Reuben
The Lord names individuals according to their character, and since He has chosen the names of the twelve, -whence came the twelve tribes of Israel,- as names of the twelve divisions of the 144.000, there must be something in the character of Jacob’s sons and the twelve tribes of Israel worthy of careful study. We will start with the birth order, it means the first on the list is Reuben.
Each of the sons of Jacob received a name signifying his mother’s thoughts and emotions at the time of his birth. In one way or another these names all reflect the rivalry of the two sisters. Each name is related in sound to certain key words in the accompanying statement made by the mother. Thus, the first syllable of Reuben, which means “see, a son,” is from “to see,” used in her remark, “the Lord hath looked upon my affliction.” To Leah, her first child was evidence of Jehovah’s compassion, and well might she expect him to be the means by which she could win Jacob’s affection. In the first flush of maternal joy she was confident that Jacob’s heart would now turn to her.1
In every ancient Israelite family the eldest son inherited, as his birthright, a double portion of his father’s estate, and the honor of officiating as the priest of his father’s house; and what was of more value to every true son of Abraham than wealth or earthly position, he inherited the spiritual birthright, which gave him honor of being the progenitor of the promised Messiah.
But Reuben, the eldest of the twelve sons of Jacob, like his Uncle Esau2 , likely esteemed the birthright, and in an unguarded hour committed a sin that forever debarred him from all the spiritual and temporal rights of the first firstborn. He committed adultery with his Father’s wife, a sin which Paul said was not even “so much as named among the Gentiles,” or heathen.3 Because of this sin, “The priesthood was apportioned to Levi, the kingdom and the Messianic promise to Judah, and the double portion of the inheritance to Joseph.”4
Jacob on his deathbed portrayed the character which Reuben as the firstborn might have possessed. “Reuben thou art my first-born, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and excellency of power.” We can imagine the pathetic tone of the old patriarch’s voice as he portrayed the real character of his firstborn, the one who might have had the respect of all,- “unstable as water, thou shall not excel.”5
There are traces in the history of Reuben of the “excellency of dignity” which originally was bestowed upon him, as shown by his kindness in bringing home the mandrakes to his mother6 and trying to save the life of Joseph, when his brethren determined to kill him.7
Reuben was a vacillating character, “unstable as water.” His father had little confidence in his word; for when his brethren wished to take Benjamin down to Egypt, Jacob did not regard Reuben’s pledge to return Benjamin safely to his father; but when Judah promised to stand as security for the Lad, Jacob accepted the offer.8
The unstable nature of Reuben seems to have been transmitted to his descendants. The tribe of Reuben wishing to take possession of the first land conquered when they came out of Egypt showed the same selfish character of his ancestor. Moses evidently read their motive in the request, yet he granted them their possession on “the other side of Jordan.” As the result of this request they were among the first to be carried captive into Assyria, about B. C. 740.8
The prophetic words of the patriarch. ‘Thou shall not excel,” were fulfilled in the history of the tribe of Reuben. That tribe furnished no judge, no prophet, no hero, unless it be Adina and the thirty men with him, who were reckoned among the valiant men of David’s army.10 These men were no doubt among the one hundred and twenty thousand of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh who went up to Hebron to make David king over Israel.”
Dalhan and Abram of the tribe of Reuben, with Korah the Levite, were noted for the Rebellion they instigaled in the camp of Israel; and their destruction was an object-lesson of the fate of all who pursue a similar course.12
The territory chosen by the Reubeniles placed them in close proximity to Moab. The towns in the inheritance of Reuben-Heshbon13, Elealeh14, Kirjathaim15, Nebo16, Baalmeon17, Shibmah,- are familiar to us as Moabilish and not Israelites towns.
It is not strange that Reuben, thus remote from the central seat of the national government and of the nalional religion, relinquished the faith of Jehovah. ‘They went after the gods of the people of the land whom God destroyed before them,” and we hear little more of the tribe of Reuben until Hazael, king of Syria, held possession of their territory for a time.18
When as a tribe they had completely failed to do the work God intended they should do in their own land, the Lord permitted Pul and Tiglath-pileser to carry them into the upper part of Mesopotamia, where the remained until, at the end if the 70 years’ captivity, representatives of the twelve tribe were again gathered into the land of promise.19
The History of the tribe is a record of failures in carrying out the purposes of God. As Reuben, the first-born, had the opportunity to stand as a leader, so the tribe of Reuben, situated in the borders of Moab, might have proved true to God; but they, like their father Reuben, were “unstable as water”
Although the patriarch and his descendants failed to carry out the purposes of God, yet the name of Reuben will be immortalized , for throughout eternity, the countless millions redeemed will read that name on one the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem. Twelve thousand of the 144,000 will be of this class, and will enter the kingdom of God under the name of Reuben.
How can one be thus honored who apparently made a failure of life? That is the great mystery of godliness. How can the thief, who made a complete shipwreck of his life, be with the Savior in paradise? It is through the power of the blood of Christ, the sin-pardoning redeemer.
When Moses pronounced his parting blessing on the tribes of Israel, of Reuben he said: “Let the Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.”20 We might wonder how a character “unstable as water” could “live and not die;” but the course pursed by Reuben at the time of a great crisis in Israel, explains how much such a one can be an overcomer.
At the time of the battle of Megiddo, which is in many respects a type of the final battle of Armageddon, it is stated that ” in the division of Reuben there were great searching of heart.”21 Here is the secret of the whole matter.
There are multitudes of men and women in the world today and even within professed Christians with characters like Reuben they are “unstable as water,” with no power in themselves to do any good thing, who have no fixed principles. It is hard for them to resist temptation. Let it come from what quarter, and in what form it may, and every precaution must be taken to surround them with influences that will strengthen their moral power. Let them be separated from these helpful influences and association, be thrown with a class who are irreligious, and they will soon show that they have no real hold from above; they trusted in their own strength. This is the worst thing we as human beings can do but it is the easiest to do. Is it our case? Have we been praised and exalted when our feet were standing in sliding sand?. Are we like Reuben, unstable as water, having no inward rectitude, and like Reuben they will never excel? Let’s feel hopeless. What you need is to see your dependence upon God, and to have a resolute heart. Be a man where you are; show strength of character where you are; be able, through Jesus Christ, to say, “No, I will not do this great wickedness, and sin against God. It is now when we should begin earnestly to search our hearts, we will discover our own weakness; and if we turn to God, He will come to our rescue and pronounce over us, as He did over Reuben of old, “Let such a once live and not die” It is my wish and deep prayer for all of us. Amen. In the coming issue we will see the character of Simeon.
* Some notes are taken from “The Cross and Its Shadow”
1 Nichol, Francis D., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.
2 Gen. 25: 34; Heb. 12: 16.
3 1 Cor. 5:1; Gen. 49:4.
4 PP235.4
5 Gen. 49:3-4.
6 Gen. 30: 14
7 Gen. 37: 21-22, 29; 42: 22.
8 Gen. 42:37-38; 43: 8-9
9 Num.32: 1-33; 1 Chron. 5:26
10 IChron. 12:37,38
11 IChron. 12:37,38
12 Num. 16: l;Deut. 11:6
13 Nm. 21: 25-28, 30, 34
14 Is. 15:4; Jer. 48: 34
15 Jos 13: 18
16 Deut 32: 48
17 Ez. 25: 8
18 2 Kings 10:32-33
19 Ezra 6: 17; 8: 35; Neh. 7: 73
20 Deut. 33:6
21 Judge 5: 16