The Purpose of Prophecy

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The Purpose of Prophecy

• Genesis 491-28

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Hurricane Dean Projections
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Biblical Prophecy

• In trying to put all the pieces together
• Often people become totally lost in the details
  and lose sight of the purpose of prophecy
• Immersion in the details of things to come
• Carefully chart out the future
• Details become an obsession while godly living is
  brushed aside
• Does Genesis 49 have much to say to us in the
  21st century?
• The prophecies are related to the destiny of the
  descendants of Jacob
• There are messianic prophecies
• Insight into the purpose of all prophecy

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Jacob Was Approaching Death

• Jacob called his twelve sons to gather around him
• He began to speak, but his words were not those
  of a regular conversation
• He spoke in a form of poetry using symbols
• The Holy Spirit enabled Jacob to predict the
  future of the nation Israel

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I. The Prophecies

1. The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15
2. The Sons of Bilhah Genesis 4916-18, 21
3. The Sons of Zilpah Genesis 4919-20
4. The Sons of Rachel Genesis 4922-27

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The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15

• God gave Jacob six sons by Leah
• The wife he didnt want
• Reuben (Genesis 493-4)
• An old sin finally caught up with Reuben
• He lost his privileges as the firstborn son
• Unstable as water speaks of both turbulence and
  weakness
• The descendents of Reuben were just like him
• The tribe was never important in the history of
  Israel and never produced a leader of any stature
  for the nation
• The prophecy proved to be precisely true

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The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15

• Simeon and Levi (Genesis 495-7)
• Guilty of anger and violence - massacre of the
  Shechemites
• Dangerous to be in their assembly
• God arranged that the two tribes would not be
  able to assemble
• Tribe of Simeon was absorbed into Judah
• Tribe of Levi given 48 towns to live in,
  scattered throughout the land
• The tribe of Levi shows how God use a repentant
  people mightily for good
• Redeemed themselves by standing for God and Moses
  when no one else would (Exodus 3225-29)
• More great leaders than any other tribe except
  Judah
• Moses, Aaron, Phinehas, Eli, Ezra, John the
  Baptist

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The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15

• Judah (Genesis 498-12)
• Jacob said nothing about Judahs sins
• Judahs life is a beautiful picture of a persons
  growing into spiritual maturity
• Judah sinned, but he repented and made some
  things right with his father and his family
• That was the difference between him and his three
  elder brothers
• Judah means praise, and Judah did live up to his
  name
• The tribe that gave Israel their kings - some
  were godly leaders
• Ultimately brought Jesus Christ into the world

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The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15

• Judah (Genesis 498-12)
• The prophetic blessing
• Praised for military leadership and power
• Judah would be like a lion - a symbol of courage,
  strength, and security
• Clearly seen in the great kings Judah produced
• David, Solomon, Asa, Jehosaphat, Uzziah, Jotham,
  Hezekiah, Josiah
• The greatest blessing - Shiloh, the Messiah and
  Savior of the world
• Shiloh was to come through Judahs offspring
• A great prophecy of the Messiah, the Savior of
  the world

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The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15

• Zebulun (Genesis 4913)
• The only tribe that had its territory spelled out
  in the prophetic blessing
• Gods blessing
• A unique opportunity to serve the other tribes by
  providing goods for them
• The lesson
• God is the source of our blessings
• We must be like Zebulun and use what we have to
  serve and help those who are around us

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The Sons of Leah Genesis 493-15

• Isaachar (Genesis 4914-15)
• Today a donkey is an ignoble beast of burden
• But in OT times, kings rode on donkeys
• The image is of a strong people who werent
  afraid to carry burdens
• The prophecy proved true
• They fought for Deborah and Barak when other
  tribes refused to help - Judges 515-18
• Provide 87,000 men for the military during the
  rule of Israels kings - 1 Chronicles 75
• Issachar had one terrible weakness, complacency
• Complacency destroys ambition, drive, initiative,
  production, work, even life itself

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The Sons of Bilhah Genesis 4916-18, 21

• Rachels handmaid
• Given to Jacob to bear him children when Rachel
  thought she was childless
• Dan (Genesis 4916-18)
• Dan means to judge
• Produced Samson - one of the most famous judges
  (Judges 1316)
• The tribe of Dan wasnt able to drive out the
  Philistines
• The prophecy
• The tribe was to be just like a snake treacherous
  and crafty
• The first tribe to take up idol worship in Israel
• The first to be dishonest against God

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The Sons of Bilhah Genesis 4916-18, 21

