Lost Opportunity
What have you done in the past which you would like to undo? It is impossible to undo past actions or take back spoken words.
Reuben had sinned by having sex with one of his father’s concubines. And his father learned of this act. Nothing was said, but his father never forgot it. At the end of Jacob’s life, when he was giving out his blessings on each of his sons, he took away Reuben’s birthright as firstborn son because he defiled his father’s bed. (Genesis 49:3-4)
Years later after his sin, in trying to get back into the good graces of his father, Reuben asked his brothers to not kill Joseph, their younger brother. They didn’t kill Joseph, but sold him as a slave to a passing caravan heading to Egypt. Apparently, Reuben wasn’t present when this occurred. (Genesis 37:25-28)
When Reuben returned, Joseph was gone! His opportunity to make himself look good in his father’s sight was lost. His intent was to save Joseph and take him to his father.
(NASB) Genesis 37:29-30 “Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.
30 He returned to his brothers and said, ‘The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?”
It seems Reuben never asked his father for forgiveness. And his father never confronted him with his sin.
Lost opportunities – when we lose opportunities to try and “make it right” with another, what are we missing?
First, make it right with God. Seek His forgiveness.
Secondly, seek the forgiveness of the one you wronged.
Don’t lose your opportunities.
~ Take it to heart ~
What did Jesus say?
(NASB) Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”