How We Know Christianity Is The Right Religion Series

Headed home. That means a lot of things for people doesn’t it.

1. For some of you it’s a weekly feeling; after a week of traveling it means boarding the flight

and ultimately seeing the city lights of Atlanta in the darkness of your descent and at the 5

mile fixed point of descent and feeling the lowering of the landing gear and knowing soon

you’ll be home.

2. For others, it’s the feeling of rounding the bases, passing 1st, 2nd, then moving that 127 and 3

3/8 inches from third base to home base meeting your team that is awaiting you.

3. For others, it’s the final minutes of their life, when they begin uttering their final words and

preparing for the moment they will see Jesus for the first time, as He comes and ushers them

on home to their heavenly home.

As we meet Jacob today, he had that traveling feeling. His life was full of sojourn; just like his family. He had traveled to Haran and fell in love, He had traveled to Beersheba and met with

God; He had traveled to Egypt and was reunited with Joseph.

But now, he was traveling home. But as He prepared to head home; he foretells about Jesus.

A lot of people ask: “How do I know Christianity is the right religion?” One of the ways is through prophecy and Jacob is one of the first to prophecy about Jesus.

His parting words are interesting. In verse 28 we read that his final words were a final blessing to his boys, but in verse 1 we discover that his words were more than a blessing; they were a prophecy of the things to come.

In verse 1 this is affirmed as we read: “Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, Assemble yourselves that I many tell you what will befall you in the days to come.”

Then, in verse 2 the invitation is offered as we read the simple words: “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; and listen to Israel your father.”

Jacob’s words are significant because they are more than the final words of a dying man; they are the introductory words to introduce us ultimately to Jesus.

You see, God also is a Father that wants to bless His children. In Genesis 1:28 God pronounced a blessing on all of us; yet that blessing was forfeited when man choice to sin which is known as “the fall” or “the curse.”

Now, Jacob not only blessing his boys but also tells us how God will restore the blessing that He desires for mankind; He will restore that blessing to the world through Israel’s coming king.

Although Jesus would come 1800 years after Jacob; Jacob knew He was coming and prophesied about him. He did it by foretelling about the coming king. Literally, before his funeral; he talked about Christmas and the King who was coming.

The big question is “Who is this King of Kings?” It’s Jesus; and Jacob shows us why:

I. Jesus Is The Only Worthy King

vs 3- 12- “Rueben you are my firstborn...uncontrolled as water...”

Explanation:

The expectation is that the first born of Jacob should take the position as king, right?

Isn’t this what we just saw take place in England. When Queen Elizabeth died she passed on her scepter to Prince Charles. In the moment of her death, immediately many of the people in England began calling Charles King; even before he was coronated. Right?

As we read the prophetic blessing of Jacob on his sons; we immediately discover that none of his sons are qualified to be the king that Israel will be looking for. The King had to be worthy:

Let’s unpackage this:

1. Reuben- In verses 3-4 we read: “Reuben, you are my first born, my might and the beginning

of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.” Sounds good so far right?

Then we read: “ Uncontrolled as water, you shall have no preeminence, because you went to

your fathers bed; then you defiled it--- he went up to my couch.”

Reuben had an uncontrolled sexual appetite. He was unqualified for the kingship because he had an affair with one of Jacobs wives. In huge scandal Reuben forfeited his qualifications for king of Israel because he was found with sin. So Reuben is unqualified.

2. Simeon and Levi- In verse 5 we read that they also are unqualified. They were the second

and the third born sons so they would be next in line to be King of Israel. Yet, they were also

sinners. They were men of violence.

With their swords, in Genesis 34 they retaliated against a man who raped their sister Dinah by killing all the men who were in Shechem. They murdered every Hivite male in the city. While what this man did to Dinah was wicked; their reaction was to kill every man there and they were disqualified.