THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 47:13-50:26
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:10)
From early on the Jewish people have anticipated someone coming.
This goes all the way back to God’s words to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
An heir of Eve, a human being, will rise up to reclaim authority over creation.
For the Jews, this came to be known as the Anointed One (literally Messiah).
This “Son of Man” (human offspring) would reclaim the throne from Satan for humanity.
Isaac didn’t know the details, but he shared this hope, and he sees Judah as the line of the Messiah.
God keeps feeding this hope, of a deliverer who can help us overcome sin, misery and death.
This world was designed to be under the authority of good – God-like – rulers (Genesis 1:26-28).
The serpent twisted us as God’s appointed human rulers, so that we no longer deserve the scepter.
Our world needs – and longs for – a good king, a God-like ruler.
A good king that does not rule by violence, shrewdness and force, but by love, joy and peace.
Only a good king, a God-like king, can take on and defeat the serpent and restore God’s kingdom.
I believe that Jesus is this Messiah, and that all of history points to Him.
For centuries humanity has been struggling to rebuild this world kingdom its own way.
Every human effort to create a better world has failed, and will fail.
Our only hope is to surrender to God’s promised serpent-crusher, the God-like Jesus.
“Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:12)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, the right to rule belongs to You, because You are the kind of ‘Adam’ God designed to rule this world. You are my King, and I long to be like You!