It was not the Promise he was expecting

Genesis 49:27

Rachel had two sons, and the baby is always special and often gets by with actions and attitudes, that an older child would look with amazement.  Many an older brother or daughter has wondered if someone else has taken possession of their parent’s bodies, when they see what the younger sibling is allowed to get away with.  Not only is Benjamin Rachel’s second son, it is also clear that he is her last child, and that makes him very special to both her and Jacob.  We also should recall that for many of Benjamin’s years as a youth, both parents believed that his older brother was dead, and I’m sure that he was spoiled by both parents, and maybe even by his older brothers who had caused such pain in their parents.

So with all of that information to reflect on, I’m expecting Jacob to bless the socks off of Benjamin.  This is what verse 27 states about his blessing; “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.”  Not exactly what I thought was going to be his blessing; a ravenous wolf, that devourers it’s prey!  One thing is for certain, Benjamin is very special to Jacob, and his blessing is not from a father’s emotions, but being directed by the Spirit of God on both a promise and a warning to the tribe of Benjamin. 

If we look at Judges 20, we will see how the actions of some of the tribe of Benjamin almost cost the tribe to be wiped out and removed from the twelve.  But it is also important to see that the first king of Israel is Saul, a Benjamite, and his actions and character held very close to Jacob’s prophecy.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice