Genesis-153 – The One Who Had but Lost

Genesis 49:1-4

 

Genesis 49 serves as the grand finale to the fifty-chapter epic of Genesis. Here, Jacob gathers his sons to deliver his final message, commonly referred to as "Jacob’s Will." Usually, a will brings to mind the division of property or inheritance. However, today’s text does not deal with such secular distribution. Nor is it merely a final moral exhortation, such as, "My son, remain faithful to the place of worship."

 

Jacob’s Last Words and God’s Blessing

When I served as a minister in the past, I heard of a senior deaconess who, on her deathbed, told her son, "My only wish is for you to become an elder." I have often seen those who took such words to heart and later shared testimonies after becoming elders. As faithful parents, it is natural to urge children to cherish their spiritual heritage, and thus, we expect a similar kind of farewell from Jacob. However, Jacob’s purpose in this text is directed toward a slightly different horizon than our expectations.

 

Verse 1 declares, "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come." At a glance, this might sound like a secular fortune-telling or a prediction of future luck. One might wonder how this differs from worldly divination, which predicts, "This will happen to you, and that will happen to him." You might even question if the Bible is being used as a tool to predict individual fortunes.

 

To state the conclusion first: this is fundamentally different from worldly fortune-telling. While it appears to be a forecast of the future, the key to defining the true nature of Jacob’s declaration is found in verse 28: "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him."

 

Here, we find a crucial point. After Jacob finishes his long discourse regarding the twelve sons—from Reuben to Benjamin—he defines the entire process as a "blessing." Although he began in verse 1 by saying he would tell them what would happen in the future, the conclusion in verse 28 records that he "blessed them." In other words, every discourse in this text is ultimately a process of mediating God’s blessing.

 

Now, recall Jacob’s words to Reuben in verses 1 through 4. The beginning is quite encouraging: "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength." However, the atmosphere quickly shifts into a solemn message of judgment: "Uncontrolled as water, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed." Can we truly call this a blessing? It is natural to wonder how a declaration that looks like a cold disciplinary measure can be a "blessing." Either the biblical definition or our common perception needs correction.

 

The clearest principle for interpreting Genesis 49 lies in the declaration of the text itself: every word Jacob spoke was, without exception, a blessing. Therefore, even if it was a solemn rebuke that pierced a painful spot, Jacob was certainly delivering God’s blessing to Reuben.

 

Identity and Heritage as Spiritual Israel

We must meticulously trace how this solemn declaration constitutes a blessing. It is insufficient to merely draw individual lessons, such as "Reuben was the firstborn but fell due to sin, so we should use him as a warning," or "We must not live like Simeon and Levi." The Bible explicitly labels all of this as "blessing." Even if it looks more like a curse and seems harsh for a father to predict a son's decline, the Bible does not hesitate to call it a blessing.

 

To understand this profound paradox, we must first recognize that Jacob’s will is not about the fatalistic path of an individual named Reuben or a specific tribe. Since the time of Abraham, there were two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, but only Isaac remained within the covenant while Ishmael was pushed out. The same was true for Isaac; Jacob stayed within the promise, but Esau left that boundary.

 

However, a fundamental change occurs in Jacob’s generation. Among Jacob’s twelve sons, not a single one is excluded from the line of promise. All of them are incorporated into God’s holy covenant under the single name "Israel." The fact that they all became God’s people—meaning they all possess the status of enjoying that blessing within the promise—is the greatest difference from previous generations.

 

Therefore, the story Jacob proclaims does not stop at the personal success or failure of Reuben, Judah, or Joseph. While individual narratives are included, it is essentially a grand revelation showing the spiritual characteristics and life-positions of God’s people. Though the twelve tribes have different forms, they are all connected to the essence of "Israel," forming a single organism.

 

Who, then, does this Israel ultimately typify? The Israel of the Old Testament finds its completion as the "Israel of God" in the New Testament. Do you know who the "Israel of God" mentioned in Galatians is? It is you who are in Christ. The Bible declares: "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:15-16).

 

What matters is not the external matter of circumcision, but whether one is a being newly fashioned by the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls those who are born again "the Israel of God" and promises them peace and mercy. You are the heirs of that promise; you are the Israel of God.

 

The History of Salvation Leading to the Last Days

Therefore, the story of the twelve sons is not limited to the future of a single ethnic group. This word is directly related to us today. Through the various aspects of the twelve tribes, we discover the reality of our own spiritual lives and the spiritual characteristics of the journey of faith we walk.

