The earliest foretelling of Jesus in the Bible is in the book of Genesis

As I was reading the Bible, I came across a verse referencing Jesus in the future. I was a little surprised because I had not noticed before how early on in the Bible Jesus is referenced. In my head, I thought it was one of the later prophets. But no, I was reading the foretelling of Jesus in the book of Genesis. 

Even at the time, to the speaker, it wouldn't have been noticeable as to why those words were spoken, they wouldn't necessarily have seemed remarkable. It's only with hindsight that we can see this. Here is the Bible verse:

“Judah, your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons will bow down to you.

You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

The scepter 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: 8-10

In the verse above, it is Jacob speaking to his sons, close to his death. He spoke to each one separately. The one about Judah predicts Jesus - and Jesus came from the line of Judah. The bits that specifically speak about Jesus in the verse above are: "The scepter 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."

This indicates someone of extreme significance is to come from the line of Judah in the future and that he will have the obedience of nations. Not just of Israel - it says "nations". With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that this meant Jesus. But back then, it was a prophecy that was likely unclear to those who were listening to it - possibly even not completely clear to the speaker, Jacob.

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