Bible Talks

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No doubt the blessing of the tribes which Moses foretold had its partial fulfillment when they possessed the land under Joshua. But this was only a shadow of the fullness which his eye of faith saw in the distance. The fullness of blessing could not be poured out while Israel was striving under the law, but in that future day, because of the work of Christ for them on the cross, God’s grace will rise above all man’s sin and failure. His gracious goodness and unmingled blessing will flow out to all the tribes of Israel and to Gentiles as well.
There is no mention here of Reuben’s failure. Instead his sentence is exchanged for blessing. “Let Reuben live, and not die"; he would be a numerous people. We can apply some of these things to ourselves, for what were we apart from grace? We deserved to die, but “Christ died for us,” and now we “live through Him” (1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)). This is the grand starting point of all blessing with us. Nor will the redeemed of the Lord be few in that day, for God is “bringing many sons unto glory” (Heb. 2:1010For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)).
We do not get the order of the tribes here according to nature; Simeon is not mentioned at all. But his guilty connection with Levi in cruelty and violence is no more. Little is recorded of Simeon as a tribe after they entered the land. They may have been scattered among the other tribes according to Jacob’s prophecy (Gen. 49:5-75Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5‑7)) but they are mentioned in Revelation 7:77Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:7) when a remnant of them shall be sealed for blessing. Then when the land is re-divided in the millennium, they will have their place and portion.
Judah is next, brought forward as the tribe which would take Reuben’s, the firstborn’s, place. We know the Jews have long had a separate place and have suffered much from their enemies. But in the coming day Judah and the rest of the tribes will be brought together and joined in one people. “Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people... and be Thou a help to him from his enemies.”
In Reuben we have the setting aside of the first man; in Judah the bringing in of the Second Man, Christ; for of Judah, Christ was born after the flesh. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star; “the chiefest among ten thousand... the altogether lovely One.” (Song of Sol. 5:10, 1610My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. (Song of Solomon 5:10)
16His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Solomon 5:16).)
Thus we can see God had Christ before Him in choosing Judah. “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise:... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Gen. 49:8-128Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. (Genesis 49:8‑12)). That gathering together of the people around Christ on earth is drawing near. But before then there will be that great gathering together in the air. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,” and call all His redeemed ones from earth to be around Himself in their heavenly home forever.
Behold the Saviour at the door!
He gently knocks—has knocked before;
Has waited long—is waiting still;
You use no other friend so ill.
Admit Him, for the human breast
Ne’er entertained so kind a guest;
No mortal tongue their joys can tell,
With whom He condescends to dwell.
ML-07/11/1976