Advent, Day 4

THE LIGHT COMES THROUGH JUDAH
The Light of God’s Promises passed from Abraham to his son Isaac, then to his youngest grandson Jacob. In those days, big promises were usually passed down to oldest sons, but Jacob tricked everyone (except God) and managed to get the promise for himself. This probably surprised Jacob’s friends and family, but it all fit with God’s plan—God often uses the least likely people to accomplish his plans. In fact, there are very few oldest sons in the whole Hebrew Bible. God always seemed to choose someone unexpected.

Eventually, Jacob had 12 sons of his own. Everyone must have wondered if one of these sons would be the promised crusher of evil—and if so, which one? Everyone probably would have expected it to be Ruben or Joseph. Ruben was the oldest. Joseph was from Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel. So, which one did God choose? He chose neither. He went with the fourth son of the less favored with, Leah. It’s almost like God was looking for the forgotten brother—the one who doesn’t stand out on paper. God doesn’t need someone with a shiny personality to bring his light, because God is the light. God can use anyone at all. Even through much tragedy and a famine that could have ended the world, God was at work. God used Jacob’s sons to bring light into a dark place. They were a dirty bunch, but God wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

After a long life, Jacob gathered his sons and spoke God’s blessings over them. When he came to Judah, the most surprising choice, Jacob said, The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49:10)

In those days, scepters were the implements of kings. So there was a twist: The crusher of evil would come from the line of Judah, and he would hold a scepter—be a king, with the obedience of the nations. He wouldn’t be a king over just one people, like Israel or Judah, but over “the peoples”. This bright new laser joined in with the others, pointing toward the hope of some future figure who would come to bring light to the darkness.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
“Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons shall bow down before you.
Judah is a lion’s cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.
-Genesis 49:8-12

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
– Why do you think God chooses unlikely people to accomplish his plans?
– If God doesn’t favor impressive people, how can we impress God?
– What kind of heart does God go after? How can we cultivate a heart like that? – What are ways you have tried to earn God love?
– How can you grow towards loving other people the way God does?

PRAYER
Father, thank you that you choose unlikely people. Thank you that you don’t care about flashy exteriors, but see down to the heart. Thank you that we don’t have to be impressive to be loved. Please use us to show other people the kind of God you are. Help us to become a community that gives love unearned.

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