The Book of Hebrews
Chapter 11 Part 3
“The Prophecy of Jacobs sons”
The following story is both funny and illustrates the point of Hebrews 11, How faith looks to us from a distance:
Boudreaux live across de bayou from Clarence who he don like at all. Dey all de time yell across de bayou at each udder. Boudreaux would yell to Clarence, “If I had a way to cross dis bayou, I’d come over dere an beat you up good, yeah!”
Dis went on for years. Finally de state done built a bridge across dat bayou right by dere houses and Boudreaux’s wife, Marie, say, “Now is you chance, Boudreaux. Why don you go over dere and beat up dat Clarence like you say?”
Boudreaux say, “OK,” and start across de bridge but he sees a sign on de bridge an he stop to read it and den he go back home.
Marie say, “Why you back so soon?”
And Boudreaux say, “Marie, I dun change my mind ’bout beatin’ up dat Clarence. You know, Marie, dey got a sign on dat dere bridge what say “Clarence 13 ft. 6 in.” You know, he don look near dat big when I yell at him from across de bayou.”
Faith as the subject of Hebrews chapter 11, and those that have “Great Faith”, are a little like Boudreaux as he yelled at Clarence across the bayou. From a distance faith doesn’t look as though it is that big of a deal. Then something happens in your life that really challenges your life and suddenly faith seems much larger and harder to achieve than it did being viewed from a distance.
One of the things that I enjoy teaching more than anything, are those places in the Bible that contain Prophetic events.
I don’t know if you have ever considered, but apart from the Prophecies of the Bible, and the ability to verify that what was written actually came to pass, there really is no other way we have of proving that the Bible is the Word of God.
The Lord Himself, claims that prophecy is the proof that the Bible is Gods Word:
Isaiah 46:9-11
9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, “My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
11 … Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
There are some 3,500 prophecies in the Bible that speak of future events that the Lord said, in specific detail, would come to pass a certain way.
The test of a Prophet, according to The Book of Deuteronomy, was that the prophecies must be 100 percent accurate, 100 percent of the time.
Deuteronomy 18:22
when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken
Amazingly, 3,000 of the 3,500 Prophecies of the Bible have already come to pass exactly the way the Bible said they would. In theses last days just before Jesus returns to earth, we will see the final 500 prophecies come to pass, exactly the way the Lord said they would.
There is no other book religious or secular, that can make the claim that 3,000 specific prophecies have already come to pass, exactly as predicted except the Bible. The reason all 3,000 have happened exactly the way they were predicted to happen, is that the Bible is the Word of God, without error, without a doubt.
Romans 4:17
…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…
In our last study of Hebrews chapter 11, we began to look at those men and women that the Lord said were “Great people of faith”. In this study we continue with Verse 20 of Hebrews 11, where Jacob as he is dying, makes predictions about each of the 12 sons.
Hebrews 11
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
The son that was promised to Abraham was Isaac.
Isaac had a son that was called “Jacob”. When Jacob was dying, he brought each of his 12 sons into his bedroom and pronounced a blessing on them. The amazing thing is that the blessing Jacob pronounced on each son, was a Prophecy that had to do with the “Last Days”.
Genesis 49:1-33
1 and Jacob called his sons and said, “gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
Notice the context that Jacob begins with as he calls his son’s together, the things that will happen in “the last days”, which are the last days, during the tribulation period. It is interesting that the Great Tribulation Period described in the Book of Revelation, was called in the Old Testament: “The time of Jacob’s Trouble”.
Jeremiah 30:7
Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.
Genesis 49:1-33
1 and Jacob called his sons and said, “gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
The Hebrew words that the Holy Spirit uses here in Genesis 49 verse 1 for “Last days” is “Achariyth” (akh-ar-eeth) and “Yowm” (yome), the same two words that Isaiah used in chapter 2 and Ezekiel used in chapter 38, that speak of the final days just before Jesus returns to earth.
Isaiah 2:2
2 now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains….
Ezekiel 38:16
16 “you will come up against my people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against my land…
The term “last days” in the Bible, is always used to describe the time when the Messiah would come to the earth.
It is no mistake that Jacob is using the term “Last days”, he knows that what he is about to say to his sons is prophetic of the time when Jesus will return.
Hebrews 11:21
21 by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons …
Of all of the things that Paul could have said about Jacob, in Hebrews 11, regarding Jacob’s faith, why did he pick the section where Jacob was dying, called his son’s in and gave his final blessing?
Genesis 49
2 “gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father.
Jacobs name means “Son of Adam”, the man of the flesh. Later on the Lord changed his name to Israel means “The man walking after God’s spirit.”
