Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 11 March 2023

Scripture Text: Genesis 49:8-15

Message: “Judah, Zebulun and Issachar” Genesis 49:8-15

INTRODUCTION

A. THE LISTING OF BLESSINGS FOUND IN GENESIS 49

1. They are not consistently chronologically listed

2. The statements do not reflect all the historical circumstances of their lives

3. The names chosen and given to the sons of Jacob did not fully match their lives as they grew up

B. CANDID APPRAISAL OF THE FIRST THREE SONS

Reuben, Simeon and Levi

Genesis 29:31-34

1. They were the first three sons of Leah

2. Jacob spoke disdainfully of them

3. Grave words of warning were given to them

a) They must change

b) They had character problems

c) God’s help must be sought

C. PROPHETIC WORDS CONCERNING JUDAH WERE SPOKEN

Judah was the 4th son of Leah Genesis 29:35

8 “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.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He bows down, he lies down as a lion;
And as a lion, who shall rouse him?

10 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.

11 Binding his donkey to the vine,
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,
He washed his garments in wine,
And his clothes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine,
And his teeth whiter than milk.

Genesis 49:8-12

1. Messianic Prophecy

a) From the line of Judah, the Messiah would come

b) This would have been very hard to comprehend when Jacob spoke these words

2. Features of the Messianic prophecy

a) He would be a King with a scepter Genesis 49:10

b) He is compared to a mighty lion Genesis 49:9

c) He would conquer all enemies Genesis 49:8

D. FARSIGHTED KNOWLEDGE OF ZEBULUN

1. He was the 6th son of Leah Genesis 30:20

2. But he was the 10th son

3. What was said about Zebulun

“Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.”

Genesis 49:13

a) He would become a haven for ships

b) It would have as its neighbour, Sidon

c) It would be a sea-faring tribe

d) His Spiritual stature was not mentioned at all

E. FARSIGHTED KNOWLEDGE OF ISSACHAR

1. He was the 5th son of Leah Genesis 30:15-18

2. But he was the 9th son in the family

3. What was said about Issachar

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between two burdens;

15 He saw that rest was good,
And that the land was pleasant;
He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden,
And became a band of slaves.

Genesis 49:14-15

 

a) He was compared to a strong donkey

i) He worked hard

ii) But he was not very wise

b) He worked hard and did well in his land

c) But the wealth of the tribe drew unwanted attention from marauders

d) Many were abducted and sold as slaves

e) No spiritual greatness was noted

F. VITAL LESSONS MUST BE LEARNED

1. Our past may affect the future

a) We need to know ourselves better

b) We need to change when we notice negative tendencies

c) God’s help is to be sought

2. Things that must be addressed

a) Weaknesses

b) Sins

c) Solutions are to be found

CONCLUSION

1. Judah did not begin well

a) He left his family

b) He did not do honourable things

2. Yet, significant spiritual life is possible

a) Changes to take place

b) It is possible to become spiritual

c) God’s blessings are to be sought