Journey Of The Seed - Catch The Bible's Big Picture In 60 DaysSample

12 SONS, 12 TRIBES

[Scheduled Reading: Genesis 29-35]

Jacob lived a high-drama life. He grew up competing with his twin brother, Esau (eventually stealing his birthright). 

He worked seven years for a wife he didn’t choose – then another seven years for the wife he did choose.

He wrestled with an angel of God. 

He received a famous name change (from Jacob to “Israel”). 

His sons wreaked havoc on his family. They kidnapped their younger brother (the favored son, Joseph), sold him off to slavery and fabricated a story about a deadly animal attack. 

(Does this count as a dysfunctional family?)

Still, Jacob’s most significant life contribution might just be his twelve problematic sons. These twelve sons (born of two wives and two maidservants) resulted in twelve mighty tribes. 

As we’ll see in upcoming reading sessions, these tribes would become God’s strategy for organizing and protecting the new nation of “Israel,” (the Israelites). 

And protecting Israel meant protecting The Seed!

Back to the big picture. While Satan was working feverishly to destroy The Seed, God was building them for survival.

Like any thriving nation, this Israelite nation would one day need to be strong, independent, well financed, heavily armed. They would need government that could sustain order. 

God will accomplish these functions through the twelve-tribe alliance. In future chapters, we’ll see the member tribes work together to share land, share a unified army, share governance, share in the welfare of the poor and widows, etc. 

Much like the thirteen colonies that would one day govern the new America, these twelve tribes will govern a new nation called Israel. 

Back to our reading. It sure doesn’t seem like anything special can come from Jacob’s clan. They were a very dysfunctional and chaotic bunch. 

But as we’ll see, God is about to launch an impressive historical movement from this family. 

Who would you choose?

There are twelve tribes (sons) of Jacob. 

But only one of the tribes can transfer The Seed. 

Which tribe do you think will have that special honor? 

Who would you choose? 

Stay tuned.