Benjamin (Gen. 49:27)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/16/2008 9:02 AM

 

 

My Worship Time                                                                                     Focus:  Benjamin

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                         Reference:  Genesis 49:27

 

            Message of the verse:  “27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; all morning he gorges on his kill, at evening divides up what’s left over.”

 

            It does seem odd that Jacob only gives this one line of blessing to “the son of my right hand,” Benjamin, and the words that he says are a bit difficult to understand.  There were some famous people to come from Benjamin’s descendents including Saul, the first king of Israel and Saul who became the apostle Paul, and both of them were like ravenous wolves in their lives.  There is an ironic story about one of Benjamin’s descendents in the book of Judges and it is about Ehud.  Ehud was left handed and he killed Eglon and then become on of Israel’s judges.  So the son of Jacob’s right hand has a left-handed relative who becomes a leader in Israel. 

 

            Moses spoke a little different about the tribe of Benjamin when he said that he was “the beloved of the Lord.”  Benjamin was the only tribe that stuck with the tribe of Judah and thus was a part of the Southern Kingdom thus remaining faithful to the Davidic line.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I realize that your background has a great deal to do with your behavior, yet just as Paul was changed when the Lord Jesus Christ came into his life so I too have changed since He invaded my life a little more than thirty-four years ago.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to teach me contentment as I go through the tests and trials He is sending my through so that I will continue to develop the character similar to Jesus Christ.

 

My memory verses for the week:  Philippians 1:9-11

 

9. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
10. so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11. having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.