We often think about actions, the concrete things we do (or don't do). But what about those times when we meant to do something good, even if it didn't quite pan out? The Jewish tradition has a fascinating perspective on this, and the story of Reuben, the eldest brother of Joseph, is a perfect illustration.
Remember the story of Joseph, the favored son, and his jealous brothers? They threw him into a pit, planning to leave him for dead. But Reuben, consumed with guilt for his own past misdeeds, had a different idea. The text tells us that "Reuben went away from his brethren, and he hid in the mountains, so that he might be able to hasten back in a favorable moment and draw Joseph forth from the pit and restore him to his father." He wasn't on board with killing Joseph. He wanted to save him.
Think about that for a moment. Reuben was trying to make amends, not just for his part in this situation, but also for a past "transgression he had committed against Jacob." According to the text, he hoped his reward would be pardon for that sin. He had a plan!
But, as the story goes, Reuben’s good intention was frustrated. He wasn’t able to save Joseph from being sold into slavery in Egypt. Bummer, right? So, did his good intentions count for nothing?
Absolutely not.
The text is clear: "Yet Reuben was rewarded by God, for God gives a recompense not only for good deeds, but for good intentions as well." Even though his plan failed, his heart was in the right place. And that mattered.
So, how was he rewarded? Well, "as he was the first of the brethren of Joseph to make an attempt to save him, so the city of Bezer in the tribe of Reuben was the first of the cities of refuge appointed to safeguard the life of the innocent that seek help." Bezer was a designated place of safety. Because Reuben had tried to save an innocent life, his tribe's city became a sanctuary for others.
But there's more! The text continues, "Furthermore God spake to Reuben, saying: 'As thou wast the first to endeavor to restore a child unto his father, so Hosea, one of thy descendants, shall be the first to endeavor to lead Israel back to his heavenly Father.'" Wow! Hosea, a prophet from Reuben’s line, would be the first to call the people of Israel back to God. A truly incredible legacy stemming from a single act of intended kindness.
The story of Reuben teaches us that our intentions matter. Even when our plans go awry, even when we don't achieve the outcome we hoped for, the effort to do good is seen, valued, and rewarded. It reminds us that the journey of striving for good, the kavanah (the Hebrew word for intention), is often as important as the destination.