The Judgment Seat of Jacob

The Judgment Seat of Jacob
Reading: Genesis 49

While reading through Genesis chapter 49, I remembered a message that I heard Dr. John Phillips preach a number of years ago. It was at a Pastor’s Conference where about 3,000 pastors were in attendance. He stood behind the pulpit that morning and in his accented speech announced, “I am going to speak to you this morning on the subject of the judgment seat of Christ.” Immediately, the sound of Bible pages turning to one of the New Testament passages on the subject could be heard. After a long pause, Phillips said, “Turn with me to the forty-ninth chapter of the book of Genesis.” A stunned silence fell over the congregation that morning. Yet, the message that followed was nothing short of fresh water from the well of God’s Word. It was obvious that the picture-perfect “type” of the judgment seat of Christ had been missed by most in attendance. By the time the message was concluded, we were all wondering how we had missed such a clear picture up to that time. The following notes are a summary of that incredible picture. . .The Judgment Seat of Christ as seen through the picture of the patriarch, Jacob.

The opening of the forty-ninth chapter of Genesis reveals a solemn occasion. It is a time when that which has seemingly been hidden will be brought to light. It is a time when each of the sons will experience the joys of rewards received, or the sorrows of rewards forfeited. Therefore, in this scene before Jacob we see an Old Testament picture (or, type) of the Judgment Seat of Christ.The writer of Hebrews gives us an idea of the setting for this scene. We read, “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff” (Heb. 11:21). The blessing of Joseph’s sons is a reference to the events of Genesis chapter forty-eight. However, there does not seem to be a break in the event between chapters 48 and 49. Rather, it appears to be a continuous scene. Jacob is in his dying days (Gen. 48:1), and he assembles his sons before him. Here, on the side of his bed (cf. Gen. 49:33) and leaning on the top of his staff, sat the aged saint of God. Eternal history was about to be recorded. The future welfare of the sons would be pronounced. As was the custom in those days, the family blessings were about to be dispensed! No doubt that eager anticipation filled the hearts of the sons that day. Sure, they had made some mistakes along the way, but that was all ancient history. This was certainly not a time for reflection or retribution, but it was to be a time of anticipation.

First in line was Reuben, the eldest. Jewish tradition held that the firstborn was to receive the double-portion of the family inheritance. On his shoulders was to fall the welfare of the family. Overall, he had been a good son. What else could his father expect? As he stood before his father that day, those initial words were a joy, “thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power” (Gen. 49:3). “Oh yes! Dad has recognized my leadership qualities!” This may have been Reuben’s thoughts at the moment. However, his joy was to be turned to grief with the next words from his father. “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.” “But wait,” Reuben thought. “Where did that come from?” His father continued, “because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it.” Then, almost as an explanation to the other boys, he states, “he went up to my couch.” Horror! Reuben had been exposed. A long-forgotten deed had at last come to the light! The past was now the present. The event, to which Jacob was referring, had occurred some years earlier in Genesis 35, verse 22. One little verse, but oh the consequences of the action found in that verse! One careless thought! One temptation to which he succumbed! One deed, but lasting consequences. He had slept with his father’s concubine. He had not honored the sanctity of marriage, nor of morality. For all these years, he had thought it to be a well-kept secret. His father had never uttered a word. How Jacob’s heart must have yearned for Reuben to confess and repent. He had been given ample time and opportunity, but he chose to cover his sin. As promised in Proverbs 28, verse 13, there is no success in covered sin. Now Reuben’s sin was exposed. The reward, which should have been his, was now forfeited.

Next in the scene were Simeon and Levi. Jacob addressed them jointly. For them there was no positive things that could be said. They too had sin that was, heretofore, unconfessed. There was no guilt or remorse over the atrocity they had committed. Again, Jacob brings the sin to the forefront of the occasion. He reminds them of their bloody treachery in their dealings with the men of the city of Hamor and Shechem (Gen. 24:14-31). It was certain that Shechem deserved punishment for the rape of their sister, Dinah. However, their plan of retribution went beyond Shechem, and included his father, Hamor, and all the men of that city. They deceitfully devised a plan by which they would be able to slaughter unarmed and helpless men. In Jacob’s words their actions had made their testimony “stink” among the inhabitants of the land (Gen. 24:30). They chose to seek vengeance themselves, rather than leave it to God. They acted no different than the Godless heathens in whose land they dwelt. Like Reuben, there had been time and opportunity for repentance and restoration. Yet, it had never been sought. They had felt justified in their evil deeds (Gen. 34:31). Therefore, Jacob’s final words to them were words of exposure and separation from the family blessing (Gen. 49:6a, “O my soul, come not thou into their secret”).

Judah is the next in line. One can only imagine the trembling he must have felt as he approached the piercing eyes of his father. Eyes that the sons thought had grown dim, were able to pierce through the exterior appearance, and reveal the depths of the soul. In this ability, we see another picture of New Testament truth. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12, tells us that the Word of God has the same ability. It has the ability to divide the soul and spirit, and reveals the intents of the heart. As believers will one day stand before the Judgment Seat, that same Word will be the revealing Word as these sons of Jacob experienced.

Yes, Judah must have trembled as he approached. Like the others, he had sins of the past that could not be undone. He knew all to well the depth of his treachery. It had been his idea to sell Joseph into slavery (Gen. 37:26), and profit from it. It had been he who had handled the transaction of betrayal of Jacob’s dearly beloved son. He too had not forgotten his adulterous affair with his daughter-in-law, Tamar (Gen. 38:1-26). True, she had deceived him, but he had gone seeking a harlot with which to satisfy his passions of the flesh (Gen. 38:15). This plan had been devised by Tamar in revenge for Judah’s failure to honor his word and provide for her.

Now, here Judah stands. If the offense of Reuben was serious enough for loss of reward, and if Simeon and Levi’s offense was regarded as costly, then he was in for a heavy loss. Now Jacob begins. . .”Judah, thou are he whom they brethren shall praise.” Judah is startled! “Does my father not know of my deeds?” he may have asked himself. He listens in awe as Jacob continues to pronounce one blessing upon another. He promises that kings will be his descendants, and salvation for the world will be his heritage. “But what about my offenses?” The offenses had been forgiven and forgotten. Why? Because Judah had confessed his sin of treachery concerning Joseph (cf. Gen. 44:16). He had also confessed his sin with Tamar (Gen. 38:26). Therefore, there was nothing to be dealt with. It had been confessed, forgiven and forgotten before he ever reached the judgment seat of Jacob! No sorrow now! No loss of reward now! But the family blessing was his!

While the typology can only be carried so far, there are many parallels with the Judgment Seat of Christ. For the believer, it will not be a time of the gain or loss of Heaven, but it will be the gain or loss of rewards. Neither will it be a time of purgatorial punishment for unconfessed sins. Those sins were also nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). However, for the believer who has lived a life of unconfessed sin, those sins will be the reason for loss of rewards. Unconfessed sin puts a barrier between the believer and God (cf. Psa. 66:18; Isa. 59:1-2). As one old preacher said in yesteryear, “In regards to sin, we must keep short accounts with God.” How tragic it will be for believers to realize their lives have been wasted because of unconfessed, unrepentant sin. I wonder how we deal with it when we realize that our mission efforts were hindered because of the same. Like Judah, we need the blessing of God to do His work. No. . .We must have the blessing of God to do His work!