The Coming of Peace
The 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. ~Genesis 49:10
Our text this morning points us to the advent and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. It is an important verse related to Bible prophecy and Jesus' first coming. It is an overlooked and forgotten verse. Nevertheless, it describes for us a powerful statement regarding Jesus' arrival through the tribe of Judah. Judah is the fourth of Jacob’s sons. Judah is a picture of the grace of God working through the Jewish nation as it moves forward towards fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus' arrival.
We see Judah and his sin.
The initial mention of Judah in Scripture is very shady and scandalous. Judah is presented to us in a darkened setting of immoral choices, lies, and shameful confrontation. Judah is a leading voice in the conspiracy of Joseph’s betrayal and eventual sellout to the Midianites. Judah would live with a guilty conscience that bothered him for many years to come.
We see Judah and his substitution.
Judah reappears more than 20 years later during a world-wide famine that caused a food shortage and economic collapse. He and his brothers did not know that Joseph was still alive and that he was the man in charge of the only available food supply in Egypt. After Jacob’s family had eaten up their food, Jacob endeavored to send his sons back to Egypt for more food. Judah told him that they could not go back unless the youngest brother, Benjamin, accompanied them. Jacob at first refused to let Benjamin go. However, Judah was a different man now. Judah pledged himself as a substitute for Benjamin and his brothers. He tells his father, “I will be surety for him…let me bear the blame for ever.” He later tells this to Joseph. Judah pictures the Lord Jesus as the surety and sin substitute for every sinner.
We see Judah and his significance.
Judah’s name means “praise.” His courageous action represented a selfless act for ten brothers who were guilty of a heinous crime. Jacob wisely commented, “Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise…thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.” The right of the firstborn son was given to Judah. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi forfeited this right. Judah may not have realized it, but his selfless substitution was rewarded with the bestowal of the right and blessing of the firstborn son.
We see Judah and his sovereignty.
Jacob said, “Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies…Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up…The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet.” We find the royal blood of David and his descendants would come through Judah. Jesus would descend from the royal bloodline of King David. A lion is called the king of the beasts. Read Matthew 1, and see how prominently reference is given to the royal bloodline. Jesus is truly the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
We see Judah and the Savior.
“The 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.” Until Shiloh come! The name "Shiloh" is a Hebrew word that means “tranquility.” It is a sublime reference to Jesus Who is the Prince of Peace. The lineage of kings would find its ultimate fulfillment when Jesus came to earth to be our Savior. The people being gathered unto him speaks of a king and his subjects. Jesus is our Shiloh! He is our only source of tranquility and peace.
As we are just a few days away from celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus, be thankful for the sovereign unfolding of God’s plan in bringing Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, to be our Savior!
Have a tranquil God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Hebrews 7-10