Why is Judah listed as the first tribe to receive their inheritance in the land of Canaan? Judah wasn't the firstborn son of Jacob; but his three older brothers were passed over, and he was the one who received the blessing of the firstborn in Genesis 49. Judah was the brother who swore to protect Benjamin and bring him home in safety to his father. Judah was the tribe that marched first when the children of Israel moved in the wilderness. And it was hundreds of years later that David, the shepherd boy from Judah, would be anointed as the king of God's people. But it wasn't until David's time that the Israelites drove out the inhabitants of Jersualem, the Jebusite fortress. We often know by sad experience what it is like to have an imperfect conquest of the strongholds of sin in our hearts. However, there was one village in the tribe of Judah – Bethlehem – that was so small that it wasn't even mentioned in the lists of the cities belonging to that tribe! The prophet Micah foretold that one day, a King would come from that village, and all the world would bow before Him! This is why Judah is listed first. And although the people of that tribe were not able to conquer the Jebusite stronghold, our Jesus has indeed conquered – riding triumphantly through the gates of Jerusalem and defeating sin, death, and hell. And now we have an inheritance that is so much better than the dozens of cities that belonged to the inheritance of Judah in the land of Canaan. We are full heirs of Christ's Covenant! |