• Naphtali (Genesis 4921)
• For some reason, Jacob spoke to Gad and Asher,
  the sons of Zilpah, before he spoke to Naphtali
• Naphtali has no judgment against it
• The image of a hind doe let loose a
  free-spirited people
• he gives goodly beautiful words they could
  express themselves well
• The people of Naphtali would make ideal
  messengers
• Jesus Christ spent a great deal of time and
  ministry in their territory Galilee!
• The prophecy of beautiful words find their
  greatest fulfillment in the gospel preached by
  Christ Himself

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The Sons of ZilpahGenesis 4919-20

• Leahs handmaid
• Given to Jacob to bear him more children after
  Leah had ceased bearing
• Later Leah gave birth to Isaachar, Zebulun, and
  Dinah
• Gad (Genesis 4919)
• The Gadites were great warriors (Joshua 221-6)
• Successful in struggling against his enemy
• The idea is that he would never give up no matter
  the strength of his enemy
• He would struggle and fight until at last he
  overcame
• He would know the glory of victory

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The Sons of ZilpahGenesis 4919-20

• Asher (Genesis 4920)
• Asher means happy, lucky, or fortunate
• They inherited some of the best land
• But during the days of the judges, the people
  were swallowed up by the luxury of wealth
• They refused to help the other tribes in fighting
  against the enemies of Israel
• Too caught up in the worldly pleasures, and
  comforts to worry about the needs of others under
  attack (Judges 517-18)

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The Sons of RachelGenesis 4922-27

• Jacobs favorite wife
• Her two sons were his favorite children
• Joseph (Genesis 4922-26)
• Jacob used the word bless at least six times
  about Joseph
• Keep in mind that the prophecy refers to his two
  sons, Ephraim and Manasseh
• A fruitful vine sitting near a spring that has
  fruitful branches climbing all over a wall
• Ephraim and Manasseh were to bear large numbers
  of people and strong leaders
• Joshua, 5 of the 15 judges of Israel Gideon,
  Abimelech, Jair, Jephthah, and Samuel
• Joseph was, however, to be harassed and hated by
  his enemies
• But Joseph was to stand firm and steady
• God Himself was to make him strong

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The Sons of RachelGenesis 4922-27

• Joseph (Genesis 4922-26)
• 5 different names or titles of God - The strength
  of Josephs descendents was due to God and God
  alone!
• The Mighty One of Jacob
• The Shepherd
• A picture of God as the Guide, Provider, and
  Protector
• The Rock of Israel
• A picture of God as the Foundation and Support of
  life
• The God of your father who helps you
• The Almighty (El Shaddai)
• This name stresses that God is the God of all
  might and strength Who can do all things for His
  people

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The Sons of RachelGenesis 4922-27

• Benjamin (Genesis 4927)
• Jacobs words were few and puzzling
• Why compare Benjamin to a ravenous wolf?
• There are both good and bad features in a wolf
• A wolf is a strong, sensitive, loyal, crafty,
  ferocious animal, always alert and ready to fight
• The men of Benjamin were brave and loyal
• Tribal history in Judges 19 20 the ravenous
  wolf in action
• King Saul - ruthlessl
• Abner, Sheba, and Shimei ferocious warriors!
• Saul of Tarsus - like a wild animal persecuting
  the church

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II. Questions

• Did every detail of Jacobs prophecy come to
  pass, as he predicted?
• The answer is no, but why not?
• Gods purposes for Israel are not yet complete
• Romans 1125-27

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Romans 1125-27

• For I do not want you, brethren, to be
  uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in
  your own estimation, that a partial hardening has
  happened to Israel until the fullness of the
  Gentiles has come in and thus all Israel will be
  saved just as it is written, The Deliverer Will
  Come From Zion, He Will Remove Ungodliness From
  Jacob. And This Is My Covenant With Them, When
  I Take Away Their Sins

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II. Questions

• Did every detail of Jacobs prophecy come to
  pass, as he predicted?
• The answer is no, but why not?
• Gods purposes for Israel are not yet complete
• Romans 1125-27
• The promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have
  never been fully realized in Israels history,
  and are still to come in the future

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II. Questions

• Did every detail of Jacobs prophecy come to
  pass, as he predicted?
• The answer is no, but why not?
• Gods purposes for Israel are not yet complete
• God never intended to fulfill every prophecy!
• While most prophecies are specific and certain of
  their fulfillment, not all are
• Some prophecies are Gods warning of what would
  come to pass if men did not repent
• This is why Jonah had no intention of prophesying
  impending judgment to the Ninevites

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Jonah 310-42

• When God saw their deeds and that they turned
  from their wicked way, then God relented
  concerning the calamity which He had declared He
  would bring upon them. And He did not do it. But
  it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry.
  And he prayed to the Lord and said, Please Lord,
  was not this what I said while I was still in my
  own country? Therefore, in order to forestall
  this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that Thou art
  a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger
  and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who
  relents concerning calamity

