Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Day 14 of Advent)

Scripture:

Read Genesis 49:1-2, 8-12. The scepter shall not
depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between
his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall
be the obedience of the peoples (Genesis 49:10).

As time went by, God revealed more of His plan to
send His Son into the world. He promised Abraham
the Savior would come out of the great nation of his
descendants. Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac
was the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father
of 12 sons. These 12 became the ancestors of the
12 tribes that made up the nation of Israel.

But God still had to choose one of those tribes from
which His Son would be born. He rejected Jacob's first
three sons and chose the fourth, Judah, to be the ruler
of the nation, the ancestor of the tribe from which His
Son would come.

In the time before Jesus' birth that first Christmas morn,
great rulers arose from the tribe of Judah, especially
King David. He successfully led the armies of Israel
against all the enemies that threatened it-winning peace
for his people.

His descendant Jesus Christ also came as ruler to
defend us from all our enemies. He did this, however,
not by raising an army to fight behind Him. Jesus went
to battle all alone, His hands and feet nailed to the cross.
But by His suffering and death He routed all our enemies.
He crushed Satan's head, destroyed death, and rescued
us from hell. Raised on the third day, He sits enthroned
at God's right hand in glory.

This is the Savior whose birth we are preparing to
celebrate in 11 more days.

THE PRAYER:

Gracious Father, thank You for revealing Your undeserved
promise to send Your Son throughout the pages of the Old
Testament. Fill us with peace and joy this Christmas
season as we again celebrate His birth, life, death and
resurrection for us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)