Praise

 "Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you.

Genesis 49:8 ESV


I love the Biblical practice of elders blessing their children before they go the way of the world. Jacob's blessing of his twelve (!) sons (from 4 women) is impressive not simply for his paternal affection, but also for his prophetic insight. At first glance, his blessing of Judah seems like he got the wrong son.


After all, it was Joseph whose brothers praised him, whose siblings bowed down before him. And yet Jacob prophesies the same for Judah. He's anticipating that in the absence of himself, Judah will step into the breach as a paternalistic father figure.


It seems strange that Jacob would anticipate such a thing, bearing in mind that Judah had three older brothers. But those brothers disqualified themselves from leadership. Firstborn Reuben slept with his father's mistress. Simeon and Levi slaughtered a whole town for one townsman's rape of their sister. 


Judah himself was no angel: marrying a pagan unbeliever, and mistakenly impregnating his daughter in law because he mistook her for a prostitute! The old testament doesn't spell it out, but we can infer that Judah repented which opened the door to become a spiritual leader. Above all, Jesus Himself is the lion of the tribe of Judah: He Himself is the ultimate fulfilment of this verse.


'Heavenly Father, we're astounded at Your love for depraved delinquents like us, and we're humbly grateful. In the name of the lion of the tribe of Judah, amen'

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