"Next, Jacob turns to his son Judah. Now Judah had been a bit of a disappointment at times, I am sure.
Judah had been the one who suggested that the brothers sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Although this was a cold and calculated action, it was far better than the other brothers' original idea, which was to kill Joseph rather than have to listen to his accounts of his dreams or deal with their father's favoritism toward Joseph. [Of course, Jacob would not have known this about his son until after the family is reunited with Joseph.]
Judah was also the one who separated himself from his brothers and went off to marry a Canaanite woman, with rather disastrous results. Two of his sons were put to death by the Lord because of their wickedness. Judah himself resorted to going to a prostitute after his wife had died, and unknown to him, ended up sleeping with his widowed daughter-on-law, who then bore Judah twin sons. He did not sleep with her again, although he apparently provided for his former daughter-in-law and their sons.
On a more positive side, Judah was the one who finally persuaded Jacob to let the brothers take their youngest brother Benjamin with them back to Egypt so that they could obtain food. He also was the one who offered himself as a slave to Pharaoh's second-in-command (Joseph) instead of Benjamin, so that Benjamin could be returned to their elderly father.
In a way Judah grew into his role as leader of the brothers after Reuben, Simeon and Levi had been rejected because of their sinful behaviors. We might wonder why the other brothers were passed over for the honors which Judah will receive despite his own sinful shortcomings. This decision is hidden within the wisdom of God, who knows each man's heart, but I assume that Judah must have repented and sincerely desired to follow God's ways, for otherwise, I do not believe that God would have allowed him to receive the following rather amazing blessing from Jacob.
It is a bit long, though, so I think it would be best if I started another post about it so that we can study it in more detail.
Showing posts with label Judah speaks with Joseph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Judah speaks with Joseph. Show all posts
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Genesis 44:18-29 Judah's Story
"Then Judah went up to him and said, 'Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father, or a brother?' And we answered, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.'
'Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down here so that I can see him for myself.' And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' But you told your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.
Then our father said, 'Go back and buy a little more food.' But we said, 'We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'
Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my grey head down to the grave in misery.'
So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the grey head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!'
Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.' " (Genesis 44:18-34 NIV)
__________________________________________
Judah's impassioned plea is truly amazing. He manages to tell the whole series of events in a concise way, and yet the tale is full of drama and emotion. We see a new Judah here. No longer is he the jealous brother of past years, greedy for gain at his brother's expense. Now he is the protective leader of all of the brothers, selflessly willing to give his own life for the life of his youngest brother, and deeply concerned that his father will be able to live out his last days in peace.
Judah can tell by the strange expression on his listener's face that this Egyptian official is clearly moved by his speech. However, I imagine that he is also somewhat frightened when that same official orders everybody else besides the brothers to clear the room. (Genesis 45:1)
'Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down here so that I can see him for myself.' And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' But you told your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.
Then our father said, 'Go back and buy a little more food.' But we said, 'We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'
Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my grey head down to the grave in misery.'
So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the grey head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!'
Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.' " (Genesis 44:18-34 NIV)
__________________________________________
Judah's impassioned plea is truly amazing. He manages to tell the whole series of events in a concise way, and yet the tale is full of drama and emotion. We see a new Judah here. No longer is he the jealous brother of past years, greedy for gain at his brother's expense. Now he is the protective leader of all of the brothers, selflessly willing to give his own life for the life of his youngest brother, and deeply concerned that his father will be able to live out his last days in peace.
Judah can tell by the strange expression on his listener's face that this Egyptian official is clearly moved by his speech. However, I imagine that he is also somewhat frightened when that same official orders everybody else besides the brothers to clear the room. (Genesis 45:1)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)