 

Note the expression "what will happen to you in days to come" in verse 1. Here, "days to come" (or "the latter days") does not simply mean the distant future; it is closer to the original meaning to translate it as "in the last days." This expression often appears in the prophetic books, such as Isaiah, in relation to the Messianic age. It is a majestic expression that encompasses the entire time until the completion of God’s history of salvation.

 

In other words, the story of the twelve tribes in Genesis 49 does not remain only with ancient Israel. This word is linked to the church today and contains a magnificent history that connects to Christ and continues until the last day. Where, then, is the destination where this story is finalized?

 

There is only one place in the New Testament where the name "Reuben" appears: the book of Revelation, the final book of the Bible. In Revelation, we see a scene where the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles enjoy God’s amazing glory as they enter the New Heaven and the New Earth. Thus, the story of the twelve tribes does not end in the Old Testament; it reaches its full fulfillment in the book of Revelation.

 

The history of salvation contained in the Bible is never simple. While we may try to see only the individual history of how Reuben turned out, God is actually speaking through Reuben about the core theme: how God’s people, Israel, live and appear within Him. Every time we examine these twelve sons, we realize how our journey of faith begins and reaches its end.

 

The stories of the twelve tribes are not about which tribe prospers or fails in a worldly sense. It is the beginning of the entire history of salvation that God will accomplish through Christ until the last day. Before this, God’s promised descendants appeared as individuals because the twelve tribes had not yet been formed. But now, through the story of the twelve tribes, the grand history of salvation that moves beyond the end of the Old Testament to the end of the New Testament is setting sail.

 

The Believer as God’s Firstborn and Power

Now, let us begin with the story of Reuben. From the start, it is not easy. As mentioned, Jacob’s words are so stern that it is confusing whether they are a blessing or a curse. There is something you must remember.

 

To our ears, it sounds quite negative: "You will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed." But the phrase "you will not excel" does not only refer to the future. In the original text, this verb is in the imperfect tense. In other words, it describes a state that is ongoing now and will continue into the future. It shows that Reuben is currently in a state of not excelling, and that state is continuing.

 

I want to first look at how this description of Reuben relates to us. I hope you realize who you are. Jacob first calls Reuben his "firstborn." Since he was the first child, he is naturally the firstborn.

 

But do you remember what happened in Genesis 48? The birthright was changed. To whom did it go? To Joseph. Joseph’s son Ephraim received the birthright, and Ephraim and Manasseh each took a portion—two shares in total. Thus, 1 Chronicles 5 also clearly records that Joseph possessed the rights of the firstborn.

 

Even though the practical authority of the firstborn passed to Joseph, the Bible still calls Reuben the "firstborn" because he was the biological eldest. Is this just about Reuben? No, it is the story of all Israel. Let me read what God said to Moses: "Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.'" God views all of Israel, not just Reuben, as His firstborn.

 

Therefore, explaining the "firstborn status" through Reuben is actually a process of explaining who God’s people are and how He leads them. Israel was called the firstborn because they were set before the world as a channel for all humanity to receive God’s grace.

 

How is this concept expanded later? Through whom do we all approach God? It is Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christ becomes our firstborn, our "eldest brother." Ultimately, this concept of the firstborn applies to Jesus. Then who are we? We are those who enjoy that firstborn status together in Christ. You and I are the spiritual Israel and the firstborn of God.

 

Why is this important? Because you are the firstborn who has received God’s precious grace, enjoys a double portion, and will inherit all of God’s good things. If any of you lack a sense of identity as a firstborn, remember this: being a firstborn means being an heir who shares in all of God’s inheritance. You are surely ones who will enjoy all the fullness of God. Jacob goes further and calls Reuben "my might, the first sign of my strength." The Bible calls Israel God’s inheritance, God’s glory, God’s joy, and God’s strength.

 

While we confess to God, "The Lord is my strength," do not forget that God also says to us, "You are my joy, my power, and my glory."

 

God’s Glory Resting Upon the Unworthy

Listen to the word of God in Isaiah: "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." God says His glory will be displayed not elsewhere, but within Israel.

 

Think deeply about this. Do you know the spiritual state of Israel when the prophet Isaiah was active? They were on the verge of exile due to idolatry, or already suffering in exile. At that time, when messages of judgment were pouring out because they had betrayed God, God paradoxically said, "I will display my glory in you."

 

We often take it for granted that God calls us spiritual Israel and His firstborn. But we did not earn those titles because we were qualified. Instead of just feeling happy that "God values me," we must ask, "Who am I to receive such overwhelming grace?"