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the Excellency of dignity and the Excellency of power.
4 unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it– he went up to my couch.
Why does Jacob start with Reuben? He is the first born “You are the beginning of my strength…”
Reuben was Jacobs first born son the rights of the first born were, to receive a double portion of his fathers inheritance, and also Rulership over all the other brothers he was also to be the high priest of the family.
Reuben lost the right of the firstborn because he committed incest with his mother.
1 Chronicles 5:1-2
1 now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel– he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel…
Jacobs prophecy of Reuben, in Genesis 49:4, also says that “He shall not excel”. This has literally been fulfilled throughout all history. No son of Reuben ever became a judge, a king, or a prophet in Israel. Jacob said that Reuben was “Unstable as water”, in the literal Hebrew, it was in the sense of the drying up of a summer stream. The streams in the summer in Israel are dry, they evaporate, they are not there when you need them. This is what Jacob was speaking of when he prophesied over Reuben.
Next, Jacob’s 2nd and 3rd sons, Simeon and Levi
5 “Simeon and levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.
Simeon and Levi were the 2 brothers that killed all of the men of Shechem because one man raped their sister Dinah.
Genesis 49
6 let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
7 cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
“I will divide them…”
Even though Simeon and Levi are named together here, Simeon is actually the tribe that received the curse, the Lord separated them and Levi became the tribe that all of the priests came from. Simeon became the weakest of all of the tribes of Israel, having the smallest population. Simeon is hardly every mentioned in the old testament as a result of this “prophecy” over his life.
The next of Jacob’s sons is Judah
8 “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you.
“Your brothers shall praise you.” It is interesting that the name Judah means “Praise” “Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies.” Judah always prevailed over all of their enemies. “Your fathers children bowing before you”, Judah was not the first born, why would his brothers bow before him, this was a right only given to the first born son. From this tribe of Judah Jacob predicts that all of the other brothers in the 12 tribes would “Bow before him” Through Judah Jesus would come, later in the New Testament it was written “every knee will bow to Jesus”.
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him?
10 the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him shall be the obedience of the people.
In is an amazing detailed prophecy by Jacob, we can see why here in Hebrews chapter 11, Paul used Jacob as an example of a man of great faith.
Verse 9 here speaks of the “Scepter”, a scepter is like a long staff, and is used to rule with by a king, “The Scepter shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes…” The word “Shiloh” in the Hebrews language, is a code word for “Messiah”. This prophecy by Jacob, here in verse 9 says that “The Right to rule and the ruler Himself shall always be from the tribe of Judah.
When Rome captured Israel, they took away their right to “Self rule”, meaning that the scepter was no longer in Judah’s hands. The ancient Jewish historian, Josephus records that at about 7 a.d. after Israel lost their right to self government, the high priest of Israel went through the streets of Jerusalem wearing sackcloth and ashes crying “Woe unto us, the scepter has been taken from us and Shiloh has not come…” They believed that the Word of God had failed, that God’s promise to Israel had not been kept.
What they didn’t know, was that right there in their Temple in Jerusalem there was a young boy teaching. This young boy was “Shiloh”, Jesus the Messiah had come and they didn’t even know it. The Word of God had not failed, the Lord had kept His word.
Luke 2:41-46
41 Jesus parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
The leaders in Israel knew of this prediction by Jacob. From his son Judah, Israel would always have a ruler.
Rome captures Israel, takes away their right to govern themselves. The religious leaders in Israel look around and they don’t see the Messiah standing there, so they assume that God had broken His promise to them. They didn’t realize that their Messiah had come, and He was sitting in their temple right at that moment! He was only 12 years old, but he was there. God had kept His promise just as He said he would!
There are many times in our life when we are just like the religious leaders in Israel were. We are in need of some help from the Lord. “Lord things are getting pretty tough for me right now, where are you Lord? You said that when trials came into my life you would deliver me and take care of me.” “
All the while as we believe that the Lord has forgotten us He is right there beside us working.
This is why this 11th chapter of Hebrews is such a great study for us, because in these moments of doubts in our life, it takes enduring faith to trust the Lord through the trial.
“Faith is the evidence of what we can’t see…”
“Faith is what you hold on to, when you can’t see the Lord or how He is going to take care of this problem…”
“Faith is believing that the Lord will keep His promise to make all things turn out for good…even when you don’t see any evidence of it.”
Back to the rest of Jacob’s prophecy of Judah:
Genesis 49
11 binding Judah’s donkey to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.
12 his eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
What an amazing statement by Judah! “Judah, binding his donkey to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine”
One day, Jesus was at Bethpage, just outside of Jerusalem. It was April 6th, the year 32 A. D. It was “Palm Sunday”.
