Open Heavens June 27, 2008

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Isa. 4-6

ANOTHER REUBEN?

MEMORIZE: "And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land,that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israelheard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve" (Genesis 35:22)


READ: Genesis 35:21-22

A regular caller at brothels visited one and met a particular prostitute. As they negotiated, she boasted about her reputation to improve the lot of her customers. She said her male callers keep coming back to testify that after meeting her, something good must follow. The following week, his business that was experiencing dryness received a boost through a small contract. Then it dawned on him that it was no coincidence. His life and business were under the manipulation of that prostitute. Instead of returning as his manipulator planned, he ran for his life! He realized he had sold himself into the hands of the enemies through a single sexual contact!

“And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve” (Genesis 35:22). Another evil of fornication is that it erodes the destiny of the fornicator. Reuben was Israel’s first born. He had a right to all the benefits of first-borns according to Hebrew tradition. One day, while still a young man, he slept with his step mother. Nothing was done about it. His father was told but he kept quiet. Several years later, when Israel gathered all his sons in Egypt to transfer the generational blessing, they were all expectant. Everyone virtually envied Reuben being the firstborn, because his day of glory had finally come. Reuben was unusually pleasant, soft-spoken and expectant. After some praises that raised his expectations, his father delivered the bomb:

“Unstable as water, thou shall not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch” (Genesis 49:4). Reuben got a curse instead of a double portion blessing. Joseph inherited his blessing! Any child of destiny that toys with sexual sins forfeits that destiny. In Genesis 39:1012, when Joseph had an excuse to fornicate with the pretty wife of Potiphar, he fled. Some fellow servants who heard the story later called him a fool. How could he possibly miss such an opportunity that would have earned him greater favor before his madam? But he knew if he had accepted her offer, he would have truncated his destiny. Some people have lost their destiny to fornication. If you fall into that category, repent and turn a new leaf. Shun those immoral thoughts. The thoughts and acts of fornication are the same ten and ten pence. If you have fornicated and have not been disciplined, it will go ahead to truncate your destiny at a time you least expected, like Reuben. Expose your secret acts to your spiritual father for help. Don’t be another Reuben!

ACTIONPOINT: Ask that God will keep our youths from youthful lust - particularly sexual immorality.