 

At that time, Israel was committing extreme evil and serving idols. That is why Isaiah 1 contains the stern rebuke: "Who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?" Does this word pierce your heart? True worship is coming before the Lord with the weight and frustrations of life and laying them down. It should be a time of Sabbath where our pain and tears melt into the grace of the Lord.

 

But if we stay at the level of thinking, "At least I didn't skip service," and only trample the temple courts, we must look deep within. The amazing fact is that God proclaims hope to exactly those people. He says, "In you, who seem only to trample my courts, I will surely manifest my glory."

 

What a breathtaking hope! If God said, "You must score at least 80 to be qualified to show my glory," who among us could pass? Who could stand confidently and say, "God, aren't I a pretty good child?" Our reality is lacking, but God comforts us: "Whether your score is 10 or 20, the fact of this covenant—that you are my son and daughter—never wavers." The clearest proof of this is Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

 

A New Life Enjoyed Within the Grace of the Gospel

God knows your "rock bottom." He knows exactly who you are and who I am. Because He has already seen your lowest point, there is nothing in your future behavior that will surprise Him.

 

Yet we often set our spiritual direction backward. We try to win God’s heart through our own strength. "Since I did well in this area, maybe God will give me something more? Maybe He will recognize me more?" A stubborn "reward mentality" resides in a corner of our hearts.

 

As we see in Reuben’s life, we can never satisfy God with such a heart. We didn't get here because we did something well. It’s the opposite. Because God loved us first while we were still sinners, we were drawn to Him. Because the grace we enjoy is so great, we respond not out of obligation, but with joy.

 

For example, if you had a tumor and a skilled doctor successfully removed it, and the doctor said, "You are cured," how would you react? You would say, "Thank you, doctor. I will live my new life to the fullest."

 

But how do believers often act? Even after hearing "You are healed," they go home, eat harmful food, create another illness, and go back to the doctor, saying, "You fixed me last time, why don't you fix this too?" Is our life like this? Do we live carelessly, saying, "Since God gave me grace, I can live however I want. Since He loves me, why do I need to work hard?" This is no different from nursing a disease through bad habits. We must never have such an attitude.

 

Our confession should be: "Thank you, Lord. My life is now a second life given by You. Since You healed me, I will hold nothing back. I will live diligently with You." This is the standard reaction of one who understands the Gospel. I wonder how a person who truly understands the Gospel can be lazy. How can someone who knows the depth of the Gospel not be zealous?

 

You are no longer people who wring out your own strength to earn God’s heart. God is already satisfied with you. You have become people who joyfully offer your lives because you are overwhelmed by His grace. What a beautiful life! So why do we keep trying to return to the old way? We must break free from those chains and enjoy the value of the new life given by the Lord.

 

Every Spiritual Blessing Already Received

Do not hesitate, wondering, "Am I being too forward? Am I overstepping?" I hope you do not follow in Reuben’s footsteps. The Bible says Reuben was not only the firstborn but also "the firstfruits." This is a priestly term meaning "holy." God calls Reuben a holy firstfruit, saying his "majesty is supreme and power is absolute." These expressions are originally divine language used for God. It is a declaration that you possess God’s character and image.

 

Through Reuben, God shows us who Israel is and what kind of being a child of God is. Have you ever heard someone say, "You truly resemble God’s character"? Are we avoiding such words because they feel embarrassing? But God is the one who says such things openly. "You are my joy. You are the one made in my image. If there is patience and love in you, it comes from me; when I see you, I see my own image." This is God’s heart toward us.

 

It is an unchanging truth. All these words to Reuben mean he is "one who has everything." But how do you act? You probably pray like this: "Lord, give me love so I can live lovingly." That’s a good prayer. I’m not opposing it. But you must think: Do you already have love in you, or not?

 

Is it at a level where you have to scrape the bottom to barely see it? No. Whom did God give you? He gave you Jesus Christ. Christ Himself is love. "God is love." You have already received that love fully. Therefore, the prayer "Give me more love" should not mean "I have none, so fill me up," but rather, "Help the abundant love already in me to be displayed in my life." The confession "I am empty and have nothing" is not appropriate within the Gospel.

 

You have already received all the love you need for life through the Holy Spirit in Christ. 2 Peter 1:3 confirms this: "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." The meaning is clear: When you confessed Jesus as Lord and came to know Him, you already came to possess everything pertaining to life and godliness.

