Jacob gathers his sons to speak of their futures, a blend of prophecy, insight, and poetic imagery. Reuben: Once strong, now unstable like water, his actions brought shame, so he loses leadership. A lament of lost leadership; a plea for restoration despite past dishonor.

It reads in Genesis 49:1-4 Easy:   Then Jacob called for all his sons. He said, ‘Come here to me. Then I can tell you what will happen to you, in future years. You sons of Jacob, come together now and listen to your father, Israel. Reuben, Jacob said, ‘Reuben you are my firstborn son. You were born first, when I was a strong young man. Of all my sons, you are the most famous and the strongest. Yet you are as wild as the sea. You had sex with your father’s slave wife. This bad thing brought me shame. So you will not become great.

These words sting with disappointment, don’t they? Yet beneath them lies a poignant cry for what could’ve been, a legacy disrupted, a heart burdened.

Father God, of first light and boundless mercy, You, witnessed Reuben crowned by birthright, born of youthful vigor, proud breath, the hope of a father’s prime. Yet the tide turned harsh, an impulse struck like a stone shattering legacy, stirring sorrow. Still, the sea You created knows both its calm and its fury. Teach children to navigate waves with wisdom, to seek honor not in titles but in kindness. Restore what pride has unraveled, not to reclaim but to rebuild a name renewed by mercy. Let the unstable find balance, the shamed find shelter, and may Reuben’s story rise once more from the shattered waves as a testament to grace. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.