Jacob’s Rest
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Genesis 49:10
Shiloh – Tim Hegg (Studies in Torah: Genesis) points out that the crucial element in interpreting the meaning of this verse is understanding the word “Shiloh.” There are three possibilities. First, Shiloh may be a place name (“until he comes to Shiloh”). Second, Shiloh is the combination of Hebrew words meaning “which belongs to him.” This renders the verse, “until that which belongs to him comes.” Third, Shiloh is a personal name derived from the Hebrew verb, “to rest.” Hegg eliminates the first on grammatical grounds and the second on unexplainable spelling problems. That leaves the third option. According to Hegg, “Shiloh is the One who brings rest.”[1] Hegg notes that this is consistent with the interpretation of the sages of Israel. They also thought that this prophecy had Messianic content. Both Jewish sages and Christian theologians agree. Shiloh is the Messiah.
But notice how Jacob’s prophecy describes the one who brings rest. He will be from Judah. He will be a ruler. And all peoples will obey him. The word we might expect is “people” (am), but that’s not what the verse says. The verse says amim, “peoples,” a reference to not only Israel but to all the people of the earth. According to this prophecy, recognized by Jews and Christians alike, the Messiah will bring rest and everyone of earth will bow to him. What does this mean?
Just in case you haven’t noticed, there isn’t much rest in the world today. The world is characterized by frenzy, anxiety, hurry and accelerating madness. Nor do all the people of the earth bow to the Messiah. In fact, the people of the earth can’t even agree on whether there is a Messiah or who he might be. While Jews and Christians do agree that Jacob’s prophecy is the guarantee of hoped-for resolution, everything else in this prophecy seems distant in the world we occupy. Nevertheless, God guarantees it will come to be.
It’s been a long time since Jacob. Over thousands of years, God has revealed more and more about the one who brings rest. But rest isn’t here yet. Some of us have discovered that the name of the one who brings rest is also “Salvation,” Yeshua HaMashiach, the rest-bringer. If we have experienced rest in this world of chaos, we know that Yeshua is Shiloh. We are the vanguard of those who understand Jacob’s prophecy, the ones who must work to enter into that rest in order that others may see something unexplainably different in us. Perhaps we need to listen once more to Jacob. Perhaps the frenzy of our lives, the anxiety of our concerns and the similarity we exhibit with those who still seek rest is defeating our testimony. Perhaps the world is waiting for those who rest in anticipation of the Messianic return. That would certainly make us different, wouldn’t it?
Topical Index: Shiloh, rest, shilo, Genesis 49:10
Shalom and thanks precious Skip. I am resting through His grace but in the same sense I am also praying and working for an quickening of His Spirit to bring the light and the Truth to the seekers and pure in heart. Those who serve from the force of love and not from the force of greed or power.
Stay blessed and Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you Skip.
It is significant that of all the Hebrew Fathers Jacob is the one who had that prophecy. His life could easily be described as the most restless of the three. Doubtless Pharaoh saw ‘something unexplainably different’ when Jacob was brought before him. Yet Jacob’s testimony was “few and evil has been the days of the years of my life…” Did he know turbulence! In it he ‘wrestled’ at Peniel and from it he wrested Rest. Our times of greatest frenzy carries the promise of greatest rest for us who have had Shiloh revealed to us. The frenzy and anxiety must be left outside in the world where it belongs. Yes, indeed. ‘Perhaps we need to listen once more to Jacob.’ Thanks for today’s word.
Shabbat Shalom to you indeed (endorsing Christina) and to you all in this precious community.
Thankful for the rest, YES! The rest in knowing Yeshua as Messiah. A strange beauty emerges from this rest.. strange to an undiscerning eye.He constantly reveals Himself as King of kings, oftentimes, destroying the strange gods we may unsuspectingly be worshipping. This can be excruciatingly painful when He opens our eyes to hidden idolatry. My prayer is for those who He gently calls to His rest of obedience. Thankful for the answer to my prayer found in the eternal Torah. Thankful also for the encouragement of His Kingdom yet to come:
And the seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “the kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Rev. 11:15
Shabbat Shalom
And the seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “the kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15)
Yes, this has happened. When did this occur? At the resurrection of our living LORD, the (complete) Victor over Death, Sin and the Grave.
“And now He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me, for I am His, and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.” Hasatan- defeated. Sin shall no longer have dominion over us. (Romans 6.14) No condemnation..- (Romans 8.1) Yea, thou I walk through the valley.. I will fear no evil.. for Thou art with me- “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”- Redeemed, restored, renewed- revived. We (now) have complete victory through total (daily) surrender- to Christ, now (today) our Canaan/Sabbath Rest, our Pardon, Provision, Provider, Protector and Peace.
Extremely encouraging words in a much needed time for encouragement.