How would you feel about taking the blame for someone else’s crime?
That’s what Judah did.
As Joseph tested his brothers and tried to provoke their jealousy he set up one more trial. As he had before, he returned the money to each of his brothers, but in Benjamin’s bag he also had his silver cup added. He set his brother up to make it look beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was guilty.
Having set up his brothers, he sent his servants to arrest them. The brothers, “knowing” they had done nothing wrong, were pretty confident as they opened their bags. Their hearts must have sunk to their knees when they saw the money bags in with their grain. Their hearts must have dropped the rest of the way to the ground when the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag.
“Whichever of us is found with the cup shall die,” they said. And there was Benjamin, the one they had sworn to protect, the one that Israel worried so much about losing, and he had the cup.
They returned to Joseph with Benjamin. They gave themselves up as slaves to Joseph hoping to save their brother; wanting to return him to their father. But Joseph would have none of it. “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant.”
That’s when Judah did something so unselfish, so remarkable, that should take careful note of it. Judah offered his life for his brother’s. He saw Benjamin – a guilty thief – and he said, “I’ll stand in his place. I give my life for his.”
Wow! How very much like Judah’s greatest grandson!
Who is Judah’s greatest grandson? That would be Jesus, who was born of Tribe of Judah.
When Jesus entered into the world he came knowing all our faults. He knew that he was not coming for people who were basically good, but had a few character flaws. Jesus knew our guilt when he entered into the world. The Bible puts it this way, “For our sake he [God the Father] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Co 5:21 ESV)
Jesus was in no way guilty of our sins, just like Judah was not guilty of Benjamin’s crime, but he stood in our place the same way Judah did for Benjamin.
Why did Judah do this? Because he loved his father. Hopefully because he loved his brother, too, but definitely because he loved his father.
Why did Jesus do the same for us? Because he loves his Father, and it is God’s desire to rescue us! He also did it because he loves us and wants us all to be with him forever in eternal glory.
Father in Heaven, thank you for having compassion on us and saving us through Jesus’ death on the cross. Help us to have compassion on others and share your love with them for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
That’s what Judah did.
As Joseph tested his brothers and tried to provoke their jealousy he set up one more trial. As he had before, he returned the money to each of his brothers, but in Benjamin’s bag he also had his silver cup added. He set his brother up to make it look beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was guilty.
Having set up his brothers, he sent his servants to arrest them. The brothers, “knowing” they had done nothing wrong, were pretty confident as they opened their bags. Their hearts must have sunk to their knees when they saw the money bags in with their grain. Their hearts must have dropped the rest of the way to the ground when the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag.
“Whichever of us is found with the cup shall die,” they said. And there was Benjamin, the one they had sworn to protect, the one that Israel worried so much about losing, and he had the cup.
They returned to Joseph with Benjamin. They gave themselves up as slaves to Joseph hoping to save their brother; wanting to return him to their father. But Joseph would have none of it. “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant.”
That’s when Judah did something so unselfish, so remarkable, that should take careful note of it. Judah offered his life for his brother’s. He saw Benjamin – a guilty thief – and he said, “I’ll stand in his place. I give my life for his.”
Wow! How very much like Judah’s greatest grandson!
Who is Judah’s greatest grandson? That would be Jesus, who was born of Tribe of Judah.
When Jesus entered into the world he came knowing all our faults. He knew that he was not coming for people who were basically good, but had a few character flaws. Jesus knew our guilt when he entered into the world. The Bible puts it this way, “For our sake he [God the Father] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Co 5:21 ESV)
Jesus was in no way guilty of our sins, just like Judah was not guilty of Benjamin’s crime, but he stood in our place the same way Judah did for Benjamin.
Why did Judah do this? Because he loved his father. Hopefully because he loved his brother, too, but definitely because he loved his father.
Why did Jesus do the same for us? Because he loves his Father, and it is God’s desire to rescue us! He also did it because he loves us and wants us all to be with him forever in eternal glory.
Father in Heaven, thank you for having compassion on us and saving us through Jesus’ death on the cross. Help us to have compassion on others and share your love with them for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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