Lessons for Living From a Deathbed Prophecy - REUBEN

 Jacob first addresses Reuben, saying: "You are my firstborn." (Genesis 49:3) As firstborn, Reuben likely expected to receive a double portion of his father's belongings. He may also have expected to become the head of the family after his father's death and to have that privilege passed on to his offspring in time. 

However, Reuben lost out on receiving the right as firstborn. (1 Chronicles 5:1) Why? Some years earlier he had sexual relations with Jacob's concubine Bilhah. She had been the maidservant of Jacob's beloved wife, who had died. (Genesis 35:19, 22) Reuben was the son of Jacob's other wife, Leah. Perhaps Reuben was driven by lust. Or possibly he violated Bilhah to prevent her from taking his mother's place in Jacob's affections. In any event, what he did was very displeasing to Jehovah and to his father. - Read GENESIS 49:3, 4. 

Jacob told Reuben: "You will not excel." Those words came true. There is no record of any of Reuben's descendants becoming a king, a priest or a prophet. Yet, Jacob did not disown his son, and Reuben's descendants did become a full tribe in Israel. (Joshua 12:6) Reuben demonstrated fine qualities in other situations, and there is no record that he ever committed immorality again. - GENESIS 37:20-22; 42:37. 

Next time: Jacob's Deathbed Prophecy

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