“How to Miss Out with God”

Genesis 49: 3b, 4a: “Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence.” Reuben was the first-born, and the birthright was properly his. But because his lifestyle was uncontrolled (he committed adultery with a woman who was his mother’s maid and father’s concubine, the mother of two of his brothers, Genesis 35: 22; 25), he lost that authority with God. You may get away with immorality for a while, but both biblical and secular history shows that, sooner or later, it will catch up with you.