I can’t even Imagine
the amount of guilt that Reuben, the oldest of Jacob, must have carried and felt. It was his idea to throw Joseph into the pit, even though the act was meant to save Joseph from murder. The scripture says, “But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him” - that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.” Genesis 37:21-22 Reuben left Joseph alone with nine of his older brothers - nine brothers who were supposed to love him, Instead, they hated him. Reuben must have thought Joseph was safe from being murdered, because the scripture says, “Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.” Genesis 37:29 You see, it was Judah, not Reuben who said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” Genesis 37:26-27 l Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son, and Judah was Jacob's fourth. When Reuben found out what had been done, he tore his clothes in deep sorrow, then he said to his brothers “The lad so not more, as for me, where shall I go?” Genesis 37:30 I am the oldest, and I can identify with Reuben's words. There is great responsibility that comes with being born first. How could he ever hide from his father's disappointed eyes? How could he ever escape the sin that’s been done, the wrong that’s been caused, even if he did not directly cause it? Reuben knew that Jacob loved Joseph, more than anyone else; Reuben knew his father would never get over the loss. And then... Reuben went along with the lie that was told. He must have lived with guilt every time Jacob mentioned Joseph and the “fake” animal attack. The scripture says, “So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood” and took coat to Jacob. “And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” Genesis 37:31, 33 I can only imagine that this secret caused Reuben a ton of guilt. The weight of it must have ate him up from the inside out. So in Genesis 42, it doesn’t surprise me one bit, that Reuben is the one whom Joseph overheard “Did I not speak to you, saying, “Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” Genesis 42:22 When Joseph heard this, the scripture says, “he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.” Genesis 42:24 I believe that Joseph knew the heart of Reuben when he heard his repent, and because of this he could trust Reuben to bring Benjamin back. When Reuben returned to Israel in the land of Canaan he spoke to his father, and said, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” Genesis 42:37 Reuben was willing to take responsibility for Benjamin, so much so, that he was willing to sacrifice his two sons. I don’t think Reuben could handle another death or disappointment - at the cause of his responsible hands. He had to take Benjamin back to save Simeon. But Jacob said, “My son (Benjamin) shall not go down with you, for his brother (Joseph) is dead, and he is left alone.” "If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.” Genesis 42:38 I can only imagine those words must have pierced Reuben's sorrowful heart. Those words must have heaped on more guilt. I wonder how Reuben lived with his sin. He did not know about Jesus and the words that He said. He had never heard Jesus say, like we do, “Take my yoke upon you and rest in me.” Matthew 28:11 He had not heard the Psalm of David, “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:11-12 Poor Reuben must have been overwhelmed by guilt. I wonder if God heard his repentant heart. I wonder if the blood of Jesus covers the sins of the past, and all the repentant hearts who adored God? I wonder if Reuben is saved - has Reuben been delivered from eternal death? I Corinthians 15:20-24 says, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” Personally, I believe that the blood of Christ covers all the Children of God - those present, future and past. I’m excited to see what happens next.
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