Reuben
Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob and Leah. Little is mentioned of his childhood except that he gathered mandrakes for his mother to give to Rachel in exchange for a night with Jacob. Years later when the ten brother's hatred of Joseph led them to want to kill him it was Reuben that convinced the brothers to bind him and put him in a pit instead. Reuben planned to come back later and free Joseph. It was Reuben who reminded his brothers that all their troubles and fears in Egypt were the result of mistreating Joseph. Later it was Reuben who offered his own two sons as a guarantee for the safety of Benjamin on the next trip to Egypt. Unfortunately he became involved in an affair with Bilhah, his father's concubine. This act of incest cost him his right to the birthright of the first-born. Jacob described his son as, "unruly as the waves of the sea."
Lessons from the life of Ruben:
- Your good intentions need to be consistent both in public and private.
- Group pressure can be costly.
- Punishment for sin may not be immediate, but it is certain.
Reuben's story is told in Genesis 29 through 50.
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