当雅各从伯特利起行以后，他不仅失去拉结，那不是他所遭遇惟一痛苦的事。另一个深刻的创伤是雅各的妾为流便所玷污（创三五22）。这也是摸着他的心、撕裂他的心的经历。创世记三十五章二十二节有一句很有意义的话：『以色列也听见了。』你也许会希奇，这样不道德的行为怎会发生在这敬虔的家庭里。
雅各的妾为流便所玷污，使长子的名分更改了（代上五1，创四八22）。利亚所生的流便，原是长子。在事实和实际上，他是长子，是承受长子名分的人。但是由于他玷污了雅各的妾，失去了长子的名分，长子的名分就归给了约瑟。
雅各和拉结的关系完全受了对付以后，他们的一个儿子得了长子的名分。这是非常有意义的。在雅各心的深处，他觉得拉结是他的妻子，利亚不是。因此，照着雅各来看，长子不该是流便，该是约瑟。流便作为长子是出于神，但不是照着雅各的心愿。神主宰的使雅各与利亚结婚，并生出流便。然而，雅各的心是放在拉结和约瑟身上。在他眼中，约瑟才是真正的长子。神是公平的。祂迫使雅各与利亚结婚，并藉她生出长子，最终祂松了手，任凭流便。流便跌倒了，长子的名分就受了调整。
这对你该是一个安慰。也许你担心神这样彻底的对付你天然的拣选，对付你心头的愿望，但神最终会把局面调整过来。因着失去拉结，雅各得着了预表基督的第二个儿子；并且因着流便所造成的玷污，长子的名分就得了调整。我们不该因着所遭遇的事烦恼，反之我们必须相信，每件事都在神主宰的手下。雅各的妾为流便所玷污是羞耻的，但甚至这样羞耻的事，也被用来带进积极的结果。长子的名分不该归给流便，但照着天然的出生，他据有长子的名分。因此，在神的主宰下，神允许流便跌倒，使长子的名分转给适当的人。
信息重点：流便因犯罪失去长子的名分，长子的名分转给约瑟。即使在令人痛苦甚至羞耻的环境中，神仍然掌管局面，并能在祂的主宰里使事情转向祂的旨意。因此，我们不需要被环境困扰，而要学习相信神主宰的手。
应用祷告：主耶稣，当我遇到不能理解、甚至令人痛苦的环境时，求你保守我不被环境搅扰。使我相信一切都在你主宰的手中，你能使万事转向你的旨意。让我安息在你里面，信靠你的安排。阿们。
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Jacob’s Concubine Defiled, the Birthright Changed – Gen. 35:21-22
After Jacob set out from Bethel, the loss of Rachel was not the only painful thing he encountered. Another deep wound was that his concubine was defiled by Reuben (Gen. 35:22). This too was an experience that touched his heart and tore at it. Genesis 35:22 contains a very meaningful statement: “And Israel heard of it”. You may wonder how such an immoral act could happen in this godly family.
Jacob’s concubine being defiled by Reuben caused the birthright to be changed (1 Chron. 5:1; Gen. 48:22). Reuben, born of Leah, was originally the firstborn. In fact and in reality, he was the firstborn, the one entitled to the birthright. But because he defiled his father’s concubine, he lost the birthright, and it was given to Joseph.
After Jacob’s relationship with Rachel had been thoroughly dealt with, one of their sons received the birthright. This is very significant. In the depths of Jacob’s heart, he felt that Rachel was his wife, and Leah was not. Therefore, in Jacob’s view, the firstborn should not be Reuben but Joseph. Reuben’s being the firstborn was of God, but not according to Jacob’s own desire. God sovereignly caused Jacob to marry Leah and to bring forth Reuben through her. Yet Jacob’s heart was set on Rachel and on Joseph. In his eyes, Joseph was the true firstborn. God is fair. He compelled Jacob to marry Leah and to bring forth the firstborn through her, but eventually He let go and allowed Reuben to fall. Reuben fell, and the birthright was adjusted.
This should be a comfort to you. Perhaps you are concerned that God is so thoroughly dealing with your natural choice, dealing with the desire of your heart, but God will ultimately adjust the situation. Through the loss of Rachel, Jacob gained a second son who is a type of Christ; and through the defilement caused by Reuben, the birthright was adjusted. We should not be troubled by what happens to us; rather, we have to believe that everything is under God’s sovereign hand. Jacob’s concubine being defiled by Reuben was shameful, but even such a shameful matter was used to bring in a positive result. The birthright should not have belonged to Reuben, but according to natural birth, he held the birthright. Therefore, under God’s sovereignty, God allowed Reuben to fall, so that the birthright might be transferred to the proper person.
Message Main Points: Reuben lost the birthright because of his sin, and the birthright was transferred to Joseph. Even in painful and shameful circumstances, God still governs the situation and can, in His sovereignty, turn things toward His will. Therefore, we do not need to be troubled by our environment; rather, we must learn to trust in the hand of God’s sovereignty.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I encounter circumstances I cannot understand, even painful ones, keep me from being disturbed by the environment. Make me to believe that everything is in the hand of Your sovereignty, and that You can turn all things toward Your will. Let me rest in You, trusting in Your arrangement. Amen.