Scripture Reading: Genesis 49:1-2

“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: ‘Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the end of days.'” (Genesis 49:1)

While the anointing was still upon Jacob, he realized that the day had finally come for him to leave this world. He was at peace. He had lived a hard, long life. It was time to go home. He wanted to bless all his children before he died. So he called for them to gather together at his bedside. He sent out the message to all twelve of them, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.”

The “blessings” he gave the Patriarchs were more than prayers, they were prophecies which would be fulfilled during their lives and through the centuries, even unto the “end of days.” The Rabbis interpret the term “in the last days” to mean, the Messianic Age.

Many of the tribes have been scattered and lost in antiquity, but the prophecies still stand firm, and are being fulfilled in these last days as the Children of Israel from the ends of the earth discover their identity, and make aliya, i.e. go up to Zion. This indicates that the days of the Messiah are imminent.

Not only are these prophesies for the natural sons of Jacob, the sons of the actual bloodline, they can be applied to the “spiritual” sons and daughters of Israel who have been grafted into Israel, through the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua.

Paul said in Galatians 3:7, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).

And again, in Romans 11:17-19 and 24, Paul clearly states that we have been grafted into Israel.

In Isaiah 63:17, God is calling for the tribes to return to Him.

According to Psalm 122:4, the tribes will all gather together at Jerusalem.

And in Isaiah 49:6, the prophet Isaiah calls for the restoration of the tribes.

Even as the natural seed of Israel is doing tremendous research in their genealogy to discover their roots, so we who have been grafted in need to ask God, and seek to know what tribe we belong to, so that we can know our inheritance, our gifts, our weaknesses and our life’s calling.

In the Beginning by Gwen Shaw
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