Genesis 35:22-28 – The lingering effect of sin versus God’s transforming grace

The last segment of Genesis 35 began by narrating the incestuous relationship between Jacob’s firstborn and his concubine, Bilhah. Reuben of curse was his firstborn and Bilhah was Rachel’s maid through whom he had two sons – Dan and Naphtali. Verse 22 tells us that “It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.”   

Why did Reuben do that? Without a cause there would be no effect. What happened between Reuben and Bilhah was not a sin of passion. It resulted because of Jacob’s partiality. He had all along favoured Rachel’s children over Leah’s children. In an earlier account, we learned of Jacob’s nonchalant when Dinah was raped by Shechem and that had already angered her brothers. That passivity of Jacob caused his sons to take matters into their own hands. Now with the death of Rachel, Reuben must have thought that Bilhah would soon fill the void in Jacob’s heart left by the death of Rachel. He reckoned that she might become Jacob’s favourite over his mother. So he seduced Bilhah to make sure that she could never replace Rachel in Jacob’s heart. As a result of this liaison, Jacob would no longer have intimacy with Bilhah. She would literally be rendered a living widow.

This escapade of Reuben could also be seen as an act to claim his right over his father’s power. So he did it firstly to ensure that his mother’s position would not be relegated again, and secondly to stake his claim for his father’s power, Reuben lost his first born privilege because of what he did. Jacob declared it in Genesis 49:3-4 and 1 Chronicles 5:1 emphasized it. It says, “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.”

The impact of Reuben’s sin could also be seen in the way Jacob’s sons were listed here. They were not listed according to the order of birth but according to who their mothers were. The ugliness of their animosity would eventually led to their attempt at getting rid of Joseph, Rachel’s son. This is the impact and effect of sin. Verses 27-29 are transiting verses. We are told that Isaac lived to a ripe old age of 180 years. He died and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him with Rebekah, his wife and his parents, Abraham and Sarah.

The life of Jacob is more about the transforming grace of God. Thankfully, despite his sinful nature, the relentless grace of God kept pursuing him. His hand was on Jacob’s life to help bring it into alignment with His will. No doubt sin will always bring with it attending consequences. But God, who has graciously drawn us to Himself through Christ, will enable us to become overcomers if we keep an open heart before Him. We are grateful to God that now in Christ we are truly blessed. We are told in Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”