STONE OF ISRAEL

Along with Judah, Joseph received the most comprehensive blessing from Jacob. While Judah inherited the birthright with regard to rule, Joseph, encompassing Ephraim and Manasseh, inherits it in relation to territory. Both are, of course, pictures of the Lord Jesus and, as with many of these pictures, it takes more than one to represent Him.

Within the blessing, Jacob uses a list of five divine titles, the central one being’the stone of Israel’. This is the first time such a title is used and it will be many centuries before it is used again in Psalm 118. 22, where it is prophesied, ‘The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner’. This verse is directly quoted five times in the New Testament. These quotations are by the Lord in Matthew, Mark and Luke, and by Peter in Acts 4.11, and 1 Peter 2. 6-8. Paul also refers to it in Ephesians 2. 20. All the references make it clear that ‘the Stone’ is none other than the Lord Jesus. The quotation in 1 Peter is sandwiched between two other Old Testament references, Isa. 8. 14 and 28. 16. These also attribute the title ‘Stone’ or ‘Cornerstone’ to the Lord Jesus.

Together these references show how beautifully the Lord Jesus fulfils the foreshadowing seen in Joseph. Like Joseph, His own would reject the true ‘stone of Israel’. He would be a cause of stumbling and offence to them and be ‘sorely grieved’ and ‘hated’. But He would be preserved and exalted by the Almighty’, resulting in great blessing to both Israel and the Egyptian Gentiles. The Lord is presented as the ‘chief cornerstone’ of the church in Ephesians 2. 20. A church consisting of all Jewish and Gentile Christians.

However, we must remember that our title denotes Him as the Stone ‘of Israel’ and as such these Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled in relation to that nation. One day, as Zechariah states, they will ‘look upon’ Him ‘whom they have pierced’, ‘his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives’ and ‘the Lord shall be king over all the earth’, Zech. 14. 4, 9. The Stone, which the builders rejected, really will become the head of the corner, the Chief Cornerstone.