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Jeremiah 187-10

• Years later, the truth that Jonah understood was
  clearly stated
• At one moment I might speak concerning a nation
  or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down,
  or to destroy it, if that nation against which I
  have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent
  concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.
  Or at another moment I might speak concerning a
  nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to
  plant it, if it does evil in My sight by not
  obeying My voice, then I will think better of the
  good with which I had promised to bless it

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II. Questions

• What is the purpose of this prophecy for the sons
  of Jacob, since they will all die before God
  causes the nation to return to Canaan?
• The primary lesson - Character not only affects
  their own destiny, but also the future
  generations!
• Present actions have future results and
  repercussions
• What they are tends to shape what the nation will
  be in years to come
• If they live godly lives, this will be a blessing
  to coming generations
• If they are godless, the nation will reap the
  consequences

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III. The Purpose of Prophecy

• Prophecy focuses our attention upon future things
  
• Our tendency is to live like there is no future
• Israels hope, like ours, was a future hope
• Do not fix your hopes on earthly things!
• 1 Peter 13-5
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
  Christ, who according to His great mercy has
  caused us to be born again to a living hope
  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
  dead, to obtain an inheritance which is
  imperishable and undefiled and will not fade
  away, reserved in heaven for you, who are
  protected by the power of God through faith for a
  salvation ready to be revealed in the last time

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III. The Purpose of Prophecy

• Prophecy focuses not only on the future, but on
  living in the present in the light of the future
• The promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
  were to prompt purity in the lives of Israels
  sons
• The future blessings (and judgments) which are in
  store for us are intended to encourage us to live
  in peace and purity
• What does 2 Peter 310-13 make you want to do
  right now?

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2 Peter 310-13

• But the day of the Lord will come like a
  thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a
  roar and the elements will be destroyed with
  intense heat, and the earth and its works will be
  burned up. Since all these things are to be
  destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought
  you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking
  for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
  on account of which the heavens will be destroyed
  by burning, and the elements will melt with
  intense heat! But according to His promise we are
  looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which
  righteousness dwells

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III. The Purpose of Prophecy

• Prophecy focuses not only on the future, but on
  living in the present in light of the future
• The promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
  were to prompt purity in the lives of Israels
  sons
• The future blessings (and judgments) which are in
  store for us are intended to encourage Christians
  to live in peace and purity
• What does 2 Peter 310-13 make you want to do
  right now?
• Prophecy is given not to satisfy our curiosity,
  but to prompt us to purity

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C. Specific and General Prophecy

• Specific prophecy
• Like the second coming of Christ
• Fulfilled as specifically and literally as
  prophecies of Christs first coming
• More general prophecies
• Given to warn us of the possibility of future
  things which can be avoided
• These words of warning are also words of hope
• The warning of sin and its consequences was
  designed to turn us from our sin to the Messiah
• The Scriptures are full of passages about the
  days ahead of suffering, eternal torment,
  judgment, and condemnation

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Revelation 2012-15

• And I saw the dead, the great and the small,
  standing before the throne, and books were
  opened and another book was opened, which is the
  book of life and the dead were judged from the
  things which were written in the books, according
  to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead
  which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the
  dead which were in them and they were judged,
  every one of them according to their deeds. And
  death and Hades were thrown in to the lake of
  fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
  And if anyones name was not found written in the
  book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire
• Some will surely face this judgment, but you need
  not!
• Prophecy like this is written so that you might
  turn from sin and judgment to Jesus Christ and
  the salvation He offers

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John 316,17

• For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
  begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
  not perish, but have eternal life. For God did
  not send the Son into the world to judge the
  world, but that the world should be saved through
  Him
• By acknowledging your sin and the judgment you
  deserve, by personally trusting in Jesus Christ
  as Messiah and Savior, you may avoid the judgment
  to come

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Revelation 211-4

• And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the
  first heaven and the first earth passed away, and
  there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy
  city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
  from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her
  husband. And I heard a loud voice from the
  throne, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is
  among men, and He shall dwell among them, and
  they shall be His people, and God Himself shall
  be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear
  from their eyes and there shall no longer be any
  death there shall no longer be any mourning, or
  crying, or pain the first things have passed
  away

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The Purpose of Prophecy

• For the unbeliever
• To warn of the wages of sin
• To warn of eternal death!
• For the believer in Christ
• To motivate to live in this life in purity and
  hope, assured that God has even greater blessings
  ahead for those who will trust and obey
• To promise eternal life!