The Price That is Paid

Day one hundred and one

Today is one of those days that I truly appreciate, there is stuff that needs to get done, but it isn't a mad rush to get everything done by a certain time.  A well paced, busy day, I like that.  So I started off my day with a prayer saying thank you for the day and what it would bring, but I ended up thinking about some of the answers to prayers that have been coming our way, and the next thing you know I'm having a half hour conversation with the Lord about how I see His hand in my life and how grateful I am for the blessings He is giving me. As I have studied the scriptures more and tried to apply what I am learning in my life, I have found myself talking with Him more.  It makes me wish I would have started doing this sooner!

Genesis 49

I read ch 49 this morning and really had no idea what I was going to write about, so I went for my walk to think about it.  As I was walking I was listening to music and a song came on that got me thinking about sins and forgiveness.  That is when the idea for my post came:  What part did sin have to play in the blessings that Jacob gave to his sons before he died?

There are four sons that I would like to focus on:  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

Reuben (Genesis 49:3- 4)
What was Reuben's sin?  "because thou wentest up to they father's bed; then defiledst thou it." (v4).  Reuben committed adultery with his father's wife, Bilhah. (Gen 35:22-23)

How did this affect his blessing:  Jacob starts out telling Reuben that he is "the firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength (posterity), the exellency of dignity, and the excellency of power." (v 3).  This was Reuben's potential, but because of his sin he is described as "unstable as water" and told that "thou shalt not excel." He loses the birthright and is told that he will not prosper.  And, he didn't! His tribe never rose to prominence in the nation of Israel. In fact, they were often found on the wrong side of the fence. They were often found in direct opposition to the will of the Lord.

Some thoughts on this:  There is no record of Reuben ever confessing to this sin, yet we know that Jacob knew of it, in Gen 35:22 "and Israel heard it." Did Reuben hide his sin all those years thinking that know one knew?  There is a saying that seems to fit Reuben's situation::

"What we do not bring out at the mercy seat, will be brought out at the judgment seat!"

His lack of confession cost him dearly.

Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5-7) 
What was the sin of Simeon and Levi?  In Gen 34:25-26 we learn that their sister, Dinah, had been taken by force and robbed of her chastity by a man named Shechem.  Simeon and Levi helped talk the men of the city into being circumcised in order to make peace.  The men agreed to do it.  When they were incapacitated because of the surgery, Simeon and Levi killed them all.

How did this affect their blessings:  Jacob doesn't hold back he calls them "instruments of cruelty" (Gen 49:5). He divides them and tells them they will be scattered in Israel! This is exactly what happened! The tribe of Simeon never really prospers and eventually is swallowed up by the tribe of Judah, and the Levites, they became those that worked in the Temple, they become the priestly tribe, but just as Jacob said, they were scattered (v. 7) and possessed no land of their own. Their sin cost them plenty!

Some thoughts on this:  Unlike Reuben, the sins of Simeon and Levi were out in the open for everyone to see.   There is no record of either of them seeking repentance for their acts of murder. And from the scriptures it seems that Jacob worried more about their sins than they did!  Here is a quote that fits them:

"If a man possesses a repentant spirit his sins will disappear, but if he has an unrepentant spirit his sins will continue and condemn him for their sake forever." ~Buddha

Judah (Genesis 49:8-12)
What was the sin of Judah?  After hearing what Jacob had said to his brothers you would wonder what Judah was thinking about his own sins.  What harsh words would Jacob have for Judah?  Would he bring up Judah's part in selling Joseph into slavery? or what a terrible father he was? or what about that whole business with Tamar?  

How did his sins affect his blessing? Jacob does not bring up any of Judah's sins.  Instead he speaks of blessings and praise.  Why?  Because Judah had confessed and had a repentant soul.  Remember in Gen 44:18-34 Judah talks to Joseph about what he's done and how he will take the place of Benjamin. Because of his repentant soul Jacob blesses Judah that he would be a natural leader among the sons of Jacob and that Shiloh (Jesus Christ) would be his descendant (Gen 49:10).  Wow what amazing blessings!  Judah experienced the miracle of forgiveness.  A quote that fits Judah:

“The miracle of forgiveness is real, and true repentance is accepted of the Lord” ~Ezra Taft Benson

I think we all can relate to these types of sinners, those that hide their sins, those that sin with no regard for how it affects others, and those that sin, but eventually turn to God's way and ask for forgiveness and become a better person.  What a great example of the price that is paid for our sins and how they can affect generations as opposed to the blessings that can come from being repentant.  It made me stop and think about the sins of my past and how they might have affected those around me.  It also made me grateful for repentance and the thought that there is hope that the mistakes I have made and their affects on others can be repaired by a loving God.