One of the saddest parts of the story of Joseph to me is likely overlooked. There is a lot to take in regarding Joseph and his brothers. All the betrayal, all the indifference to his pain and life, the lack of remorse, and even the rationalization of their behaviors.

But Reuben…breaks my heart.

Reuben knew what was happening was wrong. It’s pretty clear in the scriptures that he was troubled.

Reuben had not thought through the possibility of a time lapse. He didn’t calculate the potential of the brothers coming up with another plan.

Why didn’t Reuben stop this mess immediately?

It’s hard to stand up for justice when the crowd might turn on you. There is fear for your own life, huh? Maybe the fear of being treated the same way by his brothers. It takes major courage to step in when you see an injustice in action.

While Reuben’s heart seemed to be in the right place, he was more willing to hide it than expose it to his brothers.

I’ve wondered what might have happened if Reuben has been willing to stand up to his brothers on behalf of Joseph? His inaction played a significant role in Joseph’s next troublesome years.

It’s counter to what we see with Esther. A girl willing to lay down her life for justice. Willing to confront the hypocrisy of wrongdoing, the hidden deception in her midst, and the potential that her very actions may well cost her ultimately her reputation and even her life.

One compromised while the other

did not.

Have you ever watched someone treat another in a way that was harmful? Yet, you stood by and said nothing for fear of retaliation? Friend, this is not the way of Jesus. He is always on the side of justice. We are not to cause brothers and sisters to have to fend for themselves. We are the family of God and Christ takes is quite seriously.

In the days ahead we, each, will face this potential circumstance and we will have to make a choice. Will we be on the side of Jesus or not?

There is a quote I can agree with that we’ve all heard many times:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (or women)to do nothing.”

Reuben makes me sad. He chose wrongly and it had dire consequences in the life of Joseph.

Learn to wield the justice of Jesus in this hour. Anything or anyone standing on the side of injustice is not following the Jesus of the gospel.

Let us represent Him well.