S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Each of the twelve sons of Israel received a blessing from their father, Jacob, just before Jacob's death. The twelve sons were the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the blessing cont...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Since God appointed Judah to be the royal tribe, it was logical to associate the tribe with the lion, the king of the beasts. (See also Num. 24:9; Ezek. 19:1-7; Mic. 5:8; Rev. 5:5.) Jacob compared Judah to a lion’s cub, a lion, and a lioness (Gen. 49:9). Who would dare rouse a lion when he’s resting after feeding on the kill, or a lioness while she’s guarding her cubs? —Wiersbe

August 21 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What should we learn from the tribe of Judah?

Judah's acknowledgement of his sin and subsequent behaviour change show that confession and repentance are what God desires. His life is a testament that no one is "too far gone" for redemption and new life.

From the tribe of Judah, we learn enduring lessons about leadership, the power of repentance and transformation, the significance of praise, and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises through flawed individuals to bring the Messiah ultimately.

The most profound lesson is the tribe's central role in biblical prophecy, specifically that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would descend from the line of Judah, the "Lion of the tribe of Judah". This reinforces God's faithfulness in keeping His covenant promises across generations, culminating in the ultimate King and Saviour who offers salvation to all people. The sceptre was not to depart from Judah until "Shiloh" (the Messiah) came, a prophecy that was fulfilled in Jesus. 

Conclusion:

Judah's story illustrates that God can work through imperfect people to achieve His purposes, and his lineage led to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Under inspiration, Jacob offered Judah only blessing and commendation. (Read Genesis 49:8, 9.) Judah had shown great concern for his elderly father's feelings. And he has also demonstrated compassion for his youngest brother, Benjamin.​—Gen. 44:18, 30-34.

Jacob foretold that Judah would have a leading role among his brothers. However, the fulfilment of that prophecy was a long time in coming. Judah is first mentioned taking the lead some 200 years later, after the Exodus, when the tribe led the nation of Israel through the wilderness into the Promised Land. (Num. 10:14) Decades later, Judah took the lead in the conquest of the Promised Land. (Judg. 1:1, 2) And David, one of Judah's descendants, was the first of a long line of kings coming from that tribe.

Jacob revealed that the permanent Ruler of humanity would be a descendant of Judah. (Read Genesis 49:10) That Ruler would be Jesus Christ, the one whom Jacob called Shiloh. Of Jesus, an angel said: "God will give him the throne of David his father." (Luke 1:32, 33) Jesus is also called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah."​—Rev. 5:5.

What can we learn? 

1: God blessed Judah even though he made some serious mistakes. But could it be that Judah's brothers wondered what God saw in him? Whatever the case, God saw good in Judah and blessed him for it. How can we imitate God's example? When a fellow Christian receives a special privilege, we might at first be tempted to focus on that person's imperfections. But we do well to remember that God is certainly pleased with his fine qualities. That God looks for the good in his worshippers.

2: Another lesson we can learn from Judah's experience is the need to be patient. God always fulfils his promises, but he does not always do so in the manner or at the time we expect. Judah's descendants did not immediately begin taking the lead among God's people. But they loyally supported those whom God appointed to do so, whether it was Moses the Levite, Joshua the Ephraimite, or King Saul the Benjaminite. 

The lesson, we, too, should support whomever God chooses to take the lead among us today.​—Heb. 6:12.

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