QT 11/25/2025 Gen 35:16-29, Making a good impact or ruining generations

Genesis 35:16–29 (ESV) —

16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.

22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it.

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

 

NOTE: Benjamin is the only son born in the land. When the land is distributed among the ten tribes, his portion will include the area of his birth, near Bethlehem. Reuben, the oldest, loses his position as first born because of his sin, he ends up accepting land on the other side of the Jordan (by choice). Simeon's (partner to the Shechem massacre) portion is so far south, his tribe will essentially be forgotten. Levi, becomes a special tribe (because of Moses and Aaron), but receives no land. Their inheritance was God himself. Judah, the fourth oldest becomes, in essence, the firstborn and leader. Ultimately, the kingship would end up in Judah, and even more importantly, the line of the Messiah.

 

Our actions can have long-term consequences on our families. Reuben's consequence are an extreme, stretching thousands of years, there are others in history with similar impacts (Benedict Arnold for one). I think our actions do have consequences on the next generations in our family. In most cases, they will not be as severe. But for men especially, how we lead our family spiritually can have tremendous consequences. It is never too late to change. It may not make a difference, but it might, and in my mind, that alone is worth the change.

 

PONDER:

1. How have I lived my life in terms of its impact on my children?
2. What should I be doing now in terms of its impact on my family?

 

PRAYER: Father, because of the problem of our sinful nature, none of us can be perfect. We will fail repeatedly. But through obedience to your word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirt, upon belief in Jesus as the propitiation for our sins, we can live differently. We can experience the sanctification of our lives that results in a better person slowly but surely over time. Help us in our battle with our sinful self and the enemy of our soul to be the witness we should be.