Lost Privilege
This morning it was good to have Ryan Frazier at our Monday breakfast meeting. I got acquainted with Ryan about six years ago when he ran for Congress. He finds himself in a growing field of candidates for the Republican nomination for the US Senate.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Reuben, you are my firstborn,my strength and the firstfruits of my virility, excelling in prominence, excelling in power. Turbulent as water, you will no longer excel, because you got into your father’s bed and you defiled it—he got into my bed.” Genesis 49:3,4 HCSB
The position of the firstborn was one of special privilege, blessing and honor. It is interesting that Jacob, “stole” Esau’s birthright and then his blessing as the firstborn. We read then of an “indiscretion” on Ruben’s part as Jacob’s firstborn, when he slept with Bihah his father’s concubine (who was Rachel’s handmaid.)
It seems that Ruben worked to get back into favor with his father. When the brothers wanted to kill Joseph, Ruben spoke up, “When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.” Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father.“ (Genesis 37:22 HCSB)
We also see Ruben speaking up when the family was in need and Jacob was reluctant to have them return to Egypt.
[Jacob said] “Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything happens to me!” Then Reuben said to his father, “You can kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” (Genesis 42:36,37 HCSB)
Reuben showed leadership, courage and willingness to sacrifice, but it seemed lost on his father, who allowed the leadership of the family pass eventually to Judah (who had twin children from a relationship with his daughter-in-law). As Jacob “blessed” his children before his death, Reuben’s strength and character are mentioned but also the consequences of his misdeeds.
As I reflect on Ruben and what little we do read in the Bible I think of the adage, “the greater the responsibility the fewer the choices.” Esau’s actions and Reuben’s actions as firstborn sons cost them their position of privilege. However, Jacob’s deceit and Judah’s “indiscretion” didn’t seem to carry the same degree of judgment and shame.
These differences can be a source of consternation. Some of the outcome is more related to the culture of the day, than reflecting the character and mercy of God. We also see the judgment of man, is different from the Lords. We are also reminded that our actions do have consequences, some greater than others; and at times different for others.
We can also see that the loss of status and future for Reuben, did not result in a loss of his son-ship. There was still a tribe of Reuben and when we see the list of tribes of those sealed in Revelation 7 we see Reuben listed in second position.
We can conclude as David did, “…Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:14 NIV) We can also be confident, “…The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” (Psalm 19:9 NKJV)