The Role Of The Intercessor - God's design

The Role of the Intercessor in the fulfillment of God’s designs from the life of Reuben.

An intercessor stands in the gap between what is and what might be thus making the connection. God could do without intercession, but He has chosen to intervene in the affairs of man through intercession. The first and most basic requirement for effective intercession is a genuine relationship with the Father. We must know His heart and mind before we begin to pray. “We tell God what He has told us to tell Him!” Then the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of God and of His Christ. Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”

Ezekiel 22:28 Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. (This is counterfeit intercession.)
29 The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. (This is the way things were heading.)
30 I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. (God had another plan, one of mercy, but there was no intercessor to be found.)
31 Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord God. (Thus, things continued the way they were going.)

Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn by Leah (Gen. 29:31-32).

His name means, “See, a son (or a man).” Because the Lord has seen my affliction, now my husband will love me. He was an intercessor from his mother’s womb - interceding between Leah and Jacob.

His mother saw in him a messianic quality, much as Eve had at the birth of her firstborn, Cain. (Gen. 4:1 - “I have gotten a man, the Lord.”

Reuben - an intercessor? Being the firstborn he has a sense of responsibility for his brothers. And his mother (Gen. 30:14). Intercession is driven by this sense of responsibility. This can become a pitfall if it devolves into a Messianic complex.

He lost his rights of the firstborn (Gen. 49:3-4; through infidelity (Gen. 35:22) with his father’s maid (maybe he was trying to comfort her), yet he never lost the sense of responsibility. (Intercessors, beware of this trap! An exaggerated sense of responsibility {mercy motivation, rescuer} is the bait.)

(Joseph - “God has taken away my reproach - barrenness.” Gen. 30:22-24)

1 Chronicles 5:1-2
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. 2 Though Judah {ruler, administrator} prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph {intercessor, provider, steward}), (The birthright or double-portion was given for the purpose of sustaining life - care.)

Reuben has a vested interest in Joseph for his birthright had passed to Joseph’s sons. His role as an intercessor had passed to Joseph, but the basic motivation never left him. {Motivations can still produces results or effect although the anointing has passed.}

Joseph was a watchman - Gen. 37:2.

Joseph was the closest to his Father’s heart and this caused misunderstanding between he and his brothers to the point they would not speak to him on friendly terms (Gen. 37:3-4).

Then God begins to reveal His destiny not only for Joseph, but for the nation. This results in further misunderstanding and ill-feeling possibly because of the inappropriateness of Joseph’s timing in delivering the message.

The message in Joseph had to be refined to bring it to maturity.
Psalm 105:17 He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.18 They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; 19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.

His father sent him to inquire of the welfare of his brothers (Gen. 37:13-14).

Sometimes intercessors will wander around until they get direction (Gen. 37:15-17). It is easier to be directed when you are already in motion.

The blindness of the brothers’ jealousy causes them to plot the death of Joseph but Reuben stands in as his intercessor. Genesis 37:21 But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.” 22 Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

Reuben is utterly devastated when his plan of rescue seems to have gone awry. Genesis 37:29 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?” He is despondent over the failure of his mission.

From the rest of the story we know that Joseph’s gift makes way for him and Pharaoh sets him over all of the land of Egypt. An overseer is one who sees over–that is, the one who has vision. In this place of authority and responsibility he enters into a messianic role, an intercessor, not only for the people of Egypt, but to preserve his own people in whom was the hope of the ultimate Messiah.

Genesis 42:1b “Why are you staring at one another?” None of the brothers have vision, they only stare at one another.

When the brothers do come down to Egypt and stand before Joseph he recognizes them although they do not recognize him and he accuses them of being spies. This accusation could hardly be further from the truth for they have no vision.

When Joseph asks them to bring Benjamin down to Egypt also, for this is God’s plan to preserve the nation, they become fearful and remember what they had done to their brother (Gen. 42:21).

Reuben recalls his earlier plan to preserve Joseph alive. Gen. 42:22 “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”

When they are dismayed at finding their money in the sacks of grain, Reuben’s motivation come to the fore once again. Genesis 42:37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.”