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This study has come about because we’ve been going through Genesis on Sunday evening. What’s included in the Bible is obviously important because of what is said, but it’s equally important because of what it says about the author. If the Spirit of Almighty God is the author of this book, then what’s included tells you what’s important to Almighty God.
Sometimes I’m confused about what’s been included in the Bible. Trying to study a book like Song of Solomon is a little tough. Trying to figure out what place it occupies and who the characters are is difficult.
When reading and trying to understand the Bible the questions of who’s speaking, who’s being spoken to, what are they talking about, what’s the context of this. These are all good questions, but perhaps the most important question is where is Jesus Christ? 2 Corinthians 3:13-16 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
One of the works of the Holy Ghost was to weave together the scriptures into a tapestry that illustrated Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
There is a seed promised in Abraham according to Genesis 22:17-18. Christ is the seed in Galatians 3:16. The seed is carried by Abraham. Abraham and Sarah are promised a child who will carry the seed. They waver as they get older and concoct a plan to produce a child between Abraham and Hagar, but that isn’t God’s promise. So a child is born named Ishmael, but Ishmael is not God’s promise. The LORD waits until there is no way possible for Abraham and Sarah to have a child and God gives them a supernatural conception and Isaac is born. Isaac carries the seed. He came by promise of God and his birth was by faith according to Hebrews 11.
Isaac marries Rebekah and she becomes pregnant with twins. Uh oh! Now the LORD is in a mess because which one of these twins is going to carry the seed? They can’t both do that obviously. So the LORD bypasses the natural order of things and says the elder shall serve the younger. Though they’d only be separated by minutes. The LORD meaning to show His blessing and promise says the seed will pass to the younger twin. At that point, whether it was Jacob or Esau made no difference who came out first or last. God wasn’t picking Jacob over Esau, He was just disrupting the natural order of blessings to prove that these blessings would be from Him. The seed then passed to Jacob.
And out of Jacob come twelve boys, anyone of which will carry God’s seed. Remember, there are probably millions of families on the earth by this time in history, but the LORD is focussed on one because it’s through this family that the seed will come. Here are the children born to Jacob. Keep in mind the natural order is that the firstborn son receives the bulk of the inheritance and the father’s blessing. That would be the natural order.
- Leah
- Ruben
- Simeon
- Levi
- Judah
- Issachar
- Zebulon
- Dinah
- Billhah
- Dan
- Naphtali
- Zilpah
- Gad
- Asher
- Rachel
- Joseph
- Benjamin
In the natural order of things Ruben will carry the seed. But you know by now that the seed is spiritual. It was spiritual when Isaac was born. It was spiritual when the twins, Jacob and Esau were born. So the seed is a man and physical, but the characteristics and the DNA of the seed is spiritual.
Now, out of Jacob’s children, which one best typified Jesus Christ? And out of Jacob’s children, which one would you choose to have the seed come through? Joseph is the best type of Christ in Genesis. There is more written about Joseph in Genesis than any other person except maybe Abraham.
Genesis 34 Simeon and Levi disqualified as murderers in the incident with Dinah and Shechem.
Genesis 35:22 Ruben is disqualified.
Jacob’s assessment of his first three sons is in Genesis 49:1-7.
Judah is next in line. But two things are recorded about Judah. One in Genesis 38 where Judah does not defend his own righteousness, rather says that his daughter-in-law who played the harlot was more righteous than he was. The other thing was that Judah would offer himself as a ransom for Benjamin in Genesis 44:18-34. (Notice Joseph’s reaction in Genesis 45:1.) This is the heart of the LORD and this is the spiritual quality the seed – Jesus Christ – will possess.
So here’s what the author, the Holy Spirit of God, is recording. He records the decision process of God Almighty. He tells you why Judah was chosen above the others. But if the only metric was what brother was the best type of Christ then the seed should’ve gone through Joseph. He is by far the best type of Christ. So why did Judah get picked? Any guesses? It’s perfectly understandable in light of all that’s said. The LORD was just going down the list in birth order. When he got to Judah, the LORD said I’ve found characteristics of Christ and so he’ll be the one. Meanwhile, Joseph is number eleven in birth order.
However, Judah carries the seed, but Joseph’s life is so much like Christ that the LORD says he won’t be the one carrying the seed, but Joseph’s life needs to go on record as possessing multiple qualities and blessings that Christ will possess.
