A Devotion from Genesis 28 and 49

Genesis 28:12 and 49:10, Jacob’s Blessing

            In our verses today we get a glimpse of the Messiah through the eyes of Jacob. We read about Jacob’s dream of the ladder. A vision of how God has provided access to Heaven. We also read about Jacob’s blessing of Judah, and the scepter.

In Genesis 28, we have the story of Jacob on a journey. He stopped for the night, and he had a dream. Genesis 28:12, “He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”

Jacob was going to an area with a direction and a calling, and in his dream, God gave him a picture of what was going to happen in the future. Jacob saw the ladder. In Proverbs 30:4, Agur the Prophet said, “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?  Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!” The Prophet asked, “Who is His Son Who comes from Heaven?’

   This points us ahead to John 1:51, “He (Jesus) then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jesus said this to Nathaniel when Nathaniel was called by Jesus to follow Him. They would see Jacob’s dream fulfilled when Jesus was called up to Heaven in Acts 1, and it will be fulfilled again when He returns.

In Genesis 49:10, as Jacob was preparing to die, he blessed his sons. Judah received the blessing which pointed to the coming Messiah. The scepter, the sign of the king, would not depart from Judah (his tribe) “until Shiloh comes.” Shiloh is a place in Canaan. However, Jacob was not talking about a place; he was talking about a person. The Latin Vulgate translated this as “until He comes Who is to be sent.” (Until the Sent One comes) When Jesus came the first time, He prepared the people for the Kingdom of Heaven.  

Something to think about:

Do not rush through the Old Testament. Study to see what God is teaching you. Allow your study to draw you into a deeper knowledge of the Truth.

John 17:17, “Sanctify them in truth. Your word is truth.” (NASB)