Why Was Judah Chosen?

Q. I was just wondering if there was any reason why Judah was chosen to be the tribe that Jesus descended from?  If I remember right Reuben lost his inheritance due to the sin of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines.  He was first born.  I thing Judah was born fourth and from Leah.  Doesn’t it seem more logical that Jesus would come from Rachel’s son Joseph as she was who Jacob really wanted for a wife, not Leah and he was Rachel’s first born as well?

A. When he designated Judah as the tribe from which Israel’s kings would come, Jacob was speaking a prophecy from God. (Genesis 49:10)  It had nothing to do with the rights of the first born, which did accrue to Joseph, but was a sovereign act of God. This prophecy didn’t take effect until David became King and was a reward to him for his special relationship with God.(1 Chron. 17:3-14)