In Genesis chapter thirty-five, verse twenty-two, Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob’s twelve sons, was entitled to the birthright and the first place of leadership, honor, and power. Instead, Jacob’s firstborn commits a sexual sin with his father’s concubine and removes him from that position. In other words, failure in character manifested by serious sinful actions may remove one forever from such a position.
Reuben did things for his family as a firstborn should do by working in the field to find mandrake plants for his mother Leah and giving them to her. Reuben intervenes for Joseph regarding the plan from the other brothers to impose harm on him. He persuades them not to hurt Joseph but find another solution. Reuben checks on him to see if Joseph is still in the pit where the other brothers put him: only to find out Joseph is not there. He reassures his father, Jacob, about returning Benjamin safe and sound by verbally promising.
Externally, Reuben has good qualities for the eldest brother. He is diligent toward his family members and demonstrates that to his mother. Reuben cares about his family through the example of interrupting the other brother’s plan to do wrong against the younger brother Joseph. He shows responsibility by following up on Joseph’s welfare and attempting to see if he is okay. Reuben shows sincerity to his father with a warranty of bringing Benjamin home to him.
Secretly, Reuben does the opposite of his father by sexually sleeping with Bilhah, his father Jacob’s concubine. All of the good qualities he displays no longer stands out because of this sinful act. Unfortunately, the wrongful act by Reuben stands out further than all the good he did in his life. Therefore, publicly anything good Reuben would have desired negates it because the sinful activity will override it.