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Your Hand on the Neck of Your Enemies
Wes Schaeffer
December 17, 2018
From today’s reading…
Jacob called his sons and said to them:
‘Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel, your father.
You, Judah, shall your brothers praise
–your hand on the neck of your enemies;’”
Like all prominent leaders in the Bible who were called to a new life, Jacob received a new name, Israel. Today we see him bidding farewell to his sons and foretelling their future.
Since Judah was not the oldest son, Jacob had to announce to Judah’s brothers—who had not lived up to the family name—that their futures were not quite as bright because of their past transgressions.
Reuben, Simon, and Levi were not good guys and they wanted to kill Joseph out of jealousy but Judah helped convince them to spare his life and sell him into slavery.
Would it have been better if Judah was stronger back then? Maybe. But then Joseph wouldn’t have been in position to save them later during the famine.
Regardless, let today’s reading from the end of Genesis serve as a reminder of why it will always pay off in the end to…
Stay the course. Keep the faith. Endure.