GLORIOS END

 

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”  28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

 

     Jacob is now finishing his prophetic thoughts on his son by Rachel.  We get a little insight on the personality and future of the tribe of Benjamin.  Benjamin's name arose when Jacob deliberately changed the name "Benoni", the original name of Benjamin, which means the Son of my right hand, since Benoni was an allusion to Rachel's dying just after she had given birth, as it means "son of my pain.  We glean that Benjamin is ambitious, rugged, and an A type personality.  He likes to win and he was deadly in battle.  Benjamin had ten sons and the tribe came from them and they were fierce in battle.  Saul the first king of Israel was from Benjamin.  The tribe of Benjamin beat the others tribes in the book of Judges and were nearly wipe out because of their stubbornness.  Later they were the only tribe that stayed with the line of David when Israel rebelled. 

     So Jacob finishes his prophetic blessing over each of the boys.  He gave each one a blessing appropriate to them.  These are powerful prophetic blessings.  In ancient times a blessing was given for legacy, encouragement, a place of favor, inheritance and station in the family.

 

 

 

29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.

 

     Jacob now gives his final instructions.  He knows he is about to die.  Here we get a glimpse of the ancient world and how it operated..  Like today final instructions are binding in law.  Families then like today are to honor the last requests of a loved one.  To not do so brings dishonor.   He tells them to bury him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan.  He tells them this is where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and where Leah is buried.  Leah is buried here because she became the love of Jacob’s life after Rachel died.  What a story of restoration and healing.  Even though Rachel was his first love, Leah was his final love.  It shows that true love wins in the end.  Faithfulness, loyalty, integrity, inner beauty, grace, and consistency wins out.  Leah won Jacob’s heart and the honor of being buried beside him.  

     Jacob looked at himself as a pilgrim passing through life.  He never had a home and even though he was in Egypt it was not his home.  The only place he considered his own was this piece of ground in Canaan. 

 

33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

 

      Jacob finishes giving his instruction.  We see he has been sitting on the side of the bed.  Each boy had kneeled before their father received their blessing.  He then lay’s back on the bed.  The blessings and the final burial instructions have been given.  He has finished his course and he has kept the faith.  The suplanter, the cheat, the schemer and the manipulator.  The man who became Israel and prince with God.  The man who Fathered ,12 sons and one daughter.  The man who stayed true to God in a pagan world.  The man of legacy, truth, righteousness, and worshipped God on his walking stick.  A man who had  a people, land and nation named after.  The last of the patriarch’s.  He had a glorious end.  So my question is what do you want your legacy to be.  Paul’s was this.  2 Tim 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

     Here is reality as I close today.  We are all only a moment away from death.  It could happen through natural means or supernatural means.  We must live ready.  My question is what shall you be known as, and what is your legacy?  What will people say about you?  I have to dispel a Christian myth.  Many churches expound that if you get baptized as a child that secures you a place in heaven.  It does not.  Only a personal relationship with Jesus does that.  Just, because a family member is a Christian that does not make you one.  Also going to church does not.  We are only a moment away from the return of Christ.  Every moment we live we are one moment closer.  Are you ready?  Will you have a glorious end?  Jacob lived well and died well.  Let us pray we will as well.