Day 47: Genesis 49-50; Matthew 23:23-29

I found something interesting in today’s reading. As Jacob is laying on his bed, about to die, he says some very prophetic things to his sons. In particular, take note of what he says to his son Judah:

“Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. He ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk” (Genesis 49: 9-12).

Now consider this verse: “But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals’”(Revelation 5:5).

I don’t think the connection between these two passages is an accident. The prophetic words Jacob speaks at the end of Genesis are a wonderful promise about what was to come. Already God had a plan of redemption in mind. These words in Genesis are a prophetic picture of the true Lion of Judah, who would one day come and ride a donkey through Jerusalem, being hailed as the Messiah. His robes would then be soaked with blood, much like wine, as he died on the cross for all of our sins.
What a beautiful, prophetic picture of a redeemer.

Are you in need of the Lion of Judah today? What part of your life do you need him to redeem? He is ready and waiting. Let him redeem you today. As the lyrics to the song “Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah” by Donnie McClurkin say,

"Hail, hail Lion of Judah!
How wonderful You are!
Hail, hail Lion of Judah!
How powerful You are!

The Lion of Judah shall break every chain
and give to us, oh my,
the victory again and again"


Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the Lion of Judah. Please help me to trust in you, and let you fight the battles in my life, for I am nothing on my own.