Famous Last Words

 

      Have you ever heard a sermon on the Blessings of Jacob found in the 49^th Chapter of Genesis?  Not only does Jacob reveal how he wished to be buried, but he also shared words of wisdom and blessing to his twelve sons and two grandsons.  After listening to a lecture series called “The Blessings of Jacob” by the Great Commission Bible Institute, I developed a chart that I believe will help me more deeply understand Old and New Testament stories tied to these ancestral lines.  Jacob is not the only person in Scripture to have a farewell address.  There are many other notable speeches by Abraham, Moses, and Joshua.   

     It is my thought that final words should hold meaning.  Would you agree?  Although not all accounts found on the internet are historically accurate, it is fun to research famous last words. You can find the famous last words shared by presidents, military leaders, poets, novelists, artists, actors, and musicians.  Did you know there is a debate over the final words spoken by Abraham Lincoln?  Less than forty-eight hours after his death, Mary Todd tells of an intimate conversation between her and Abe in the Ford Theater.  Some seventeen years later, she recalls another conversation, although probably not his final statement, regarding his desire to travel to Palestine (the Holy Lands).  I enjoyed perusing several lists of last words recorded by well-known individuals over the centuries.  Here are a few I found fascinating.

Did you know that Cicero said, “There is nothing proper about what you are doing, soldier, but do try to kill me properly.” I am assuming that he was wounded.  Cleopatra, I’m told, said, “So, here it is!” Voltaire receives credit for saying, “Now is not the time for making new enemies.” I would have to agree; none of us want to depart on a sour note.  Then there was Karl Marx, who said, “Go on, get out!  Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.” Could he possibly have said anything better to the press?  Unlike Karl, the famous Greek philosopher, Epicurus must have felt slightly different when he said, “Now, farewell, and remember all my words.” As I glanced through these famous last words lists, I noted how many were focused inwardly toward themselves.  But Jacob’s blessings (and curses) were meant to add value to his sons.  He had noted insights about each family member and wanted to wrap them with wisdom before he departed.  Observing both strengths and weaknesses in character, Jacob could speak to the traits that made them unique.       

     Perhaps you’ve lost someone close who spoke words of wisdom into your ears.  As I reviewed Jacob’s blessing, I thought of my granddad on my father’s side. I’ve come to realize that I was too young and immature to listen wholeheartedly to him while he was alive.  He suffered from Alzheimer’s when I was an older teen, and he passed away in my early twenties.  What I remember most about him is that he loved to tell stories.  When he did, there was always a twinkle in his eye.  I still remember the sparkle, but I’ve lost every story he ever told.  I would act as though I was listening, yet I wasn’t really hearing.  I’m sure it didn’t go unnoticed.  I would love to listen to his stories today as I realize that he was trying to connect through humor.

     The Blessing of Jacob’s twelve sons (found in Genesis 49) and two grandsons (recorded in Genesis 48) reveal how closely Jacob was paying attention to his family.  His guiding words weren’t meant to be ugly reminders of failure but were intend to bring insight.  I’m sure some of Jacob’s sons must have been squirming in their chairs, like Reuben, Simeon, and Levi.  But I can imagine at the mention of their names; they would have sat a little straighter and paid slightly more attention to what their father had to say.   We know how much a person can gain from a truthful assessment, but more than be a valuable asset to Jacob’s sons, how can we benefit from his words?  If we read the Bible hoping to extract principles and practical applications, what might we discover by the character traits Jacob uses to describe his sons?  As we read stories of later generations, is it possible that these character traits carry forward?  Could we improve our understanding of both O.T. and N.T. stories by remembering these descriptions?

     For example, Did you know that Joshua, the courageous leader that followed after Moses, was a Naphtalite?  From Jacob’s assessment and the meaning of Naphtali’s name (wrestle), can we recognize the struggle?  As a boy, Naphtali must have been prone to wander, a little restless perhaps, exhilarated by risk, and hard to hold down.  If Joshua had inherited any of these Naptalin traits, how might that have influenced his optimistic report about the land flowing with milk and honey?  Might he have been invigorated by the risks involved?  Could his lineage account for his strength in the conquest of the land when he learned to depend on God?  Why might he have chosen the northern territory to make his home?