Matthew 21:1-9
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
Jacob was predicting that Jesus from the tribe of Judah, would fulfill his prophecy about his son Judah.
“Binding his donkey, even his donkeys colt.” As Matthew is writing the eyewitness account of this whole event, he realizes that what Jesus has just done was predicted by the Prophet Zechariah, 700 years before!
Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Even more amazing than this, is that as Jesus is just about to ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. This was the exact day that Daniel had been told by Gabriel the Archangel that Jesus would come as the Messiah. As Daniel realizes this, he has been praying for his nation Israel, because they have been held captive in Babylon for just about 70 years.
As Daniel is reading from the prophet Jeremiah, he realizes that the 70 years that Jeremiah predicted that Israel would be held captive in Babylon, is just about over. In response to this, Daniel begins to pray and confess the sins of his nation, how they had forgotten the Lord…
Daniel 9
24 “Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city, (This is 70 Times 7 years= 490 years)
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; (7X7=49 years, the rebuilding of the temple, then 62X7=434 years later Jesus will come)
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, (Crucified)
The whole prophecy of Daniel begins it’s count down after the command is given for Israel to leave Babylon where they have been held captive for 70 years, to go back to Jerusalem. Gabriel said that when this command is given, there will be 483 years later, then Jesus, the Messiah will come. Encyclopedia Britannica records that on March 14th, 445 B.C. the King, Artaxerxes gave a command for Israel to return to Jerusalem.
483 years, X 360 days a year = 173,880 days.
If we begin on March 14th 445 B.C., then count 173,880 days forward, we come to April 6th, 32 A.D.
This is the day that Jesus told the disciples to go over to the village and untie the Colt of a Donkey and bring it to me. Palm Sunday, just as Jacob had predicted, just as Daniel had predicted, just as Zechariah predicted. Jesus comes on the exact day Gabriel told us Jesus would come!
Back to our study in Jacob’s prophecy of Judah, as he continues…
Genesis 49
11 binding Judah’s donkey to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.
12 his eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
Jacob says that the same one that will untie the colt of a donkey, who we now know is Jesus, will also “Wash His garments in Wine and His clothes in the Blood of Grapes…” Unless you really know your Old Testament, you would read this verse and pass right by it.
Isaiah 63:1-20
1 who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from bozrah, this one who is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?–” I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Could this be anyone except Jesus, who else is mighty to save except Jesus?)
2 why is your apparel red, and your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me. For I have trodden them in my anger, and trampled them in my fury; their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my robes.
4 for the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. This is the great tribulation period.
This a clear Old Testament Prophecy of the 7 year Tribulation period. At the end of the 7 years, Jesus will return to the earth with all of us. He will touchdown on the earth at the Mount of Olives. There will be a great army awaiting Him at the Valley of Megiddo, commonly called today, Armageddon. This army will be gathered there to try an kill Jesus. Jesus will simply speak and they will be slaughtered.
This prophecy by Isaiah, speaks of what Jesus garments will look like after he has slaughtered this vast army.
“I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me. For I have trodden them in my anger, and trampled them in my fury; their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my robes. for the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.”
This is the great tribulation period. The “winepress” was a hollowed out section of rock where the grapes were throne in. By “Treading with your feet”, you stomped the grapes into juice. As you did this, the juice from the grapes, literally the blood of the grapes, would splash up onto your garments. The battle of Armageddon will be just like Jesus treading our grapes in a Winepress…
One more thing here in Isaiah’s prophecy, he says that “for the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come”
Notice that in the battle that is described here, Jesus has with Him; “His Redeemed” From Isaiah’s description both the “Day of Vengeance”, which is the 7 year tribulation, and “The year of my redeemed”, happen at the same time.
When Paul says in Hebrews chapter 11 that Jacob is a Man of Great faith, you can see why. Not many people really study what Jacob said in Genesis 49, and find out the things you learned. And we have only covered 4 sons so far. We will not cover the last 8 sons in this kind of detail. I just wanted you to see how the Lord worked through Jacob as he made these incredible predictions of his 12 sons.
Remember that Jacob began life as a Liar and a deceiver. When he was called “Jacob”, “One controlled by the flesh”. Later as the Lord has had a lifetime to work in and through Jacob, he was renamed by the Lord “Israel”, “One who is controlled by God. You also may be yourself a type of Jacob. Perhaps you are still struggling in your life with doing right things.
If You have a sincere desire to really please the Lord, but find that it is very difficult to do those things that you know are right, this is the purpose of your trials and difficulties in your life. That we might learn to stop being controlled by our flesh, and begin to live being controlled by the Spirit.
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