2. Genesis 34-35—Lost Inheritance I. How does the line of Messiah come through the family of Jacob? A. Jacob’s twelve sons were born of two wives and two maidservants (Gen. 35:22b-26). B. Leah’s fourth son, Judah ended up being the line through whom the Messiah would come (Mt. 1:3; Luke 3:33).

3. II. Why did Judah end up becoming the line of the Messiah? A. Because his older brother’s disqualified themselves. B. Because he did not disqualify himself. 1. He was a voice of reason in the treatment of Joseph (Gen. 37:26). 2. He was willing to be a surety for Benjamin (Gen. 43:8-9).

4. C. Judah does seem to have become the leader of the brothers as their story progresses through Genesis (Gen. 44:14-17). D. Jesus would become the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Mt. 1:3; Rev. 5:5).

5. III. How were people disqualified from receiving the birthright? A. Cain, the firstborn son (Gen. 4; Jude 11) B. Esau, the firstborn son (Heb. 12:16-17) 1. Esau despised his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34). 2. Esau was a fornicator (Heb. 12:16). 3. Esau was godless (Heb. 12:16). 4. Esau was deceived out of the blessing by Jacob (Gen. 27).

6. C. Simeon and Levi, the next in line to the firstborn Reuben 1. Simeon and Levi disqualified themselves through the incident with Dinah and Shechem (Gen. 34:25-31; 49:5-7). a. They killed the Hamor, Shechem and the men of their clan and plundered their goods after deceiving them regarding circumcision (Gen. 34:25- 29).

7. b. They made the name of God to stink in the earth and jeopardized the safety of the clan (Gen. 34:30). c. They were ruled by anger and violence (Gen. 49:5-7).

8. 2. Simeon redeemed himself to a degree in becoming a willing hostage under Joseph (Gen. 42:24). 3. The tribe of Levi ended up redeeming themselves under Moses when they stood with him after the golden calf incident (Ex. 32:25-29). As a result they were given the priesthood (Num. 3:5-13; Deut. 10:8-9).

9. D. Reuben, the firstborn son 1. Reuben was disqualified through sexual sin with his father’s concubine (Gen. 35:22; 49:3-4). 2. Reuben redeemed himself to a degree in his relationship to Joseph. a. He talked the brother out of killing Joseph (Gen. 37:21-22). b. He attempted to rescue Joseph from the pit (Gen. 37:29).

10. E. Er, the firstborn son (Gen. 38:2-7) F. Onan, the next in line to the firstborn Er (Gen. 38:8-10) God was disturbed with him because he was not willing to honor his brother and do what was in his brother’s best interest. He was not willing to build up his brother’s house (Deut.25:5-10).

11. The main point in all of this is that we can forfeit our future by not guarding that which has been entrusted to us by the Lord (I Tim. 6:20-21; II Tim. 1:12, 14). The fact of natural rights is not enough to ensure spiritual blessing.

12. IV. What are the rights of the firstborn or the elements associated with the birthright? A. The firstborn was normally the inheritor of certain rights or privileges. 1. The firstborn was dedicated to the Lord (Ex. 13:2). 2. The firstborn was presented as a gift to the Lord (Ex. 13:11-13; 22:30).

13. 3. The firstborn was to be redeemed with silver (Ex. 13:13-15; Num. 3:40-51). 4. The firstborn was to be sanctified or holy to the Lord (Num. 3:13; 8:17).

14. B. The birthright could give one claim to several things. 1. The Sceptor (Gen. 27:29; 49:3; II Chr. 21:3) This aspect of the birthright gave the firstborn pre-eminence, authority in the clan or rulership. 2. The Double Portion (Deut. 21:15-17) This aspect of the birthright gave the first born a double inheritance.

15. 3. The Priesthood (Ex. 13:2) When God originally set up the nations of Israel He asked for the firstborn to be His priests to serve before him and offer sacrifices in behalf of the people. 4. The Messianic Seed (Gen. 21:12-13) 5. The Blessing of Offspring and Nations (Gen. 17:2, 6-7)

16. C. Jesus was the firstborn who inherited all of these things (Rom. 8:29; Col 1:15). D. The Church is to be the church of the firstborn and enter into all of these things (Heb. 12:23; I Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:9-10).

17. V. How were these rights or privileges distributed among the twelve sons of Jacob? While up to this time all aspects of the birthright had been conferred on one person, it appears that with Jacob’s sons the birthright and blessing were divided. A. The priesthood was given to Levi (Num. 3:12-13, 45; Deut. 10:8-9).

18. B. The scepter and the seed were given to Judah (Gen. 49:10) C. The double portion was given to Joseph (Gen. 48:1-6, 22). Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were taken as individual tribes. In addition Joseph got a double portion. D. The blessing of offspring and nations was given to Joseph (Gen. 48:3-6; 49:25-26).