Genesis 49:1-12 - Believers Chapel

which set him forth as the ancestor of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah,
the Lord Jesus Christ. We turn to the blessing now.
THE EXORDIUM: SUMMONS TO THE BLESSING
The purpose of the call (Gen. 49:1). The formal nature of the call
to the brethren indicates that Jacob was conscious of the fact that he
was being called by the Lord to take a solemn look into the future.
The expression, "in the days to come" (NASB; AV, "in the last days"), is
a well-known Messianic temporal expression, which almost always
looks into the distant future to the days of the Messiah. In Jacob's
words that follow the perspective appears to gather round the
occupation of Canaan, but his words go beyond that. That is clear
from verse ten. We must conclude, then, that Jacob's words touch not
only the more immediate future but also the distant future as well. His
words are similar to other prophetic words in the Old Testament, when
the prophet's perspective embraces both the near and far future in the
same context, the words moving from the one to the other without a
clear expression of their temporal distinctions.
The plea to listen (Gen. 49:2). The double exhortation to give
attention to the patriarch's words lays stress upon the importance of
the words. They are doubly important.
THE BLESSING OF REUBEN
Reuben's calling (Gen. 49:3 ). Reuben by the providence of God was
the firstborn, possessed of the rights of the position naturally. These,
however, he lost by virtue of the sin he committed (cf. 1 Chron. 5:1-2).
Reuben's collapse (Gen. 49:4). What a horrible contrast is seen
here between one's calling and one's condition, and the sin of 35:22
underlines it. There is a withering contrast between the majestic
phrases of verse three and ignominious collapse set forth in verse four.
And, as Kidner points out, it would be hard to find a less flattering
account of a grand passion. 3
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