THE ELEVEN STARS (5).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE ELEVEN STARS (5).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 Chro 5:1-2 *Now 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.*

*For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:*

*Insight and Highlight.*

What God would have you to be will not depend on the order of your birth but in the order of His divine will and purpose for you.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

While God maintains inheritance and rights of firstborns (Deut 21:17), their seniority is not obscurity before God. However God reserves the rights to not follow a biological natural order of birth to fulfill His purposes, Gen 25:23, 1 Sam 16:1-12, Gen 48:19-20.

The stories of Jacob, Joseph and Ephraim teach us how God often chooses the younger over the elder.

In all the twelve sons of Jacob, Benjamin was youngest only younger to Joseph but Benjamin is counted youngest of the eleven stars. Joseph stood distinctive.

The story teaches us that to be eldest is not to be first in everything and to be the youngest is not to be last in everything.

The story teaches us that God can break order either divine (Joshua 10:12-14, Is 38:18), natural, birth, (Gen 48:14), or set protocols, laws (Est 4;16).

If we know or care to understand this, we will not struggle with destiny and in everyone we will trust God for own time.

Neither did the eleven brothers who would eventually be stars nor their father, Jacob saw this.

In response to the first dream the brothers said to Joseph *"......Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?...."* Gen 37:8.

His father responded to the second dream

*".....What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?"* Gen 37:10.

Struggling or venting anger over the destinies of others is the same as striving with their maker, who is God.

Isaiah 45:9 *Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?*

Would God have allowed the elder to serve the younger or why would He?

It is a question begging for answers but we must live to know and understand that God has chosen to look for a heart that is after Him regardless of positions, offices or ranks.

Firstborns have failed Him, Gen 49:3, Rom 5:12. Rueben did not only fail Him, his nine other brothers failed him. They chose to kill the star through whom their stars would shine.

Rueben stopped the plot to kill Joseph. Gen 37: 21 *And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.*

While he reaped the consequences of his immorality, Gen 47:3, Gen 45:22, he would eventually reap to *".....live and not die...."* (Deut 33:6) as a reward for saving the life of the star that saved and preserved his and others' stars.

When your star shines brighter, you cannot see the darkness around it.

*Remorse corner.*

The eleven focused on the darkness (envy) around themselves. So the darkness around them prevailed over their lives. It took time before they could shine.

*Call to Word action.*

Envy darkens vision. It is cruel and overwhelming.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Prov 27:4 *Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?*

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to see the power of Your revelation/vision. Let not wrath, jealousy, envy distract me from my God given destiny in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.