The Sons of Jacob and the Son of God

House of God
Today’s Topic: The Concept of the Primogenitor: Sons of Jacob and the Son of God
Scripture: Genesis 42:37; Genesis 43:8,9;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
Now when we look at the Twelve Sons of Jacob these are them in birth order:
1. Reuben 2. Simeon 3. Levi 4. Judah
5. Dan 6. Naphtali 7. Gad 8. Asher
9. Issachar 10. Zebulun 11. Joseph 12. Benjamin
Now I point this out early so you will have a point of reference throughout this message. Now in Genesis 37 we see the story of Joseph and his brothers where they we jealous of Joseph because of the dreams he had and the interpretation lead to them bowing down to him. Well of course the brothers plotted to sell Joseph into slavery and lie to their father, Jacob about his whereabouts and what happened to him. Now Joseph goes through his situations in Egypt and a famine hits the land. So of course the brothers, except Benjamin went into Egypt to get some corn. When confronted by their brother Joseph who was ruler under Pharaoh in Egypt, he held Simeon in jail until they can prove themselves by bringing their youngest brother who at this time now was Benjamin. Now Jacob was totally reluctant to letting Benjamin go remembering what had happened, or supposedly happened to Joseph. Now two of the 11 remaining brothers approached their father Israel and made two different conditions in order to guarantee Benjamin and Simeon’s return. The first was Reuben, the oldest.

Reuben – Genesis 42:37:”And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.” Now Reuben made the condition to kill his 2 sons if he could not bring back Benjamin and Simeon.

Then Judah made his request:
Judah – Genesis 43:8,9:”And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.” Now Judah is putting his very own life on the line as a guarantee to bring Benjamin and Simeon back. This is so crucial.

Reuben made his children the ransom and sacrifice for failure to return. Judah made His own life the ransom and sacrifice. Now the reason this is unique is because when it was time for Israel to bless his sons, when he came to Judah he said this: Genesis 49:10 ”The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be.” Why this blessing? Because in pledging his life to restore the son that was held hostage and bring back the son given to him, he was fulfilling the essence of the story of Jesus Christ in which he pledged His own life to bring Adam back to the House of God. Not only Adam would he bring back but all of the sons of Adam who would accept His pledge of His own life. Judah was the type and shadow of the primogenitor, Jesus Christ in this story. Judah went in the name of his father to retrieve the lost son. Jesus came in the name of the Father to retrieve the lost sons of Adam.

Now you may say that the primogenitor is the first son and it should be Reuben but remember the patriarchal order is about the movement of the gospel and the story of the gospel will be told many ways through the order of the sons of God who is the natural lineage from Adam to Jesus. Jesus would come through the tribe of Judah hence making him and what he did the true type and shadow of what Christ will come and do.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.