “faith chapter” of Hebrews 11 (cf. Heb 11:21-22). In both of these, the main emphasis is on Joseph’s providential role in preserving his family and bringing them into Egypt. But there is also a focus in the sacred account in Genesis upon the piety and righteousness of Joseph.

We saw it when Joseph had to bring an “evil report” to Jacob about the sinful behavior of his brothers (37:2).

We saw it when with innocence and sincerity (with no guile or grandiosity) he reported his dreams of his family bowing before him (37:5-11).

We saw it when Moses said Joseph was a “prosperous man,” even when he was a slave in the house of Potiphar (39:2).

We saw it when he fled from the salacious advances of Potiphar’s wife (39:12) and when he refused to sin against man (Potiphar) in committing adultery, but most especially to sin against God (39:9b: “how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God”).

We saw it in his willingness to extend mercy and forgiveness to his brethren who had treated him so maliciously (45:5; 8a).

And we see it also in Genesis 47 as Joseph is presented to us as a man of virtue and diligence. We see this in at least three ways in Genesis 47. First, he nourishes his father and brethren (47:1-12); second, he faithfully serves Pharaoh the king, so that the people say, “Thou hast saved our lives” (47:25); and third, he honors his father, even as Jacob neared death (47:30).

The Bible is not a mere moralistic handbook. Its focus is on the glory of God, not the virtue of men, though it does provide us with virtuous models to follow. Joseph is one such model.

The apostle Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). And here in Genesis, Joseph is saying to us: Follow me, as I also followed Christ.

As we have opportunity: Let us nourish our brethren. Let us faithfully serve those who are over us in the Lord. And let us honor father and mother, that our days may be long upon the land which the Lord our God giveth us.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle