I’m approaching the end of my study of the book of Genesis, just starting chapter 49. I found something that is a pretty significant “ways of God.” I see it plainly in Genesis, and it will apply again to each of us when we soon stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
First, a word of background. In Genesis 35, God appeared to Jacob and reiterated His promise to him for the second time that his name would no more be called Jacob, but Israel (35:10, first mentioned in 32:28). God said, “a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.” When does this nation start? You might argue when the last of Jacob’s 12 sons was born, which also happened in Genesis 35. Remember Benjamin’s birth? Hard to forget. His mother Rachel died while giving birth to him.
After these significant events, Jacob continues his journey, and then this verse pops up. And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: (Gen 35:22)
When I originally read that verse, I stopped and looked at it two or three times. It seems like Reuben’s great transgression is just casually mentioned like “Reuben had breakfast,” and then the passage moves on. At the time, I asked myself in my notes, “I wonder if this comes back up again later.” I mean, that was a pretty serious life detail to just fly by.
Sure enough. In Gen. 49:1 we read, And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. It was common for the Bible Patriarchs before they died to give prophetic messages to their offspring. (see Gen 27 for Isaac’s last messages.) It’s when birthrights and blessings were parsed out or solidified. Jacob states plainly that what he’s going to say about each of his sons will befall them in “the last days.” Not the near future, but the far future.
Reuben was his firstborn. Normally the birthright goes to the firstborn. That means Jacob’s possessions and authority would have customarily gone to Reuben. Did that happen? Jacob addresses Reuben first. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. (Gen. 49:3-4) And that’s it. Jacob moves on to the next son.
What do we learn from this? First, I will remind us that we are in the book of Genesis, written to and about the Israelites. It is not written to the church. However, it is written for the benefit of the church to observe the ways of God. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Cor 10:11) So we are going to draw some personal applications and comparisons from this.
That sin caused Reuben to lose his birthright. His inheritance was diminished. Reuben was not disowned. He was still one of the 12 tribes of Israel with a land grant. He “was in.” But he had no end-time blessing. He became inconsequential when he had the opportunity to have the blessings of the firstborn. He was actually a disappointment to his father.
We are New Testament believers. When we are saved by the blood of the lamb, we are saved from the penalty of sin. Jesus took that on himself. We will not lose our salvation (son-ship) when we sin after we’ve been born again.
But here’s a word for all those who get saved for a fire escape from hell and then do nothing for the glory of the kingdom of God. When you die and face the Lord, your works are going to be tried by fire. If you live a messed-up life spiritually, you will have a diminished inheritance in the future Kingdom. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Cor. 3:13-15) Reuben is an Old Testament illustration of what this looks like.
Yes, you will still sin. But if you live a self-serving life with a pattern of unconfessed sin, you are not pleasing to the Lord. It will come back to bite you in the end.
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Col. 3:24-25)
This life is not all there is. You still have eternity in front of you. Do not be a disappointment to God, because it’s going to affect your future.
R&J Shee
Comments