Emerald- Reuben
1. His Birth
Reuben was the firstborn of all of Jacob's sons. Gen 29:32- And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. God stepped in and helped Leah by giving her a son. God knew that Jacob hated Leah, and loved Rachel. Leah knew this too, so she named Reuben "See a son".
2. The Patriarchal Blessing
As the firstborn, he was entitled to a double blessing. In fact, Reuben could have inherited the birthright, the kingdom, and the priesthood. But Reuben sinned and committed adultery with his father's concubine. One sin ripped these blessings from him. The birthright was given to Joseph, the kingdom was given to Judah, and the priesthood was given to Levi.
Yes, one sin can deprive us of many of the blessing of God.
Genesis 49:3-4- Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. We see that, even though he lost his blessing, his sonship remained. It is a comfort to know that even though our sin would keep us from the blessings of God, it can never effect our sonship, our salvation.
The excellency of dignity and power may refer to specific character traits which he did posses. He saved Joseph's life when all the other brothers wanted to kill him, even though it was a selfish move. Unfortunately, instability was his weakness and he couldn't be relied upon.
Jacob then remind him of his sin, naming it for all to hear. Slemming thinks that God is reminding us that if a man is not capable of controlling his own passions, bringing his own carnal desires under strict discipline, he is certainly not capable of holding any holy office where he is responsible for controlling the lives and conduct of other people.
3. The Mosaic Blessing
Deuteronomy 33:6- Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few. A very short blessing from Moses .Basically, it reinforces the fact that grace could be lost in the old testament. Moses is asking that Reuben not lose his existence as a tribe.
4. The Stone Emerald in the Breastplate
The emerald is a beautiful green in color. Much live the green sea that is ever rolling and unstable.
Sapphire- Simeon
1. His Birth
Genesis 29:33- And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. Simeon means hearing. It could be that she was praying that Jacob would love her and she was now acknowledging that the LORD heard her prayer.
If this is true, it tells us why God wanted Jacob with Leah, who believed, trusted, and worshipped God, as opposed to his desire of Rachel, who stole her father's idols (Genesis 31:19).
2. The Patriarchal Blessing
Simeon and Levi are mentioned together, like Issachar and Zebulun. Genesis 49:5-7- Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Unlike Issachar and Zebulun, they did not receive a good blessing.
In Genesis 34, Dinah went to see the daughters of the land and ended up fornicating with a man of the city. He wanted to marry her, and the brothers said the entire town had to be circumcised. While they were healing, Simeon and Levi went and slaughtered the men of the town.
Proverbs 27:17- Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. We become like those we hang around. And we hang around those who we are like. Simeon and Levi were both cruel and deceitful in this action, and Jacob was pointing out that he did not approve of it.
As Christians, we are to separate ourselves from other Christians who are walking in a worldly fashion, so we don't become like them and so they don't think we condone their sin! I Corinthians 5:11, 5- But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. They don't lose their salvation, but they should be avoided so we aren't struck with the same consequences as they.
3. The Mosaic Blessing
It is very strange that Moses doesn't even mention Simeon in Deuteronomy 33 where he blesses the tribes.
4. The Stone Sapphire in the Breastplate
This stone is the second hardest stone in the world. The word comes from the Hebrew which means to cut off or divide.
