A Short Meditation on the Names of Some of the Sons of Jacob

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LET us remember Him who has surnamed us “Israel” (Gal. 6:1616And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)). We belong to Him who Himself is God’s Israel (Isaiah 49:1-61Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. 5And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. 6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:1‑6)). His First Born (Ex. 4:2222And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: (Exodus 4:22); Hosea 11:11When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. (Hosea 11:1); Matt. 2:1515And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (Matthew 2:15)). Well may we think, with solemn joy, on our Israelite-names, and plead them before the Lord; bowing the knee also to HIM whose NAME IS ABOVE EVERY NAME.
ISRAEL, a prince with God; a prevailing Prince “Reuben,” (see a Son!) “Surely, the Lord hath looked on (our) affliction” (Gen. 29:3232And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. (Genesis 29:32)). “For unto us a Child is Born, unto us a Son is given ... and His Name shall be called ... The Mighty God” (Is. 9:6). “God with us” (Matt. 1:2323Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)). “The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power” (Gen. 49:33Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: (Genesis 49:3)). “Let Reuben live” (Deut. 33:66Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few. (Deuteronomy 33:6)). “In HIM was Life, and the Life was the Light of men” (John 1:44In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)). “Our Life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:33For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)). “Simeon” (that hears), “Faith cometh by hearing” (Rom. 10:1717So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)). “Hear ye Him” (Matt. 17:55While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)). “Levi” (joined), “They shall be joined unto thee” (Numbers 18:44And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you. (Numbers 18:4)). “That they all may be one, as Thou Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me” (John 17:2121That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)). “Judah” (Gen. 29:3535And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. (Genesis 29:35)). “Now will I praise the LORD.” “Gad,” a troop (Gen. 49:1919Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. (Genesis 49:19)). I overcome “by the blood of the Lamb” “Asher,” (v. 20,) I feed on royal dainties in “the high places.” I suck (Jeshurun’s portion), “the honey out of the rock,” my food is butter of kine, milk of sheep, fat of lambs, with the fat of the kidneys of wheat (Deut. 32:1313He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; (Deuteronomy 32:13)). Let us ponder and worship, and remember the Blessed One, our Asher, who has provided the feast at a wonderful cost, and so “let us eat, and” (with solemn heavenly mirth) “be merry,” while we drink the pure blood of the grape.
Beloved, how is it that our vine is not the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah; that our grapes are not grapes of gall, bitter clusters! Oh, beloved! how is it that our wine is not the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps (Deut. 32:32, 3332For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: 33Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. (Deuteronomy 32:32‑33)); but that we are (as “Naphtali”) “satisfied with favor, and fall of the blessing of the Lord” (Deut. 33:2323And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south. (Deuteronomy 33:23)); in a land of corn and wine, where the heavens drop down dew (verse 28); and as “Issachar,” enjoying the rest that is good, and the land that is a pleasant land (Gen. 49:1616Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. (Genesis 49:16)).
Whether we labor in our fields, or journey through our land, we “bind” our “foal,” not as do others in other countries, to posts and hedge trees; but “to the (abounding) Vine” —our “ass’s colt to the choice Vine.” We “wash (our) garments in wine, and (our) clothes in the blood of grapes.” Let us meditate and pray over such a word as this (Gen. 49:1212His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. (Genesis 49:12)), “His eyes shall be red with wine.” Drink abundantly, beloved. “Fat of my bread,” saith the Lord, “and drink of the wine which I have mingled” (Pro. 9:55Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. (Proverbs 9:5)).
The more we eat, the more we hunger; the more we drink, the More we feel our need. Beloved, where ever we are, in whatsoever way engaged, let our heart be with our Father and our Master, in the House of Bread and Wine. The voice of love will reach us, “Let US eat and be merry;” and no less this word, “Do this in remembrance of ME.” Brethren, see the “royal dainties” on the table of the Blessed One in the House of Wine Let us abide with God at our LORD’S TABLE, over the “pure blood of the grape,” over “the wine that cheereth God and man” (Judges 9:1313And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judges 9:13)), (remembering Him who brought us to the Banqueting House), until our “eyes are red with wine.” We shall soon “see His face,” and “be like Him” (Rev. 22:44And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Revelation 22:4); 1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)).
We are the “Zebulon,” (v. 13,) to dwell where the storms, waves, and winds are. Let our eyes be red like, and red with wine upon the lees, well refined; and we shall brave the storms ourselves, and, under God, be a haven for ships in distress. “Joseph,” (v. 22), the “fruitful bough is by a well whose branches run over the wall.” There was One who grew and waxed strong in Spirit (Luke 2:4040And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40)) and increased in wisdom, (and age, margin) and stature, and in favour with God and man (verse 52); who could always say, “Thou art near, O Lord.” Jehovah Himself was as the well, BY which a greater than Joseph was planted, whose branches run over the wall—precious clusters for us sinners of the Gentiles! Now we are His Joseph; He, our well The water that He has given us (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)), is in us “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” That is the well whereof the Lord spoke.... “I will give them water.”.... “Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it” (Num. 21:18, 1718The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: (Numbers 21:18)
17Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: (Numbers 21:17))—the well-spring of life, the well-spring of wisdom, a flowing brook! Amen.