Genesis 49:18 Commentary and Bible Study

It leads to a sort of interjection. Poor Jacob had such trouble. He was waiting for deliverance from all the problems he had to put up with in his household. In verse 18 he seems to break into his prophecy and sigh, and say, ‘I have waited for thy salvation O Lord’, as he if he is saying to Dan and his other children and their subsequent generations, ‘Put salvation first; put spiritual things first.’ You are Israelites: you are under the promise; you are under the blessing, but put spiritual things first.’ It is his way of saying, ‘My sons I have told you what will happen to your descendants, but I really wait for Christ to come.’ As a prophet, God has enabled him to look far into the future. His children will need patience and faith to persevere. What they must set their eyes on is the promised Messiah and the work he will do. That alone gives meaning to Israel and all Israel’s children.