Bibledoorajar Examines The First Shall Be Last

 Isaac had met with the Pharoah and knowing he would not live much longer he prepares to give each of his sons a blessing. We might think of these statements as prophecies also because he told them what would befall them in the last days. Each son would be patriarch of a tribe or here called a nation, but each would have a different place in the future land of Israel. Such telling of these great secrets concerning the end of time was very significant as to how the various tribes would experience Israel. Just think of God allowing Jacob in his status as Israel(spiritual leader) to know what would occur to his children who were sons of both Jacob/ Israel(knew of their physical and spiritual identity and destiny). God had given Israel a place of spiritual maturity but it was a constant battle against Jacob to maintain it.  So it was for his sons. 

For his first son, Reuben,  there was stark news that though he had claim to the inheritance rights of the firstborn he forfeited the excellent spiritual and social position through pride and immorality.  Reuben’s immorality with his father’s concubine Bilhah (the mother of his brothers Dan and Naphtali) is recorded in Genesis 35:22. Now, Israel says that the rights of blessing, priesthood and ruling authority will be divided rather than centralized in his firstborn.

 

The tribe of Reuben never did excel. No prophet, no judge, or no king came from the tribe of Reuben. Reuben is an example of how the first can be last. Listen to what God the Father's firstborn said:

 ..."When the priests heard this they were utterly amazed. "Then who, they asked, 'can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'humanly this is impossible, but with God everything is possible, Peter replied, 'look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?' Jesus said to them, 'Yes, I tell you that in the REGENERATED world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times more, and he will obtain eternal life. But many who are FIRST SHALL BE LAST, AND MANY WHO ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST. Matthew 18:

 (Matthew 19:25-30).

   God looks for stable character in those who will lead His people. Reuben just didn't have it. As it is said in our culture, character counts and so do blessing. Best be counting them and remaining true.