DAY 1 – God uses Anyone for His Purpose

Genesis 49:10 “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and obedience of the nations shall be his.”

Judah was not an exemplary character. He saw profit in getting rid of Joseph. He did not deal faithfully with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38:26). But he showed good character by offering himself to substitute Benjamin (Genesis 44:18-34). Overall, this blessing is an example of the richness of God’s grace to the undeserving.

This prophecy over Judah points to his descendant our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The dying patriarch spoke of his son Judah and also had a special, prophetic eye on our Lord, who sprang from the tribe of Judah. The shadow was toward our greater Lion of Judah our Lord Jesus Christ, who continues as a Savior washing away all sin.

Judah rose to God’s purpose (not merit) in ruling among his brothers. Judah or Tamar was chosen sinners by God to fulfill His promise (Genesis 12:12). The rising of Judah to position foreshadowed the king of Israel born from the tribe of Judah (Revelations 5:5). The Bible recorded many examples of broken sinners God used through His irresistible Grace for His purpose. Tamar sinned by sleeping with her father-in-law Jude and through God’s grace Tamar bore from which Perez became the great grandfather David and Jesus the Messiah (Ruth 4:18, Matthew 1:3,16).

Both Judah’s and Tamar’s sins were no stumbling blocks to the coming Messiah, born in Jacob’s house. Tamar is now a great-grandmother of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Prayer: Father God, forgive me for being quick to judge others, while I struggle with my own sin every day. Thank you for Your Word that reminds me that, Your grace uses undeserving people like me, and that Jesus came on earth to save a sinner like me, by His stripes I’m healed. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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