Advent Day 5.....The Line of the Messiah

God had promised Abraham that through his line would come the Seed of Promise. However, Abraham and Sarah had no children because she was barren. Sarah came up with a plan for them to use her maid as a surrogate (You can read the full account in Genesis 16). Abraham went along with Sarah's plan and from this comes Ishmael. Ishmael was Abraham and Sarah's attempt in the flesh to fulfill God's promise for Him. Yes, Ishmael was Abraham's oldest son, but he was not the son of promise through whom God would continue the line of Messiah. God had a different plan than Abraham and Sarah, a perfect plan. His plan had been laid before the foundation of the World. God was going to do a miraculous work and give Abraham and Sarah the promised son in their old age. This son was Isaac.  There could be no  doubt in anyone's mind that Isaac was the fulfillment of a promise when a barren ninety year old lady and her one hundred year old husband have a son. Isaac was the son the God planned for the line to the Promised Seed to continue through.

"But God said to Abraham, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’" Genesis 21:12
 
God continued to reveal and fulfill the specifics of His plan little by little. The promised seed would come through the son of Abraham: Isaac. Isaac would grow up and married Rebecca. They had twin boys: Esau and Jacob. From one of these sons of Isaac God would continue the line to the Messiah.

"God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; you shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name...A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you...’" Genesis 35:9-12

"I see Him, but not now: I  behold Him, but not near: A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth." Numbers 24:17

The King of ALL kings would come through the line of Isaac's son Jacob!

 Jacob had twelve sons who would become the twelve tribes of Israel. One of these twelve sons would be the father of the line the Messiah will come through. True to His character, God makes sure we know where to follow the scarlet thread.

"Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's sons shall bow down to you....The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." Genesis 49:8-10.
 
The line of the promised Messiah will continue through the line of Judah. From his line will come the Ruler of Israel. The name Judah means "Praised". May we remember in this season of hustle and bustle to PRAISE Jesus for His love for us and for all He has done for us. May we PRAISE Him for giving us the perfect gift.....Himself.