[Genesis 49:1-4 KJV] “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; Because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.“
Many years ago, the prophet Jacob called his sons together and told them what shall befall them in the days after. What he said to Reuben in particular is the thrust of our study and fasting today.
He told Reuben that, though he was his might, the beginning of his strength, the excellency of dignity and excellency of power; he will not excel. Why? Why will Reuben not excel? It is simple! Because he is unstable as water. Then he went further to say what he did. Does it still happen that people who have everything that should have helped them to excel fail? Yes! It happens always.
Reuben was bound to fail because;
- He was unstable
- He was unreliable
- He was unrestrained
- He was indisciplined
- He was uncontrollable
Reuben was bound to fail because he was unreachable. Nobody could tell him what to do. He did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. Reuben was untenable. Reuben could not easily be maintained nor defended against attack. Reuben was unstable or unreliable as water. He could not be trusted and it was only a matter of time and everyone will discover that he was unstable as water.
We want to spend today waiting on God for the grace to be disciplined, stable, reliable, teachable, and controllable. Nobody wants to deal with an unreliable person. Truthfulness, loyalty, honesty, and reliability are great virtues for excellence. Water is unstable; you can’t keep water unless you can build walls and dams and hedges to contain it. How would you excel when nobody can tell you what to do?
Being unstable, unreliable, untenable, and uncontrollable is a leech that eats away excellence. If you really want to excel, strive to cultivate discipline. See what Apostle Paul said about a brother he sent;
“And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you”. (2 Corinthians 8:22 KJV)
May the Lord make you so reliable that your pastor’s heart or your father’s heart shall confidently rest in you. Reuben, how can you sleep with your father’s wife. Why would you want to spite your father that much.
Prayer target
- Pray that the coming year shall be full of goodness, great and effectual doors and opportunities. Pray that you will walk into the large rooms of life. Pray for a fruitful 2023!
- Pray that God will lead and give us grace, speed, and stamina to excel in 2023. Pray that His grace and truth shall succour us all year round in 2023. Pray for help and blessings.
- Ask God to help you to be reliable, stable, submitted, controllable, disciplined and tenable. Pray for the understanding and the wisdom to be stable and loyal. Pray that God will help you to be faithful and honest in all things.
- Pray that the Lord will deliver you from any situation and circumstances that will tempt and expose your weakness. Pray that God will not lead you into temptation! May He deliver you from evil in the name of Jesus Christ!
- Pray for the spirit of excellence to fill you now! In the name of Jesus Christ!
