Text: Genesis 49:3-4 KJV

Further Reading: Genesis 35:22; 49:1-2; 1 Chronicles 5:1.

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Genesis 49:3-4

MESSAGE

We have spoken about the creative power of the word of God in our previous lessons. Apart from the word of God, our words carry power to shape lives, to bless or to curse.

Parents must be very careful, especially in speaking negatively into the lives of their children. No matter how wrong they have behaved, always seek the help of God to bless them rather than speak problems into their future. Also, correct your children in love. I pray that God will bring back every wayward child to the faith and give you joy over them. Amen.

The story of Reuben is a sad example of how words can destroy a man’s destiny. He made a grave mistake. In Genesis 35:22, the Bible recorded that Ruben went slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Though Jacob heard about it, he did nothing.

Reuben was supposed to be a mighty man full of strength, an excellent dignity and a man of great power but he got the wrong words and he became a shadow of what he could have been.

In the day when Jacob was to bless his sons before his death. Reuben was cursed, though he was the firstborn, he would not excel. Jacob spoke negatively into his life and it stick.

That singular word “thou shall not excel” reshaped the destiny of Reuben, he lost his firstborn position and blessings and could not amount to anything great. Reuben brought a curse upon his generation because of momentary pleasure. Sin always has consequences, even if nobody sees you, God does. So flee from sin.

Children also must be careful that they receive blessings from their parents. Honour them in the will of God. It is better to receive a blessing than a curse from your parents.

That word went into Reuben’s future because his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:1). His first has now become the last, the head has now become the tail, just because of the word spoken into his life.

Have people spoken negative words into your life, and it seems as if it has affected your progress in life? The solution again is to consult the word of God to reshape your destiny. You may need to go and restitute your past and receive blessings where you have been cursed.

Whatever negative word has been spoken to your lives will be broken today in Jesus’ name. If you have not come to Christ, you will remain under the curse, but when you come to Jesus Christ your freedom is certain.

Believers must learn to speak God’s word to counter every negative word flying around these days. Do not be mute, parents should learn to pray for their children rather throwing bad words around them.

Words have power with great consequences. Speak right into people’s life.

REFLECTION

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Colossians 4:6

Learn to speak right from today. Bless more, speak less, and speak more of the word of God.

PRAYER

Father, please destroy every negative word that has been spoken into my life and reshape my destiny.