Gen 35:1 And GodH430 saidH559 untoH413 Jacob,H3290 Arise,H6965 go upH5927 to Bethel,H1008 and dwellH3427 there:H8033 and makeH6213 thereH8033 an altarH4196 unto God,H410 that appearedH7200 untoH413 thee when thou fleddestH1272 from the faceH4480 H6440 of EsauH6215 thy brother.H251
Gen 35:22 And it came to pass,H1961 when IsraelH3478 dweltH7931 in thatH1931 land,H776 that ReubenH7205 wentH1980 and lay withH7901 (H853) BilhahH1090 his father'sH1 concubine:H6370 and IsraelH3478 heardH8085 it. Now the sonsH1121 of JacobH3290 wereH1961 twelve:H8147 H6240
Arise: qûm, koom,A primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literally, figuratively, intensively and causatively): - abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure (-ly), (be) up (-hold, -rising).
Dwell: yâshab, yaw-shab', A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry: - (make to) abide (-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit (-ant), make to keep [house], lurking, X marry (-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set (-tle), (down-) sit (-down, still, -ting down, -ting [place] -uate), take, tarry.
The previous chapter saw the consequence of actions taken without God’s guidance, amazing to see God speaking to Jacob and giving him guidance what to do next, but, on reading the verse, “And God said unto Jacob” … “ make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee”, God is referring to Himself as a third person or, that’s when it dawned to me, and this is my thinking, it was Jesus Christ would instructed Jacob what to do, the second time the trinity being mentioned and the first time where we can see it specifically, as in Genesis 1:26 it says, “Let us”, the triune Godhead was in work and revealed to us, WOW.
The second thing which caught my eye was verse 22, now why Reuben chose to sleep with his step brother’s mom is beyond me, but I was going through the net trying to find some meaning and here is one of them,
What is the significance of Reuben sleeping with his father’s concubines? What was going through Reuben’s brain that made him do such an act? Like the ambitious young minister, Reuben went ahead of God’s timing and tried to promote himself to a position of higher leadership. He sought to take a position of supremacy over his brothers by doing what ancient warrior kings did to a fallen enemy. In ancient times, after a king would conquer another kingdom, he would go to the conquered king’s concubines and have sex with them. By doing this, the conquering king would establish himself as the new lord over the previous king’s household and nation. This is what Reuben did. However, Reuben was hasty and premature in his actions because Jacob, his father, was not dead yet. His impatience caused him to exalt and promote himself ahead of time instead of letting God promote him when the time was right. Because of his hastiness and unwillingness to be a servant before a leader, Reuben lost his leadership birthright.
Can a man lead but refuse to follow? The answer is no…at least not in God’s army. Ministers should take great care to be sure that the voice that’s telling them to start a church is the voice of God and not the voice of their flesh seeking glorification. Entering into ministry prematurely is a very dangerous thing that could cause serious damage. If you seek to promote and exalt yourself before the right season, you’ll only end up like Reuben. My advice is to be patient and wait on the Lord. Don’t be impatient and hasty like Reuben and exalt yourself as a leader. Serve with excellence and watch how God exalts you.
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