To betray one’s family is the worse thing a person can ever do. To do it willing or unwillingly matters not. Reuben is a son of Leah and his father is Jacob. He did not like Rachel children, because they were favored by his father. Yet even so he wished no harm on Rachel’s children. Yet his other brother’s by Leah jealous was great enough to desire to kill their little brother. Joseph had bragged about a dream he had of his brethren bowing to him. They were angry and Jacob even had a talk with Joseph about the dream. Yet even so the younger birth was to be servant to his older brothers. Yet his dream had made him Lord over them. His personality clash with his brethren was so great, his brethren were willing ot kill him, yet Reuben upon seeing his brother and hearing the plot of murder against Joseph, spoke up despite his own dislike. Reuben cared about his father’s heart and refused to hurt his brother. Reuben told his brothers to throw him in a near by abandon empty well. It was a big enough pit to keep Joseph from escaping on his own and Reuben would have to come back later to free him.

Judah seeing a carvan of Ishmaelite enslavers said lets make money off of Joseph. It takes a great deprivation of mind to sell one’s brother. Yet Judah had little regards for him or his father’s love for Joseph. Was Judah jealous of the special coat Jacob had given Joseph that was only added fuel to fire of jealousy. Only God’s knows what that day was like for Judah when Judah came and dragged Joseph out of the well and sold him to these strangers that would enslave him. No other brother was willing to speak up for him. Reuben was not part of the conversation and was off doing something off when this occurred. Had Reuben known it he would of not allowed it. Yet now his brethren made Reuben an accessory to their mischief. Judah did not act alone, but he lead the march to his brother’s enslavement.

Nothing left but to lie to their father about what happened to Joseph and so they took that precious coat and put blood upon it and took it to their father. Jacob grieved for his son. Reuben entrapped by not speak out enough about freeing his brother. Yet perhaps he had done what he thought he could do under the circumstance. After all he knew his brethren strengths and weaknesses. Reuben knew whether he could win in a fight with Joseph on his side. The answer must have been no. Yet why did Reuben not chase after the carvan of camel’s perhaps he knew only the lie of his brother’s demise.

To be put in a position of no alternative was a crime against Reuben’s nature to protect his family. Instead he found himself not able to protect but having to live with the consequence of not being at the pit sooner and helping Joseph escape. The guilt he must of felt upon seeing the blood on the coat. Yet no body to be found. How could Reuben allowed it or waited so long. Had his own anger toward his brother kept him from releasing him sooner? Or had his brothers been to close to that pit all day to safely rescue Joseph out.

Reuben knew not that his failing was for purpose. Yet he would learn it many years later when he seen Joseph on a throne over the food in the land of Egypt. When we fail God might have another plan. Our job is to do our best to help a person out. Yet God is able to take a bad situation and turn it into one that will glorify him. Not always do things appear to work out. In Reuben case the joy he must of felt seeing his brother, must of brought reflief to his conscious. How repented his other brother’s felt when they seen the forgiveness of Joseph.

Not every situation we find ourselves in is good. Not when it comes to family, friends, or neighbors, but our prayer can be Lord help me not sin against someone, but let me be in the intercessor between bullies of this world. Let me see your work performed for goodness. The kid that is bully in school that one child decides to defend might be preventing that child that was bullied from being an aggressor of violence or getting involved in a group that will defend them violently or teach them how to be a person of violence. If our churches would take up the responsibility of saying lets help the children that are bullied in school there might be real change not only in these abused students but also in the lives of these children‘s parents. It simple really if we have the God we claim we have we can not be afraid of the kids that are bulliedbaggage, For with a change of Christ in their life that baggage will be carried and buried with the cross of Calvary. No one wants violence potential in the church. Yet church people send their children into public school everyday waging spiritual warfare, not ever understanding that it takes God’s spirit to teach each child how they can help another. Teaching a child one must learn first to listen to God and be true to what Jesus teaches. Reuben was true to his faith as his brother’s keeper, but God plan to use Judah anger for good. Joseph needed to learn humility to be a good leader. Churches need not to do more then the simple task they already do by teaching scripture and allow God do the rest. Some kids are going to speak out and others are going to do it by caring about others. Praying for our children and hoping the adults will carry what God had instilled in there hearts into the world of spiritual warfare. We do our part allow the mishaps that happen be God’s victory in His timing. Let us put that Jesus smile on.

Dear Heavenly Father move the mountains of spiritual warfare into victory lanes for Jesus. May we stand on the solid walk of faith in our actions and deeds, making a difference in our world of sin around us. In Jesus precious name, Amen.