 

So, it is a bit strange to always pray "I have nothing" before God. God has already given everything, so why are we asking why He hasn't? If you were God, what would you say to such a child? You would likely say, "Beloved, wake up. I have already given you everything."

 

Reuben’s Anxiety and Identity Crisis

We must never forget: I am not just praising you or trying to boost your self-esteem by saying you are a "good person." We know we are miserable sinners. But God called us and gave Christ for us. Now we are beings who live with the Lord, in Christ.

 

What happens if we don't realize this identity of "who I am"? The tragedy of Reuben occurs. As you know, Reuben committed the terrible sin of defiling his father’s bed. But we must note that he didn't do it just because he was led by lust.

 

Behind his actions lay a deep "anxiety." The Bible describes his heart as being "uncontrolled as water" (literally, "boiling over like water"). This contains the meaning of "bubbles." Just as bubbles form and disappear instantly when water boils, his heart was in a vain and empty state.

 

Reuben was the undisputed firstborn, yet he was always anxious. "Can I keep this position until the end? Does my father really recognize me?" These doubts tormented him. Especially seeing Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph, his anxiety must have reached its peak.

 

"Uncontrolled as water" means he was extremely unstable, and his heart flowed toward vain things, making him reckless. The New Korean Version translates this as being like a "raging sea." It looks like great passion on the outside, but it is actually reckless and like bubbles—a state of being extremely shaken without being grounded in right knowledge.

 

Ultimately, Reuben wanted to confirm his shaky identity. To prove he still had authority and power, he made the irreversible choice of sleeping with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. This reminds us of Absalom’s rebellion against David. When Absalom took David’s concubines, it wasn't just out of lust; he wanted to demonstrate to the world, "I now have all of David’s authority." Reuben was the same. The wrong desire to prove to himself that "I am the firstborn who inherits everything" swallowed him up.

 

How to Escape the Trap of Self-Reflection

This danger appears not only in ancient Israel but also in believers today. Even though we have everything, we often obsess over "checking ourselves" rather than bearing fruit and rejoicing.

 

When I said "we are those who have everything," you might not have felt much. The problem is what follows: we forget that glorious fact and try only to check our own state. "Why am I still like this? Why isn't my faith growing?" These worries might look sincere, but at their center is the desire to look like a "better person."

 

But "better" always involves comparison. "I am cleaner than that person; I am doing better than them." We not only take this for granted but also constantly evaluate ourselves with the yardstick of self-reflection. I am not saying self-reflection is wrong. But someone obsessed with it is like a person who spends all day looking in a mirror. They worry, "A new wrinkle appeared. Where did it come from? How can I get rid of it?" They lament about not being beautiful while sitting only in front of the mirror.

 

Naturally, the gaze turns to others. "Others look so good with just a bit of makeup, why am I still like this?" One day, as a person was sighing into a mirror, a friend said: "You start the day with self-blame and end it with regret. Do you even know it's spring outside because you're so busy looking at the mirror? The mirror tells you where you are and what you look like, but it doesn't tell you where to go. Please, close the mirror and open the door."

 

What a fitting piece of advice! The mirror only shows our exterior; it cannot reflect the truth of our inner being. Yet we use those fragmented images to push ourselves. "Who am I? Why am I only this much?" we worry. God says He has already given us everything, but because it feels so hard to live like one who has everything, we doubt: "Do I really have it?"

 

We say we believe God’s Word, but we often fail to trust His abundant promises. The Apostle Peter described this state as being "nearsighted and blind." It refers to someone who is indifferent to bearing fruit or God’s work, and instead is obsessed with their own "mirror." Because they cannot see what they already possess, their lives become anxious and reckless.

 

Meditate on 2 Peter 1:9: "But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." They have forgotten the fact that they are forgiven, the authority of being God’s child, the status of an heir of heaven, and the glory that God proclaimed: "I delight in you."

 

This warning is for us believers. Are you living by squeezing yourself every day without enjoying the true joy and freedom the Lord gives? Are you focused only on "Why am I like this? Why don't I change even when I hear the Word?" I hope you look back and see if your gaze is fixed only on the "mirror" of yourself.

 

People Living in the Eternal Present

How can someone who does not know how to enjoy the abundance they possess live a vibrant life? How do you usually teach your children? Suppose your child comes home discouraged after doing poorly on a test. You might say, "My child, you have so much potential. You can do better next time. Don't let one test get you down."

 

Why are you so generous to your children but so stingy with yourself? You are people who live with Jesus Christ. The God who is the master of the universe is with you, and the Holy Spirit dwells within you. How can you sit helplessly before your reality? It doesn't make sense. Yet this happens often. So the Bible constantly asks: "Where are you standing right now?"

