Jesse Tree 7

Wednesday, Dec 7. 

The twelve tribes of Israel

   Genesis 49:1-28

Israel (previously named Jacob)  had 12 sons who didn't get along (despite their Father's dying attempt to gather them together for blessing and peace...). These sons became the 12 tribes of Israel.

 God could have chosen any tribe or any family lineage--God could have skipped the family drama and tribal violence of the Old Testament, but God chose to remain faithful to those ancient promises. God chose to root new life and new peace in a previously violent story.
Praise be to God! 

Tribe of Jesus:

Þ Matthew 1:1–6 and Luke 3:31-34 trace Jesus’ roots back to the tribe of Judah whose symbol is a lion.
"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” ~Revelation 5:5

Þ Jesus’ mother Mary also came from the tribe of Levi—the priestly tribe.

.Jesus did not come to defend a single tribe or nation.
Rather, Jesus came to bring all tribes and nations together in peace.

Who are the people in your tribe? (pray for them)

Who is in your ‘enemy’ or 'other' tribes? (pray for them)