My might, and the beginning of my strength: "He was the first-born, the first-fruits of his father's manly strength." (The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary)
Unstable as water: "The force of a great current of water, when the barriers that restrained it are removed, is irresistible. Such is the force of corruption in men [without self-restraint].... Yet nothing is weaker than water in small quantities.... Such is the weakness of men who walk after their own lusts." (Homiletic Commentary)
Consider unstable waves blown whichever way the wind blows; a fitting illustration of many a man. Compare Ephesians 4:14 - tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. (VM)
Thou shalt not excel: "The double portion was transferred to Joseph, the chieftanship to Judah, and the priesthood to Levi." (Homiletic Commentary)
He went up to my couch: Jacob turns his face away from Reuben and addresses his other sons in pathetic disdain of Reuben's failure. Popular lyric: "The Father turns His face away...." (VM)
While these may appear words of cursing, Genesis 49:28 says these were all words of blessing. Consider (1) No actual curses come from Jacob. Rebuke and denouncing sin, but not cursing. Such is the correction of our Heavenly Father. By Christ we are delivered from the curse of all our failures - Galatians 3:13, etc. (2) The son is still a son: our Father may be displeased, but can never disown. (3) The firm promises are still assured: every true son will continue and still inherit all that is reserved for him - I Peter 1:4. (4) The blessing is in the mercy shown. What might have been the terrible pronouncement of the son's fate apart from the Father's grace? He may not excel as others, but he will not be utterly stamped out. He may bear the earthly fallout, but he is forgiven the eternal consequence. Even the earthly aftermath is tempered by our Father's tender love. (5) There was given first a loving reminder of what could have been - the potential that was missed. This is not designed to shame the son, but to assure him that his failure was not for lack of his Father's support and benefits. Our Father is "for us; who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). The Father is cleared of the matter and the failure is but our own. But also, though the past may not be repaired, there is still potential for the future, which must become the new focus. Reuben, repenting of verse 4, must turn his attention back to verse 3 and therein move forward. "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works..." (Revelation 2:5). The missed potential is not to become a permanent stumbling stone, or a stifling status quo, but rather a stimulant to step it up! (VM)
Other notes on Reuben here.
VM
