Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna | Monday, July 23, 2018 | Topic: Conscience 78
Scripture: And when they saw Joseph afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to slay him. Genesis 37:18
Note: Reuben took 5 positive, actionable steps that contributed to saving Joseph’s life from the hands of his brothers. Excluded from the plot but fortunate to have overheard them discussing the assassination, Reuben being the team head had been quick, proactive and decisive in putting a damper on his brothers. The paradox of Reuben’s intervention was that the man who stood the possibility of losing the most against Joseph by way of inheritance, was the same man who was used by God to deliver Joseph from death.
The first and most important step Reuben took in favour of Joseph was to secure custody of Joseph from his wicked brothers. He ensured that Joseph was safely in his hands before he started negotiations for his eventual deliverance. Negotiating for human life when the person is in the hands of the evil and belligerent party, gives undue power and advantage to the latter, and weakening the bargaining power of the good party. Reuben understood the ramifications of this principle. He knew that time was of the essence before the unexpected happened, considering the prevailing insanity and gravity of the anger of his aggrieved brothers.
Second, Reuben’s masterstroke in the use of the words, “Let us,” signifying his identifying with their struggle to even out the perceived unfairness, advantage and supremacy Joseph held over them through his dreams and the preferential treatment from Jacob, aptly demonstrated by the coat of many colours he made for Joseph. Third, Reuben issued a command in his position as leader for no blood of Joseph’s to be spilled either for fun or for any other reason, even if it wasn’t meant to harm him fatally. Many unfortunate people have been killed that way in the past, who were originally not meant to die. Reuben wasn’t prepared to risk Joseph, as he couldn’t trust his hothead brothers with a precious life.
Fourth, the horror of the deep, dark pit that portends what had come to symbolise evil and hopelessness, was in reality a place meant by Reuben to be a hiding place for Joseph from his bloodhound brothers. Reuben’s decision to have Joseph cast into the pit was meant for saving his life not to sink him. The most unlikely of hiding places, shielded Joseph temporarily from the enemy. Joseph might not have understood it, and he would most likely have dreaded the pit experience, yet, it saved his life. Fifth, Reuben re-emphasised to his brothers not to lay hands on Joseph, even as the poor, young man was languishing in the pit alone. This demonstrated how diligent Reuben was in the rescue operation, leaving no space for unexpected eventuality.
Food for thought: He that is diligent shall bear rule.
Declaration: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2Pet 1:5-7
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
