Follow the Lamb
“The Lion of Judah”
Genesis 49:8-10
The first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis outline God’s plan for the redemption of lost man.
- Chapters 1-2 – the Creation of man.
- Chapter 3 – the Fall of man.
- Chapter 4 – the consequences of the fall on the family.
- Chapters 5 – 11 – the consequences of the fall on the world.
God also gave us a glimpse into the future as to how His plan for our redemption would be carried out.
- Chapter 3:15 – One day, the “seed” of Eve would crush the serpent’s head, and the wages of sin would be paid with the death of the miracle child of a virgin’s womb.
- From Genesis 3:15 forward, in every book of the Bible, God gave us pictures, symbols, and illustrations of how and when that sacrifice would be made – that at the right time, One would come as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. (Galatians 4:4)
- That “Seed of Eve,” i.e., the “Lamb of God,” was the Lord, Jesus Christ, our Savior, and in God’s sovereignty, He ordained the “channel” through which that “Seed” would travel from generation to generation from Eve to Mary.
The Bible outlines the two genealogies of Jesus.
- Matthew’s genealogy (1:1-17) follows the royal lineage through Abraham, David, Solomon, and Joseph, the legal father of Jesus. Matthew wrote to the Jews to present Jesus as King of the Jews.
- Luke’s genealogy (3:23-38) begins with Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, and ends with Adam. Luke wrote to the Greek Christians to prove that Jesus was the “son of Adam” – the “Son of God” and the Messiah of every man, not just the Jews.
Through the years, Satan’s priority was to destroy that “Seed” through man’s sinfulness.
- Adam and Eve thought the seed of the Savior was in their first son, Abel, until their second son, Cain, killed him.
- But God gave them a third son, Seth, for Eve said, “God hath appointed me another seed” (Gen. 4:25)
- God saw the wickedness of man had taken over, and He decided to “blot out man from the face of the earth.”
- But, in His grace, God preserved the “seed” through Noah, and through his son, Shem, and through His choice of “sons” (Gen. 11:10-26) from generation to generation, down to a man first named Abram, who later became Abraham, with whom God established a “covenant” – that the seed of Abraham would receive God’s blessings, but through his seed, “the nations of the earth would be blessed!”
- But, not just the Jews, as it had been for generations, but the Gentiles as well.
- God renewed that covenant with Isaac (Gen. 26:3-5) and then through his son, Jacob (Gen. 28:13-15)
- The “Seed” of Eve was also the “seed of Abraham.”
- That’s why Matthew referred to Jesus as the “Son of Abraham and the Son of David” – Jesus Christ is the Seed of Eve – the Lion of Judah – the Lamb of God.”
- Isaac’s son, Jacob, lived 147 years. Just before his death, he gathered his sons around him to “prophesy” their future.
- In blessing his sons before he died, and within God’s absolute sovereignty, Jacob chose the channel through which the “seed” of the Savior would continue.
| 1. Reuben – Vs. 3-4 – “unstable as water” – lacked self-control and proved it by becoming involved in sexual immorality. “You shall not excel because thou went up to thy father’s bed!” |
| 2/3 Simeon and Levi – Vs. 5-7 – began as men of “anger and vengeance” – later, the tribe of Levi was selected as Priests and teachers. Moses, Aaron, Phinehas, Eli, Ezra, and John the Baptist were from the tribe of Levi! |
| 4. Zebulun – Vs. 13 – became successful business people |
| 5. Issachar – Vs. 14 – became a tribe of value and strength. “Men of Issachar had understanding of the times; to know what Israel ought to do!” (1 Chronicles 12:32) |
| 6. Dan – Vs. 16-18 – became the tribe of great rulers and judges but later turned to idolatry. They are not mentioned in the 144,000 witnesses in the Book of Revelation. |
| 7. Gad – Vs. 19 – became fierce warriors, and God always gave them victory. They lived in the peaceful, rolling hills of Gilead. |
| 8. Asher – Vs. 20 – produced the richest foods in the land, but their prosperity led them to become very proud people. |
| 9. Naphtali – Vs. 21 – settled in the hillside where Jesus spent most of his life and ministry. |
| 10. Benjamin – Vs. 27 – ready to fight for what they believed in. Saul, Abner, Jonathan, and the Apostle Paul came from this tribe. |
| 11. Joseph – Vs. 22-26 – As Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph received his father’s greatest blessings, but his birthright was given to his sons, Ephriam and Manasseh! Joseph was the most likely to be chosen as the channel of the seed – but he was not God’s choice. |
| 12. Judah – Vs. 8-10 – “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come and unto Him (Shiloh) shall the gathering of the people be.” (Gen. 49:10) |
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- Scepter – means rod – a symbol of authority in the hands of a ruler. The tribe of Judah would be the ruling authority over the people of Israel until “Shiloh” comes!
- Lawgiver – means tribe or identity. The tribe of Judah would hold the people of Israel to the laws of God – the feasts, the Sabbaths – until “Shiloh” comes!
- Until Shiloh comes – refers to the COMING of Jesus Christ – first as the Savior sent from God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and then as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to rule and to reign upon this earth for 1,000 years, and then for all eternity.
In Genesis 49:9 – Jacob referred to Judah as a Lion’s cub, a Lion and a Lioness in terms of his leadership of the people of Israel!
In Revelation 5:5 – John was told that the Lion of Judah was worthy to open the scroll of God’s judgment because He had triumphed over sin, death, and the grave!
- When John looked in the direction of the Lion, he saw a Lamb that had been slain!
- Jesus is the “seed” of Judah – the ferocious lion who will pour out God’s judgment upon the earth.
- Jesus is the “Lamb of God” – the “sin-bearer” to those who will repent of their sins and receive Him as their personal Savior.
