Gen 49:33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Gen 49:33  And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.  As Jacob prepares to die, he gathers his sons and declares to them the things that should befallen each of them. We must remember that Jacob spoke under inspiration of God. He made prophetic prophecies on each of his sons. We can’t do like what Jacob did. We can wish our children and grandchildren would do well, be successful, and become doctors and lawyers. But Jacob was not making wishes for his children. He was making prophecies about their descendants. We learn from his prophecies that the future of his children’s descendants has to do with the character of each of his son. A son with weak moral character will result in weak future generations. For example, the children of Reuben were marked by spiritual compromise and weakness: “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed” (v.4). Reuben was the firstborn and rightfully should claim the prominence. But his wicked deed to take his father’s wife to his bed caused him to forfeit this place of honour. Noting this fundamental weakness of character in his son Reuben, Jacob prophesied his descendants would be like him unstable in character. The kingly line went to the tribe of Judah (v.10). How did Judah achieve this highest honour? First, he spared the life of Joseph when his brethren wanted to kill him (Genesis 37:26, 27). Later, he demonstrated love and sacrifice when he volunteered to take the place of his brother Benjamin who was sentenced to prison (Genesis 44:33). His actions resemble the love of Christ who died for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Future generations of each tribe were affected by the character of each patriarch of the twelve tribes. It is telling us that the life of a father really matters. That one life will profoundly influence the lives of many in succeeding generations. All fathers, please take heed to this warning: Watch your steps; your children are following you. What fathers do, not only affect their own lives for better or for worse, but they may also impact the lives of millions who come after them. When I look at the teenagers and young adults who have left the faith after been in the church since the day they were born, I look at their fathers. In most of the cases, I see a father who is lukewarm in his walk with God. I see a father who comes to church late and is not attentive in worship. I see a father who is not serving the Lord. By his example, can he teach his children to be faithful to God? Fathers, your children are watching you. You can’t tell them: “Do what I say, not what I do.” It doesn’t work that way; they will do what you do! If you always shout when you are angry, your children will do the same when they are angry. Spoilt parents will bring up spoilt children. You can’t bring up faithful children in a house where the name of God is not mentioned and heard, where the Bible is not read, and prayers not heard. God commanded fathers: “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:19). Fathers, are you bringing up your children in the nurture and admonition of God? (Ephesians 6:4). Solomon says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Where are you bringing your children? Which way do you want them to go? If you want your children to go to heaven, please ensure that you are travelling the same way.