Israel, while in Egypt, were to live in the light of a promise given to Abraham. 400 years is a long time to wait for deliverance: though the promise was sure and true, but could sadly be forgotten over centuries of waiting.

The prophecy of Jacob over Judah is a profound statement of expectation of the coming Messiah, in which every word – indeed every letter – has meaning.

We are reminded over and over again that God knows us by name and has a particular purpose for us to fulfil.

There is no precise formula from which we can predict how things will work out in our lives, or in the way God will complete His covenant purposes in the world.

It wasn’t always so obvious that Christians would one day help restore Israel, but one rabbi knew long before it happened.

The greatness of God’s covenant lies in His mercy. How, in all His majesty and perfection, He was willing to walk with sinful men – even the fallible patriarchs of the covenant – to fulfil His promises of redemption, is awesome to contemplate.

There is much for us to learn from Jacob’s walk that helps us to understand our own walk.

If Christianity highlights life beyond death, Judaism emphasises the values are you transmitting to this world before death.

“We’ll meet at eight at Talitha Kumi.” That’s how I used to arrange to meet friends as a teenager. Since we came from different neighborhoods, it was the best meeting point in Jerusalem—and it still is one of the most popular spots in the city to this day.