Behold, A Son!
Today we take a look at the first of the 12 tribes of Israel, Reuben…
Perhaps it is because time hasn’t slipped very far from the season of Advent, when the ancient prophecy is repeated “…Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 KJV, that makes me think of Jesus at Leah’s declaration…you see, Reuben means Behold, a son! in the Hebrew language.
It’s that word “Behold” that He uses to link the two for me…and I know I must find out more about this word…hinneh in Hebrew, pronounced hin-nay’. It is first found in Genesis, at the Creation, on the evening of the sixth day, when He looks at all He has made – including man – and declares it “very good”. It is found 1326 times in the King James Bible. It is a bidding to attend to what is being said; to look; to see. There is a liveliness, a vivacity associated with the word…think of a young mother, delighted that the Lord has blessed her, and “showing off” her baby, when you read the name “Reuben”. Imagine the Lord extending His figurative hand at all of Creation and with passion, even excitement, bidding us to actually, really see what He has done…and demonstrating the same delight and anticipation as He announces the plan for the coming of His Son. He points specifically, gives detailed description, helps to direct our gaze, focuses our attention to what He has provided for us!
Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said,
“Because the Lord has seen my affliction…Genesis 29:32
“Because the Lord has seen my affliction…Genesis 29:32
My favorite Christmas sentiment - a small tract I have kept for years
It’s that word “Behold” that He uses to link the two for me…and I know I must find out more about this word…hinneh in Hebrew, pronounced hin-nay’. It is first found in Genesis, at the Creation, on the evening of the sixth day, when He looks at all He has made – including man – and declares it “very good”. It is found 1326 times in the King James Bible. It is a bidding to attend to what is being said; to look; to see. There is a liveliness, a vivacity associated with the word…think of a young mother, delighted that the Lord has blessed her, and “showing off” her baby, when you read the name “Reuben”. Imagine the Lord extending His figurative hand at all of Creation and with passion, even excitement, bidding us to actually, really see what He has done…and demonstrating the same delight and anticipation as He announces the plan for the coming of His Son. He points specifically, gives detailed description, helps to direct our gaze, focuses our attention to what He has provided for us!
“Behold, a Son” to “Behold, His Son”…
and in this is the foundation, the beginning,
of His dealings with His people,
with those who embrace the Son,
with me…
it all begins with Jesus…
And God bids us to LOOK, to SEE, to FOCUS…
to behold Jesus…
and as we do so, we enter into worship, almost without effort,
because as we behold Him,
we receive a fresh revelation of Him…
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld (– to behold, look upon, view attentively, contemplate, take a view of as when meeting with a person, to learn by looking, to see with the eyes, to perceive – )His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
God looked across time, because He saw our affliction,
sent His Son,
and cried out...
BEHOLD!
BEHOLD!
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