     Likewise, Scriptures reveal four famous Benjamites.  Can you name them?  I’ll help.  There was King Saul, the Apostle Paul, Ehud, and Mordecai, and no, I couldn’t have picked them out without a little research.  Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob.  He was called ‘the son of my right hand.’  I found it funny that Ehud was the lefthanded judge.  Based on Middle Eastern references, a person’s right hand signifies the south, yet the Benjamite territory was centrally located.  Three well-known cities are located within this territory.  Gibeon to the north, Jericho to the east, and Jerusalem’s location is south.  Slightly further south, outside of the Benjamite territory, is Ben’s birthplace and his mother’s grave, located in Ephrath, commonly called Bethlehem.  It is probably more likely that ‘son of my right hand’ reflects Jacob’s protective nature toward his youngest son.  In his father’s final words, some less than desirable traits are revealed.  Benjamin is unsettled, he has a war-like nature, and he’s always searching for prey then dividing the spoils of his conquest.

     As I read further into the Old Testament, beyond the information found in the last chapters of Genesis, how might I use this list of blessings and curses to understand stories related to each lineage?   After watching “The Blessings of Jacob, Part 2 (click here for a link to this video), I created the chart below as an aid for future study.  Feel free to use this chart if you find it helpful.

   

Jacob’s Blessing
Name	Meaning	Verse References	Paraphrased Assessment in Jacob’s Blessing
Reuben	Look (a Son)	Genesis 49:3-4 (see Genesis 35:22, and Judges 5:16)	You lack leadership:  you look for affirmation, you do not take responsibility; to improve, you need to learn to live a disciplined life. You’ve lost your pre-eminent position of power.
Simeon & Levi	Listen / Join and Separate	Genesis 49:5-7 (see Genesis 34:25)	The Unbridled Sons: You’ve been cut from the same cloth, you’re two peas in a pod, you have hot tempers.  You are not good together; you must be separated.  Later in the O.T., we will see the tribe of Simeon is swallowed by the tribe of Judah.
Judah	Praise	Genesis 49:8-12 (see Genesis 43:3) (Also, Ezekiel 21:26-27)	Your brothers will look up to you and praise you for your accomplishments. Through your line are sovereignty and rulership.  From your descendants will be one who takes the crown and gains the hearts of people.  This prophecy will occur before the end of the kings’ era in Judah and will follow with unprecedented prosperity.
Zebulun	Dwelling	Genesis 49:13	You have the heart of an explorer.  You will be unlike your other brothers.  You will relocate along the coast.    Purpose travels with you.
Issachar	Reward	Genesis 49:14-15	The Nearsighted Son: You look for immediate gratification.  You do not plan for the future.  Your short-sighted nature is your weakness.  Because of this weakness, you will become a servant to others and work hard all your life.
Dan	Judge	Genesis 49:16-18	The Son of Disruption:  With his territory on a hillside overlooking the Philistines, they will begin to envy their life.  Eventually, they lose their land and move to the land north of Galilee.  You play around with holy things (like Samson), and you will lose.  Your kingdom fails to stand on its own (the first golden calf).  You must walk in alignment with the values of your youth.
Gad	Fortune	Genesis 49:19 (see 1 Chron. 5,12)	You will be hit, but you hit back hard.  You are a victorious warrior.  People to look to you for your military strength.  You are the Spartan of the Bible (Defense and Courage are your virtues.)
Asher	Happy	Genesis 49:20 (see Luke 2 – prophetess)	You pursue pleasure and find it.  Extravagance is your middle name.  You will produce delicacies.
Naphtali	Wrestling	Genesis 49:21	You will be prone to wander.  You take chances and enjoy risk.  Life will be full of struggles.  You will be hard to hold down because you are always moving toward the next best thing.  Not only are you very mobile, but you are also a man of many words.
Joseph	May He Add / Future Blessing	Genesis 49:22-26	You are consistent, resilient, and dependable.  You have learned through experience and are steadfast in accomplishment.  Failure to follow God’s word will be a downfall.  Your backbone (son’s strength) is valiant warriors.   Unmovable, (Shepherd – Stone of Israel)
Ephraim	Fruitful	Genesis 48:15-16,20	You will be extremely fruitful in number.
Manasseh	Forgetting / Forgiveness	Genesis 48:15-16,20	You will be led by your brother, following in his footsteps (also a valiant warrior).
Benjamin	Son of My Right Hand	Genesis 49:27 (King Saul & the Apostle Paul were Benjamites)	The Unsettled Son: You will always be less than satisfied and still be searching.  You cannot settle down.

 

Question:  If you were to leave some ‘famous last words,’ what legacy would you leave behind?