Why did Joseph receive the birthright but the genealogy come through Judah?
Reuben, the first born, slept with his father’s wife, (Genesis 35:22), so he forfeits the birthright or genealogy. Instead Joseph his second youngest brother receives the birthright. However, Judah, “prevailed above his brethren,” (1 Chron. 5:2) and Jesus comes through his lineage.
Joseph means, “May Jehovah add/give increase,” according to sheknows.com. And interestingly enough, the birthright comes with a plethora of physical and spiritual wealth. But that still begs the question, why did Judah exceed his brothers? Why was he chosen?
Well, Judah is associated with the Hebrew verb, “(yada)” which, “means to confess, praise, give thanks”, (abarim-publications.com). Moreover, “Haw Theological Workbook of the Old Testament reports that ‘the primary meaning of this root is to acknowledge or confess sin, God’s character and works or man’s character,'” (abarim-publications.com). Remember Jesus!
Jesus died for our sins and once we become followers of Christ we acknowledge God and through confession of sin we are forgiven. Also, remember Jesus is God in human flesh. What a match! Now, the only thing is why? Why did God destine it this way? LORD please reveal your divine plan to me. Please my LORD hear my cry.
Ephesians 1:5, 6 states, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” The Bible goes on to state, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:” Interesting, because I did not read this, when I wrote, what I wrote in the paragraph before.
Now I know why! Judah “prevailed above his brethren because when he heard the truth he immediately trusted in God. He immediately asked for forgiveness, he immediately surrendered it all. Recall, when Judah ends up sleeping with his own daughter-in-law. This is what he says when he realizes he has done wrong, “…She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more,” (Genesis 38:26). Here he acknowleges his wrong and does not repeat the sin.
Ephesians 1:13, 14 states, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Judah epitomizes that.
Remember Judah received the genealogy which Jesus went through, who is “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”
Judah prevailed above his brethren because he truly and immediately repented when he realized his sin. That is why God did it!
-Holy Spirit Inspired
This is the example we as Christians should pattern after. Let us repent when we realize our sin.
-Amen
The Word Inpsired 