Genesis 49:18-33 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 49:18-33. Let’s go!
Genesis 49:18 (NIV)
18 “I look for your deliverance, O LORD.
On verse 18: Perhaps because of all the trouble, danger, conflict and pain that Jacob saw a number of his sons encountering in the future, Jacob cries out to God in the middle of prophesying over his sons, saying, “I look for your deliverance, O Lord” (v18). Jacob, nearing the end of his life, does the one thing that we all need to do when we see trouble up ahead: cry out to God for help and look for God to deliver us.
Genesis 49:19 (NIV)
19 “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.
On verse 19: Jacob prophesies that though Gad’s descendants would be attacked by others, Gad’s descendants would not be defeated but would attack their attackers “at their heels”, suggesting that Gad’s attackers will retreat and Gad will be victorious.
Likewise, your enemy Satan will try to attack you in various ways, but you have everything you need to withstand his attack, go on the offensive and overcome your enemy in the end. As John writes in 1 John 2:14, “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Praise God! Though Satan will attack, you have everything you need to overcome the evil one.
Genesis 49:20 (NIV)
20 “Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king.
On verse 20: Jacob prophesies that Asher will produce rich food fit for a king. Likewise, whenever you work at anything, may you strive to produce something excellent that is fit for a king. As Ephesians 6:7 says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men”.
Genesis 49:21 (NIV)
21 “Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
On verse 21: Jacob prophesies that Naphtali would be a free and fruitful people. Likewise, in Jesus Christ you were born again to be free (Galatians 5:1) and fruitful (John 15:8).
Genesis 49:22-26 (NIV)
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
On verses 22-26: Jacob saves his highest personal blessing for Joseph. He calls Joseph a vine so fruitful that his fruitfulness and success would extend beyond traditional boundaries (“climb over a wall” – v22). He acknowledges that Joseph faced tremendous hardship during his lifetime (“archers attacked him…shot at him with hostility” – v23). Yet Joseph was not shaken by his troubles but “remained steady” (v24), all because God was with Joseph.
In verses 24-25 we learn more of how Jacob saw God: as a strong protector (“the Mighty One of Jacob”), as “the Shepherd” who cares, “the Rock” on which Jacob (“Israel”) built his life (v24), as a helper, as almighty, and as the provider of every great blessing (v25).
Jacob calls for all his fatherly blessings to rest on the head of Joseph and calls Joseph “the prince among his brothers” (v26). Because Joseph hung onto his integrity and served God faithfully, his father’s greatest blessing was reserved for him. Likewise, while everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ is saved and greatly blessed, there is a special, additional and greater blessing that God reserves for those of His children who hang onto their integrity and who serve God faithfully in their lifetime. May you be like Joseph in the way you live this life and are blessed by God!
Genesis 49:27 (NIV)
27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”
On verse 27: Though Benjamin was the youngest and was often the one being protected and shielded by his father and his older brothers, here Jacob describes his youngest son Benjamin as a powerful, conquering wolf.
Likewise, you and I have received much help and special protection from God as the baby in the family would, but we weren’t made to stay as babies. We were made to grow up into warriors, strong men and women of God who are a force to be reckoned with for our Father’s kingdom. You are not just protected. You are also a protector. You are not just cherished. You are also a fighter. You are not just blessed. You are also a blessing.
Genesis 49:28-33 (NIV)
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.
29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah.
32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”
33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.
On verses 28-33: After blessing each of his 12 sons uniquely (v28) and giving instructions regarding his burial (v29-32), Jacob breathes his last and dies (v33). Verse 33 uses the phrase “and was gathered to his people”. That’s a great phrase. It’s a reminder that when we die, we do not leave home, but we go home, and when we get there we won’t be alone, but it will be the greatest family reunion we will ever experience.
Also, notice that Jacob died after blessing each of his sons. Likewise, may you and I not live with the goal of merely being blessed, but may we aim to be the biggest blessing we can be before we breathe our last.
Heavenly Father, thank You for every lesson I can learn from Your Word today. Thank You that though Satan will attack, You give me everything I need to overcome my enemy. Since You call me to be free and fruitful, may I bear excellent fruit for You, fit for a king. Like Joseph may I serve You faithfully with the time I have remaining, not seeking merely to be blessed, but to be the best blessing I can be to others. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
