Genesis 49:24-25 KJV
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
This appears to me to be the first reference to Jesus Christ as the Rock or Stone. The verse does not say that Christ will come from the fruit of Joseph, we know He did not, but that He will come from "…the God of Jacob....even by the God of thy father...."
Jesus is from the tribe of Judah, but more importantly, He is from the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.
That this reference is found in Joseph and not in Judah also reminds me of Paul's words that they are not all Israel which are of Israel and that there will also be children of Abraham who are by faith and not of Jewish descent. Our hope is not in a line of heritage or a simple blood test. Our hope is through faith in the shepherd and stone of Israel Who came from God and "shall be a help" to us.
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
This appears to me to be the first reference to Jesus Christ as the Rock or Stone. The verse does not say that Christ will come from the fruit of Joseph, we know He did not, but that He will come from "…the God of Jacob....even by the God of thy father...."
Jesus is from the tribe of Judah, but more importantly, He is from the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.
That this reference is found in Joseph and not in Judah also reminds me of Paul's words that they are not all Israel which are of Israel and that there will also be children of Abraham who are by faith and not of Jewish descent. Our hope is not in a line of heritage or a simple blood test. Our hope is through faith in the shepherd and stone of Israel Who came from God and "shall be a help" to us.
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