Reuben was the firstborn of Israel (1 Chron. 5:11Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. (1 Chronicles 5:1)). As such he had a prominent place, for the firstborn takes precedence of the whole family, and through him the principal ancestral line is ordinarily traced. But Reuben is set aside, and the natural prominence of the birthright only sank him lower when he lost it. The order of nature is not God’s order, and nothing can meet the aberrance of nature but the sovereign mercy of God. So, it ever was since man fell. This mercy is seen in God’s governmental ways, but how much more in His ways of grace! Under grace, as a fundamental principle, it is first “that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual” (1 Cor. 15:4646Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:46)). God gave the birthright to Joseph. Yet even here, showing the sovereignty of grace, the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
The Genealogy
The genealogy is that of the Chief Ruler. In the wisdom of God the birthright and the chief rule are for a brief space separated. The birthright was Christ’s when He came into the world, but if He had assumed the chief rule then, which could only have been in judgment, where would be the cross, redemption, and the glory of His grace? He came at the first to be cut off and have nothing, for there was a deeper question before He could appear as Chief Ruler according to the counsels of God. It required a distinct type, such as Joseph is, to set forth the truth that the Chief Ruler, whose was the birthright, should appear as One whose birthright was denied. He the Firstborn, possessing every right in heaven and on earth, was cast out and rejected by His own people, as Joseph by his brethren.
These are the purposes of God’s love and are shadowed forth from the beginning. Since sin came in, God in all His dealings and ways of old declares how great is His love and how it could be righteously manifested to sinners. Sacrifice and blood-shedding from the earliest time and all that was commanded under the law point to the cross, without which nothing was possible for man but everlasting perdition.
The Cross Is Before the Crown
Joseph as the ruler of Egypt is typical of the future rule and reign of Christ. The power and might of the Chief Ruler and Conqueror was foretold in the same word that announced His sufferings, for in Eden the Lord God said to the serpent, “He shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush His heel” (Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15) JND). The triumph at the Red Sea, the victories of Joshua, of David, and the glory of Solomon present a vivid picture of the future reign of the Chief Ruler and how the serpent’s head will be crushed. But the final victory must come after the suffering. The crushing of the heel of the Seed comes before the crushing of the serpent’s head. The cross is before the crown; the throne is set up in the shadow of the cross, and the glories of each shine out all the more.
The Birthright
The first mention of birthright is in connection with one (Esau) that despised it, and Hebrews 12:15-1615Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Hebrews 12:15‑16) alludes to it as a warning to believers. All in the church of God are firstborn ones, but we may, if worldly minded here, lose the joy and even the knowledge of them. Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage is called profane; for us it is as if a Christian would barter his heavenly position and character for some fancied earthly good, for present ease in this world or to escape the reproach of Christ.
“Birthright” was one of God’s landmarks for the support and maintenance of due authority and order among men. Esau despised and sold it. Reuben lost it. Jacob obtained it by taking advantage of Esau’s necessities, but that purchase was an empty form and of no value. Isaac was the depository of the birthright, not to do with it as he pleased, but according to God’s will. Isaac was not deceived as to God’s word; he knew that the elder was to serve the younger, but his own will blinded him to God’s will and to the personality of Jacob. This is the most striking instance of the overruling hand of God: man’s will seemingly successful, but God accomplishing His.
To Joseph the birthright is a gift immediate from God, with no unrighteous attempt to obtain it. But his brethren resented the idea of Joseph being their chief, so they sold him as a slave into Egypt. It was there that the privileges and authority of the birthright were seen in him. The means they took to prevent were God’s means to accomplish.
So, it will be in the coming day. Joseph takes rank in the family as firstborn, though not naturally so. And our Joseph is not the first man but the Second, not the first Adam but the Last. Yet is He the Firstborn, and when He appears, Israel as the sheaves of corn, the firstfruits of the earth, will make obeisance to Him.
Jacob’s view of Joseph’s prophetic dream seems limited to his own family, but the dream goes far beyond Jacob’s family or the nation of Israel. In that bright day, Israel as the first of the nations on the earth will be as the sun, moon and stars, the sources of power and authority to the subject Gentiles. Christ will rule from Zion, and Israel the chosen nation shall be princes in the earth, the channels of its millennial blessings.
The Royalty to Judah
What wondrous truths are wrapped up in Joseph’s dreams! It was the will of God then to give the birthright to Joseph and the royalty to Judah. Therefore we read, “Judah prevailed above his brethren and of him came the chief ruler” (1 Chron. 5:22For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:2)). For a brief space both are seen in Joseph, but then we read, “Judah prevailed.” What a gracious way of declaring God’s predetermined purpose! Judah’s prevailing is simply the will of God. Hence he prevailed, but not by his goodness. Reuben was an immoral man, but he was not violent. Simeon and Levi were violent, but they were not immoral. But Judah was both, for it was he that suggested selling Joseph into Egypt, and the sordid details of his family life are recorded in God’s Word. Yet it seems that there was full repentance, and the grace of God gave him the honored place.
Between Joseph’s dreams and their fulfillment there was a period of suffering; he was cast out, hated by his brethren, sold as a slave to Gentiles, yet ended up ruling over them before his brethren bow to him. There passes before our hearts One greater than Joseph, who endured greater hatred from His own and was, by them, delivered to Gentiles to be crucified. He is now bowed to and worshipped by the called-out Gentile (Acts 15:1414Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14)), while the Jew is yet in the land of famine.
R. Beacon (adapted)