The Pursuit: Jesus in Genesis – Episode 4
Today, we join Professor Jared Kingsley in Episode 4 of “Jesus in Genesis” as he begins breaking down Genesis 49:8-12 verse-by-verse to uncover the truth of the promised heir of Judah, the Messiah.
The Prophecy of the Tribe of Judah
Verse 8- Judah will be Praised
Jacob begins Judah’s blessing with a play on words. The name Judah means “praise”, and so, true to his name, Jacob declares that his brothers will praise him. His tribe will be distinguished from all other tribes of Israel, marked by authority, power, and dominion.
Verse 9- The Lion of Judah
Here, Judah is compared to a lion. The imagery of a lion becomes intimately connected to the tribe of Judah. Just as a young lion cub grows into a strong and royal beast, so too did Judah and his tribe grow into a strong and royal tribe.
Verse 10- The Final King
Verse 10 reads, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples” (LSB). The scepter and the ruler’s staff are symbols of kingship. This verse confirms that the line of Israel’s kings will come from the line of Judah. This line of kings will continue until Shiloh comes. The word “Shiloh” is connected to “shalom”, the Hebrew word for “peace”, pointing to the Prince of Peace to come, Jesus the Messiah. The kingly line of Judah will culminate in the person and rule of Jesus Christ. It is Christ Himself who will demand the obedience of all people. Right now, the book of Genesis has been about everything but obedience, but there is now a promise of a Prince of Peace who can turn everything around. Christ Jesus has the power to change hearts, which will lead to obedience unto Himself as the final king.
The Fulfillment in Revelation
This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Revelation. In Revelation 5:5, John writes, “Stop crying! Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals” (LSB). The first time we heard the phrase Lion of Judah is in Genesis 49, and the last time is in Revelation 5. From beginning to end, the Lion of Judah, Christ, is the worthy one–the promised king. Only He can open the scroll and fulfill all of history.
This blog post captures the essence of Professor Jared Kingsley’s series on Jesus and the Wells. You may click on the video above to hear more insightful details on Jesus throughout the Old Testament. Professor Kingsley is a professor of Hebrew and Old Testament for The Master’s University traditional on-campus program.
