Vayechi (And He Lived) Genesis 47:28–50:26, 1 Kings 2:1–12

“And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days.”  Genesis 49.1 NKJV

As we embark upon the year 2021, unprecedented challenges and blessings await. Jacob called his sons to gather to hear their destiny.  Perhaps many of us would also love to line up before God’s representative to hear a specific word.  What will be our portion in 2021? God indeed has a word for each of us.  He has already numbered our days and directed our path. I imagine each of Jacob’s sons hoped for the double portion, but only one of the twelve received the “lion’s share”.

My grandfather preached a sermon years ago, “Does God Have Favorites?”  Many of us would answer with a definitive no and quote Romans 2.11, ‘God shows no partiality’”.  And it is true that God does not withhold His salvation from any person who call on Him.  Yet, some do seem to be closer. Some do hear His voice more clearly.  Some walk in His presence in ways others do not.  I wonder if it could be our lot this year to walk closer to the Lord in 2021 than ever before.  I wonder if people will look at us this year and say, “they have the lion’s share”.  Perhaps sinners will look on God’s people in this year, be drawn to His presence, and be saved.

It was not Jacob’s firstborn, or his politically strongest son, but Judah, the fourth born who repaired the breach.  Yes, an imperfect son received the “lion’s share” because he refused to forfeit his birthright. Some of Jacob’s sons received only one or two prophetic verses. Five verses, and twelve prophecies, speak of Judah’s destiny. The central portion of Judah’s word speaks of Messiah, the Lion, Lawgiver and Lord. For those who are hoping for the lion’s share in 2021, if you are a joint heir with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, this is a word for you!

I. The Lion

“Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?” Gen. 49.9 KJV

Jacob described the destiny of each son with an animal.  Some spoke of service, strength, or fierceness. Judah, he said, “is a lion”!   But if we look closely, we see that he described him with three types of lions or stages of a lion’s growth – a lion’s whelp, a crouching lion, an old lion. These also describe three nature of the lion, playful, a hunter, and a majestically resting, a lion whom no one dare rouse.

C. S. Lewis, obviously influenced by the Lion of Judah painted the king of Narnia as a lion. One of the most popular books in Israel, its popularity might well be due to the lion and his kingdom. Each of modern Israel’s districts are designated by the ancient tribal allotments and represented by the prophetic animal of that tribe. When entering modern Jerusalem, look for the lions. Specifically, there is an underpass in the modern city lined with majestic lions.  Why?   Because this is the lion of Judah’s territory.  Lucy, in Lewis’ story is prepped to meet Aslan, king of Narnia, but when she hears he is a lion, she nervously asks if Aslan is safe, to which Mr. Beaver replies.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis

The Lion has Prevailed

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah received the inheritance of a first-born son.  John saw the one to whom these promises were made in an amazing scene in Heaven, a moment that hearkens the reader to a resolve of the inheritance of Messiah. In a vision John saw a scroll with seven seals which no one was found worthy to open.  Such a scroll archaeologically matches descriptions of inheritance deeds of that time.  John wept for no one was worthy to open the scroll, meaning the legal heir, and the seven legal witnesses who originally sealed the scroll, were the only ones worthy to break open the seal.

“But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” Revelation 5.5-7 NKJV

Yeshua in the vision is both the heir, as Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the lamb with seven horns representing the Seven Spirits of God, apparently the original sealers of the scroll.  But not only is Messiah the Lion of Judah, He is the Lawgiver of Israel.

II. The Lawgiver

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet…” Gen. 49.10a NKJV

The Throne of Messiah

Two prophecies of Messiah are spoken of in the first part of verse ten, describing Him as king and lawgiver. It must have come as a great surprise when it seemed that Israel would be ruled by the tribe of Benjamin, a wolf who divides the spoil, rather than Judah the lion.  Saul was the first king, and from the tribe of Benjamin. Where had Judah’s promise gone? We may not always understand the path God’s promises will take in being fulfilled.  We may even see the very opposite happening from what was spoken, but if God has given a word, it will come to pass.

The Torah of Messiah

Not only does the throne belong to Judah, from him will come the Lawgiver of Israel.  Does Messiah have full authority to speak His law into our lives?  The test if we are truly His followers and heirs with Messiah is our obedience to the law of Messiah.

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 8.31 KJV

How can we be blessed in this new year?  Align ourselves to the Lion’s share in obedience to God.  If legislatures of this world pass laws in contradiction to the Law Giver, we must obey God.  There is only one King. Jacob’s prophetic word to Judah will be fulfilled through Yeshua which says, “Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies!” (Gen. 49. 8)

Now we come to the most exciting revelation, the mystery of the coming of “Shiloh”.

III. The LORD

“Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” Gen. 49.10b NKJV

Shiloh is one of several mysterious names in the Bible. Many ancient and modern Jewish commentaries agree, Shiloh is a name for the King Messiah.[1]  But what does it mean?  A very old interpretation looks to the Hebrew word “Shiloh” as designating belonging (shel) and the pronoun “to him” (oh).

“Until Shiloh שילה comes: [refers to] the King Messiah, to whom the kingdom belongs (שֶׁלוֹ).” Rashi’s Commentary, Gen. 49.10

עד כי יבא שילה. מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁהַמְּלוּכָה שֶׁלּוֹ

In other words, all of the promises to Judah belong to Him.  All the praise belongs to Him.  The Scepter and throne are His, and nothing will disappear until He receives His portion.   This is good news not only for The heir to whom all things belong, but also to those with whom He will share His inheritance as we read in both Testaments.

“And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Rom. 8.17 NKJV

“Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53.12 NKJV

And so, the word for us in 2021 is, be strong in the LORD as children of the Most High, walking according to the words of the Lawgiver, the Messiah of Israel.

Conclusion

Nothing has occurred in this last year or even millennia that has changed God’s plans and purposes.  Jacob’s prophetic words spoken four thousand years ago are still being fulfilled.   The tribe and scepter of Judah has not vanished.  The Laws of God have not changed, and the One to whom all things belong still sits on the throne, and all things belongs to Him – Shiloh!

Do you want a lion’s share of blessings in 2021?   Then we must belong to Messiah.   He is calling us to choose allegiance to the God of Israel. To the faithful and strong, He shall divide the spoil.

Shavua Tov from Zion

[1] See Rashi on Gen. 49.10, and Berasheet Rabbah, 98.8 “’Until Shiloh Comes’, this is King Messiah.”