Reuben

A Tale of Two Sisters

This is the story of two sisters. Rachel and Leah. For this is a powerful picture of the Holy Spirits’ dealings with the New Testament church. In Abraham you see the Father and His dealings with Israel, in Isaac you see the Son taking for himself a bride, in Jacob you see the Holy Spirit and His dealing with the New Testament church and the fruit this union brings.

Jacob saw Rachel first. She was bringing the lambs to water. There was a large stone over the mouth of the well. The shepherds explained that the stone could not be removed and the flocks could not be watered until all the flocks got there. Isn’t that just like religion, there are appointed times to drink and it must be done in a specific fashion. God forbid we simply remove the stone and water the flocks. Jacob rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered Rachel’s flocks. He then kissed Rachel and wept. It was love at first sight. He meets Laban, Rachel’s father, and agrees to work for Laban for seven years if Laban would give Rachel to him for a wife. Laban agreed and the seven years seemed but a day for Jacob was in love with Rachel. On his wedding day they held a feast. Alcohol must have been served because it’s the only way you could explain the events that followed. On his wedding night, Laban switches his daughter Leah for Rachel and Jacob doesn’t even know it until the next day. Now I doubt Rachel went along with this conspiracy and the bible doesn’t explain how she was removed from the picture. What we do know is that Jacob wakes up the next morning with Leah, and he ain’t happy. When Jacob confronts Laban, he explains to Jacob that there is a custom, that the younger daughter should not marry before the older. (That’s information you need to know upfront). So he makes a deal to work for Laban another seven years for Rachel. He fulfills his honeymoon week with Leah and then He is allowed to go ahead a marry Rachel. The LORD looked on Leah’s situation and had compassion on her and He opened her womb and she conceived.

Rachel was preferred but Leah became fruitful. Rachel represents Israel and Leah represents the gentiles. Jesus came unto his own, but His own received Him not. (Jn. 1:11). But to those who did receive Him, He gave them the power to become sons. (Jn. 1:12). God wanted Israel, but when Israel rejected the Christ the gentiles received Him and became fruitful.

Fullness

The church was always intended to be fruitful and to mature. “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13. It is this full fruition that I want us to see. That the world will see the powerful image of Christ in the church and the Jesus model of ministry become commonplace. I do not believe this can take place without the invasion of God’s presence into the church. But let’s look at this fruition of fullness.

Reuben

First Leah conceives and she brings forth a son. As the custom was in those days the mother or father would declare the child’s name on the basis of a situation or event surrounding the child’s birth (the Native Americans practiced this also) or of some aspect of revealed nature of the child, or of some prophetic declaration over the child. I believe the later to be the case here. Leah called his name Reuben, which in the Hebrew tongue means, “Behold a son!”

One of the first and one of the most powerful truths the Holy Spirit has birthed in the church is that of “Restored Identity.” That we are sons of God. It is your identity.

That we are heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. (Rom.8:17). That He gave us exousia (authority) to become SONS. (Jn. 1:12). That His spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are Sons of God. (Rom. 8:16). From the time of new birth this spirit of adoption come into your life. It’s why you immediately sense you belong. This is why heaven seems familiar even the you have never been there before. The Holy Spirit brings sonship into your life and you are surrounded by family.

The idea of sonship seamed to be hard to sell among the Jews. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He began to explain to us that God was our father. From the sermon on the mount, to the great commission, from, “Our Father who are in heaven,” to, “I ascend unto my Father and to your Father.”

They seemed to be more intent on being the children of Abraham than they were on being the children of God. (Jn. 8:39). And like the Pharisees we seem content to take a lesser position than what’s being offered. “That He might be the first born among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29). This was the heart of the Father; that He might have many sons and daughters. The table is being set for family, not servants. Breaking a slaves mentality and learning to conduct yourself as a son is Gods intent. That’s why this first truth is so powerful.

I have an awesome family. My sister, and brother, and I are close. My Mom and Dad have always been loving and caring over us. I was raised in a very good home and my parents have always been there for us. I live 1000 miles from my family and my parents. But when I go home to see them I do not stand outside the door of their house and knock and ask permission to come in. If the door is unlocked I simply go in. I’m almost 50 years old, but when I go see my parents, I’m at my father’s house. If I want to look in the fridge, I simply open the door and see what’s in there. I don’t ask permission. Why? Because I’m in my father’s house and I’m a son; not a servant or a hired hand. If I don’t like what I see in the refrigerator, I offer free commentary on the absence of some of my favorite foods. Why? Because even at fifty I’m still a son and not some neighbor down the street. God gave us the right to become sons in His household. Sonship is a powerful thing. Because we are sons we have access to the glory of His house.

One of the saddest stories in the bible is the parable of the Prodigal son. Its not sad because of story of the prodigal himself; he gets restored. It’s sad because of oldest son’s reaction to the father’s heart of mercy and forgiveness. And when the older brother complains, the father says, “Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.”

We conduct ourselves as servants and we don’t even know who we are or what is already available to us. For the Holy Spirit has birthed in the Church our identity. “Behold a Son!” (Reuben).

Written by Rusty Owens

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