Genesis 49:19-27 "Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel): Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil."
As Jacob continues to prophesy concerning his sons, we see a pattern emerge. Taken as a whole, these men who would become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel describe Israel as a nation. We need to keep in mind that what is true of natural Israel in the scripture is also true of spiritual Israel. We see a nation of men who will have judgement within, who are sometimes quick to war, who have sustenance within their inheritance, and yet are capable of terrible sin, seeking vengeance for themselves, and often forgetting God.
There are two notable exceptions in Jacob’s prophesying, which are Judah and Jospeh. We discussed the other day the great hope that we have in the coming of Shiloh (Messiah). We see our Redeemer coming out of the tribe of Judah. He is the end of the law for righteousness to us who believe (Romans 10:3). When we believe in Him, we cease to try and establish our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
Jacob’s words concerning Jospeh focus on the prosperity and strength of Joseph. Even though he was sorely tried, he was victorious. He was separate (consecrated) from his brethren. The blessing of his father exceeded all other blessings. The story of Joseph stirs our hearts because it is the story of Jesus and His power in our lives.
Jesus’ power and authority flowed directly from the throne of God. He was exceedingly fruitful. He came to the Jews first, but His branches ran over the wall to include the Gentiles. The nation He was born into despised Him because they would eventually kneel before Him. They persecuted Him and hated Him without a cause. But He was made strong by the mighty God of Jacob.
Here is the Good Shepherd and the Stone of Israel. The Almighty blessed and helped Him, and through Him, He has blessed and helped us. This is the stone that the builders rejected (Psalms 118:22). Surely, He has become marvelous in our eyes because we know that the Lord has done this and not man!