“Simeon and Levi are brothers, weapons of violence are their knives! O my soul, do not come into their council, do not be united to their assembly, my heart, for in their anger they have killed men, and for pleasure they have hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their fury, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel!” Genesis 49:5-7 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/gen.49.5-7.NET

God used the blessing of Jacob as part of the prophecy announcing Him as King and Lord in Jesus the Messiah. Blessings meant something to people back then and still do in many parts of the world. Interestingly, Levi, the tribe that would become the spiritual leadership for Israel, was not to be included in the council of Jacob. While God told people to do what they said while they were their teachers, they were not to live how they lived, for they were hypocrites in their relationship with God. The words of the Levites were true, for they were God’s words, but their actions were not faithful to the will of God, Who demanded mercy and not sacrifice. The Levites’ anger was also cruel, for it was from their jealousy that they demanded Jesus be crucified. The crucifixion put an end to their rule as the spiritual leaders of the people. Now, God calls some to be Apostles, Pastors, Prophets, Evangelists, and Teachers from all of His people to equip the rest of His people for the work of ministry. These leaders must not be like Levi but like Jesus, Who led by serving and giving, modeling perfect obedience to the Father in thought, word, and deed. If the rest of the people will take them into their council, they must love as Jesus loved sacrificially and generously placing the needs of others above His own, even those who are the most unholy and unlovely.