“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.” (Genesis 49:27)
So far, we have looked at:
· 1st born Reuben. Turbulent in character lacking self-control and lacking in command to protect his younger brothers thus losing his father's trust.
· 2nd and 3rd born Simeon and Levi. Lacking wisdom and having an untamed anger. Vengeful with devastating aftermath.
· 4th born Judah. A leader, protector, negotiator, mediator and reconciler. He had the gift of persuasion and knew the right buttons to press. He was a royalty and he lived and acted like it.
· 5th born Dan (Bilha’s 1st son). A judge. Endowed with strength but misused it. Later on restored.
· 6th born Naphtali (Bilha’s 2nd son). Signified triumph over struggle. He was disobedient in executing God’s command just like Zebulun. Despite their ups and downs, they received a blessing from the Lord.
· 7th born Gad (Zilpha’s 1st son). A fortune. Received a greater inheritance. Tenacious in pursuit of the enemy killing everyone of them and going the extra mile to help other tribes.
· 8th born Asher (Zilpha’s 2nd son). His name meant happy. Destined for greatness through favor, Asher compromised by living with Canaanites and was hesitant in fighting against evil. However, conviction triumphed over compromise.
· 9th born Issachar (Leah’s 5th son). Described as a rawboned donkey. Languid, laid back, permissive and submissive to force labor. A portrayal of compromise at its highest.
· 10th born Zebulun (Leahs 6th son). A haven of rest for voyagers battered by life's storms. He was a safe harbor for those tossed by the strong winds in the seas. He also portrayed a conduit for the great commission, being the port of entry exit to other nations.
· 11th born Joseph (Rachel’s 1st son). Hope at last. God will add. Unbowed though faced with adversity. The embodiment of dogged determination to not quit even when odds are stacked. His reward, was a double portion blessing.
Today we examine Benjamin. He was the second and last son of Rachel. The birth of Benjamin was a sorrowful one. While Rachel drew her last breath, Benjamin gave his first cry. It took her life for Benjamin to have life. As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named him "Ben-oni" (son of my sorrow); but Jacob, to avert the evil omen, called him "Ben Yamin," son of the right hand; that is, of good luck (Gen 35:17).
Jacob had a bitter-sweet experience here. Cuddling young Benjamin on one hand and burying his dear wife Rachel on the other. The birth of Benjamin was both a fortune and misfortune in equal masure. What an oxymoron.
Benjamin is described by his father as a ravenous wolf devouring prey by day and divides plunder by night. Benjamin didn’t get to know his mother. He didn’t have the opportunity to experience a mother’s love but had to survive against a legion of 11 strong brothers, as a last born. He is described as “warlike” in nature. He had to fight out for what was his.
The tribe of Benjamin produced two Sauls. The first King of Israel whom God rejected. Though he towered among men and was good looking, he disobeyed God and lost his glory. But another Saul came, devourer of Christians and divider of the early church at first, he was transformed into a vessel that would devour and divide the devil’s territory and bring the gentiles to the Lord.
Do you feel so messed up that you are of no good to God? You have devoured and divided your life with reckless abandon that you feel there is not enough grace for you? Do you look at those ahead of you and feel they had more chances, more opportunities and those days life was better? Are you feeling self-pity for yourself for not having been born with a silver spoon or in a different family or at a different time? Perhaps you are wondering why God didn’t take you away at an early age to escape the onslaught of life challenges.
Isaiah 64:8 says “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Unused clay is dirt but to the Potter, it is raw material for beautiful jars. You are beauty in the making. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Though you are small, they call you the devourer and have written you off. God hasn’t. He needs that devourer nature of yours to use it for His glory. Trust Him transform the devourer into a deliverer.
No comments:
Post a Comment