28 AUGUST

THE SCEPTRE (THE KING)

“The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

(Genesis 49:10, NIV)

Many biblical prophecies have dual meanings – on the one hand, an imminent event; and, on the other, a distant future event. Judah’s father, Jacob, blessed all his sons but, in blessing Judah, he declared that the sceptre would not depart from him. The sceptre represents kingship. It is an ornamental staff held by a monarch as a symbol of power.

The immediate fulfilment of Jacob’s prophecy should have occurred within a few days to a few years but the fact that it didn’t is not surprising. Judah had slept with his daughter-in-law, thinking she was a prostitute. He repented when he realised his sin but sin has consequences – which may still apply, even after forgiveness.

The Bible says: “No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation” (Deuteronomy 23:2).  Judah’s repentance made it possible for his generations to enter into the assembly of the Lord but the sceptre, which is the rulership of the assembly, was delayed till the tenth generation, when David became the king from Judah’s lineage.

Has God put you in a position of authority? What are you doing with it?

ACTION: What promises has God given you? Believe that they will come to fulfilment, as long as you remain in the centre of His will.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, please give me the strength to put my flesh under and flee every appearance of evil, so that my blessings will not be diverted or delayed.