 

Look at Reuben again. He lived his whole life in anxiety. He forgot what he already had as the firstborn and lived in fear of losing it. Are you like that? Even though God proclaimed "You are my child," do you struggle to be recognized as if you weren't one yet? Like a child with good parents who is always cowed for fear of not pleasing them. Ultimately, that is what hurts the parents' hearts the most, and that image is so similar to Reuben.

 

Reuben’s problem doesn't end there. His story is all about the past. Jacob started by saying he would speak of "days to come," but the content was all past flaws. "Because you defiled the bed, this result came." There is a message here. Why does only the past come up in a prophecy of the future? It’s not because Reuben has no future. It’s because his life is stuck in the "past tense." Because he is bound by the past, he cannot enjoy the present and future he should be enjoying.

 

When a believer is saved, it’s not just a resolution to "live as a Christian starting today." At that moment, we realize "eternal life" has already been given. Do you possess eternal life? Will you receive it, or have you already received it? The latter is correct.

 

"Eternal life" might sound foreign. Since I’m alive, I get "life," but what does it mean to possess "eternity" in a life that only lasts a few more decades? It doesn't just mean living a long time; it means we are already enjoying a dimension of time beyond our perception. People say the past cannot be changed and the future hasn't come, so the only value is focusing on the present—Carpe diem ("Seize the day").

 

But if you look at the original context of that phrase, it is followed by: "Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future." Since the future is unknown, let's just be faithful to today. This might be right for unbelievers. But God’s people are different. We are people whose future is certain as well as our present. When we speak of "eternal life," we look to God who holds the past, present, and future simultaneously. In God’s time, these three are not separated. He is the "Alpha and Omega." Saint Augustine called this the "Eternal Present."

 

Jesus Christ, who lives in that eternal present, is now in you. That is why we can boldly say we already have eternal life. Do you understand why the Lord said, "Whoever lives and believes in me will never die"? We live a life where past, present, and future are bound together as the "eternal present." This is a mystery made possible because God is within me.

 

Carpe Aeternum Praesens

This is truly a wonderful thing. The Holy Spirit living in you is not just about Him comforting you when you cry. It means the Holy Spirit, who is the Eternal Present, makes your time reside within eternity. You are not bound by the past, nor do you live only in an anxious present, nor do you wait vaguely for an unknown future. Because you are with God, the Eternal Present, you live a certain future, a grateful past, and an amazing today as the "Eternal Present."

 

In Latin, aeternum means "eternal" and praesens means "present." Combining them gives "Eternal Present." The English word "present" (both "now" and "gift") comes from this praesens. The world says Carpe diem—seize only this moment. But what should we believers seize? Carpe aeternum praesens—seize the Eternal Present.

 

If someone speaks of Carpe diem, nod in agreement. But remember there is a deeper truth for the believer. We don't just hold a fragment of time; we hold eternity. The Apostle Peter exhorted: "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election" (2 Peter 1:10). This means to cherish the spiritual heritage you already have. It is an earnest appeal to live deeply contemplating how massive an event it was for God to send Christ for you.

 

If we truly realize this amazing thing that has happened to us, what is there to fear in life? The Bible promises: "For if you do these things, you will never stumble." Then what are "these things" we must do? 2 Peter 1:5-7 says: "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."

 

All of these ultimately mean God’s character. You have already received this character of God as a gift. So now, protect that character and live within it. Live out the character of Jesus in your life. You can pray, "Lord, give me humility." God will receive that heart gladly. But go one step further. When you believed in Christ, His humility already became yours.

 

Therefore, it is closer to the principle of the Gospel to pray like this: "Lord, let the humility of Jesus Christ, which You have already granted me, be lived out in my life today." Sometimes we may fall, fail, or be shaken. But do not forget: I belong to Christ, and His humility and character are already mine. Since the Lord has become my everything, let me live according to the fullness I have already received.

 

Let Us Pray

Loving Lord, let us not foolishly forget. Let us never forget the salvation we have received. Let us not forget this amazing grace of God that we are enjoying. Let us not forget the heavenly inheritance we have received from God. Let us not forget this eternal time in which we are living.

 

Because we are now walking in and living through an eternal time that we have never seen or stepped on before—all within Jesus Christ—we possess eternal life and are enjoying the eternal things of God. Let us taste that fullness, let us fight against sin with joy because of it, and let us fully enjoy the pleasure of living according to God’s Word with gratitude. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.