Jacob Foretells the Future of His Sons

The Spirit of Inspiration rested on him, and in prophetic vision the future of his descendants was unfolded before him. One after another the names of his sons were mentioned, the character of each was described, and the future history of the tribe was briefly foretold.BOE 112.4

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength,
The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.”BOE 112.5

But Reuben’s terrible sin at Edar had made him unworthy of the birthright blessing. Jacob continued,BOE 112.6

“Unstable as water, you shall not excel.”BOE 112.7

The priesthood was given to Levi, the kingdom and the Messianic promise to Judah, and the double portion of the inheritance to Joseph. The tribe of Reuben never rose to any prominence in Israel; it was not as numerous as Judah, Joseph, or Dan, and was among the first to be carried into captivity.BOE 112.8

Next were Simeon and Levi. They had been united in cruelty toward the Shechemites and had been the most guilty in the selling of Joseph.BOE 112.9

“I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel.”BOE 112.10

Moses, in his last blessing to Israel before entering Canaan, made no reference to Simeon. In the settlement of Canaan, this tribe received only a small portion of Judah’s lot, and any families that afterward became powerful formed different colonies and settled in territory outside the borders of the Holy Land. Levi also received no inheritance except forty-eight cities. However, their faithfulness when the other tribes apostatized secured their appointment to the sacred service of the sanctuary. In this way the curse was changed into a blessing.BOE 113.1

The crowning blessings of the birthright were transferred to Judah:BOE 113.2

“Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father’s children shall bow down before you. ...
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience
of the people.”BOE 113.3

The lion, king of the forest, is a fitting symbol for this tribe, from which came David, and the Son of David, Shiloh (Jesus), the true “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” to whom all powers shall finally bow and all nations give honor.BOE 113.4

For most of his children, Jacob foretold a prosperous future. At last he reached the name of Joseph, and the father’s heart overflowed as he invoked blessings upon “the head of him who was separate from his brothers:”BOE 113.5

“Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a well;
His branches run over the wall.
The archers have bitterly grieved him,
Shot at him and hated him.
But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob ... .
The blessings of your father
Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors,
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.”
BOE 113.6

Jacob was a man of deep affection; his love for his sons was strong and tender. He had forgiven all of them, and he loved them to the last. His fatherly tenderness would have found expression only in words of encouragement and hope, but the power of God rested on him. Under the influence of Inspiration he was led to declare the truth, however painful.BOE 113.7

Jacob’s last years brought an evening of tranquility and rest after a troubled and weary day. Dark clouds had gathered above his path, yet his sun set clear, and the radiance of heaven lighted up his parting hours. Says the Scripture, “At evening time it shall ... be light” (Zechariah 14:7). “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace” (Psalm 37:37).BOE 113.8

Inspiration faithfully records the faults of good people who were distinguished by the favor of God. This has given the infidel opportunities to scoff at the Bible, but it is one of the strongest evidences of the truth of Scripture that it does not gloss over the facts or suppress the sins of its chief characters. If the Bible had been written by uninspired persons, it would surely have presented its honored characters in a more flattering light.BOE 114.1

Seeing where others struggled through discouragements like our own, where they fell when tempted as we have done and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God, we are encouraged in our quest for righteousness. Though sometimes they were beaten back, they recovered their ground and were blessed by God. So we too may be overcomers in the strength of Jesus. On the other hand, the record of their lives may serve as a warning to us. God sees sin in His most favored ones, and He deals with it in them even more strictly than in those who have less light and responsibility.BOE 114.2

After the death and burial of Jacob, fear again filled the hearts of Joseph’s brothers. They were conscious of their guilt, and this made them distrustful and suspicious that Joseph would now inflict on them the long-deferred punishment for their crime. They dared not appear before him but sent a message, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph:“I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.”BOE 114.3

This message touched Joseph, bringing him to tears. Encouraged by this, his brothers came and fell down before him with the words, “Behold, we are your servants.” Joseph was pained that they could think he would cherish a spirit of revenge. “Do not be afraid,” he said; “for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.”BOE 114.4