CHAPTER 49

^[p. 157] CHAPTER 49

Then you have the blessing of the tribes of Israel in a general view, prophetically, of their history. Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, fails; Simeon and Levi, corruption and violence, failure of those who seek to maintain their rights by nature’s force; Judah, strength and honour, but all goes on till failure is complete; then all is judgment till you come to Dan, in which you get the power of evil — apostasy - the serpent. (The Jews have a tradition that Antichrist will come of this tribe.) When Israel joins with the world, you get the serpent. Then there is turning to the Lord for salvation, and all is changed. “I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah.” Faith waits until God interferes. Gad, he is overcome, but overcomes at the last. In Asher we see blessings flow; in Naphtali, goodly words; in Joseph, a rejected Christ exalted. Benjamin is the son of God’s right hand, in victory over all His enemies.