Genesis 44:1-34
Genesis Study 126
A NEW JUDAH
Genesis 44:1-34
Key verse 44:33
"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."
Few days ago, some of us bought their new shoes. With the new shoes they looked quite fresh. We like something new— a new song, a new dress, a new mobile, a new scooter, and a new year. In today's passage we see a man who received a new thing. The man's name is Judah and the new thing he received was a new life. An old Judah became a new Judah. Do you want to live a new life? Do you want to be a new person? May God teach us the secret today.
About 4000 years ago, there was a father whose name was Jacob. He had four wives and twelve sons. His eleventh son Joseph and twelfth son Benjamin were born of Rachel whom Jacob loved most. So he loved Joseph much more than other sons. Out of jealousy Joseph's elder brothers sold him as a slave. But they told their father that Joseph was eaten by a ferocious animal. Since then twenty two long years had passed. By God's marvellous grace Joseph was raised to be the ruler of Egypt, the superpower of ancient world. A severe famine struck the whole world. Joseph's ten elder brothers went down to Egypt to buy food. Joseph recognized them but they did not. Then he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. He put all of them in custody. After three days he released them all except his second elder brother Simeon. All these things made them recall what they had done to Joseph in the past. They came to fear God and his judgment. Joseph gave them grains but ordered them to bring their youngest brother Benjamin. In their second journey to Egypt, they took Benjamin along with them and met Joseph. They were invited to have dinner with Joseph, the governor of the land. There was no trail of famine on the dining table. Food and drinks were served without limit. However Joseph still pretended to be a stranger. Today's passage begins after the feast was over.
Verses 1 to 5 are Joseph's instructions to his steward. Joseph said to him to provide abundant grains and silver for his brothers. At the same time he directed his steward to put his silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin's sack. Early in the morning the brothers began their journey back to their homeland. This was a happy return. Everyone was safe and sound. Their bags were full of grains. They kept talking about the governor's food and his generosity. Asher was smiling because he secretly packed the delicious food in his polythene bag. Naphtali was singing with his beautiful voice. But suddenly everyone was frightened because Joseph's steward caught them up. It was Joseph who sent him to question about his silver cup.
In verses 6 to 13, we see the brothers returning to Joseph. Without knowing anything, they said to the steward, "Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! If any of your servants is found to have the silver cup, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." But the steward replied, "Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame." When the search was made, the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Joseph's elder brothers were free from blame. But they tore their clothes. They took Benjamin's blame upon themselves. They were free to go back to their homeland. But they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city where judgment was waiting.
In verses 14 to 17, we hear the ten brothers' confession of sin and Joseph's verdict. When they came to Joseph's house, they threw themselves to the ground before him. When Joseph rebuked them, Judah the fourth elder brother replied, "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." Judah was saying they were innocent yet guilty. They were innocent in this cup case. But they were guilty before God because of what they had done to Joseph. They admitted their sin and were ready to accept slavery as God's punishment. But Joseph said, "Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace." If they don't go back to their homeland, everyone there will die of hunger. What should they do?
Look at verse 18. Then Judah went up to Joseph 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." From verses 19 to 32, he explained to Joseph how precious Benjamin was to his father Jacob. Benjamin was Jacob's only son left among the two sons of his most beloved wife. Judah was more than sure that his father would die of sorrow if Benjamin did not return home.
In the past Judah did not care about all these things. All he cared about was money and romance. He was the one who sold Joseph as a slave for twenty silver coins. He did not care how much his brother would suffer in slavery life. He did not care how much his father's heart would be broken at the loss of his most beloved son. Even after this terrible event, he was just busy to date with his girl friend. She did not fear the God of the Bible. But he didn't bother. His father asked him to cut off his relationship with her. But Judah cut off his relationship with his father and left the family. He married his girl friend and had three sons. But his sons were so wicked that two of them were put to death by the Lord. After the death of his wife, Judah ran after prostitutes. One day he even slept with his daughter-in-law whom he thought a prostitute. When he came to know about her pregnancy he ordered his servants to burn her to death. Judah became a stranger both to God and humanity. He was worse than a ferocious animal. He devoured his brother, his father, his wife, his sons, and his daughter-in-law. Can we expect anything good from such person?
But we see God's miracle in verses 33 and 34. Let's read together. "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." Now Judah's only concern was Benjamin's safe return and his father's peace. Even if his father would not feel sorry about him, it was okay with Judah. If only his father could rejoice over the safe return of Benjamin, Judah was more than happy. Instead of living as a selfish and cruel son to his father, he chose to live as a slave for his father's happiness. In the past he sought happiness by sacrificing others for his sake. But now he gladly sacrifices himself for others' sake. From there he found true peace and joy. At last the image of God's love was restored in him. He became a new Judah. God blessed him to be the leader of all the tribes of Israel. Jesus came through Judah's line. If Judah took Benjamin's blame, Jesus took all our sins upon himself. He laid down his life on the cross for our sake. He set us free from the eternal bondage of sin and death. He sacrificed himself to guarantee our safe return to our heavenly Father. Before sending this wonderful Jesus, God prepared one man Judah's heart. God chose the worst and made him the best.
God has many kinds of powers—power to create everything, power to sustain everything, power to know everything and many more. But among all his powers we are amazed at his power to change the worst into the best. According to the law of nature, every new thing becomes old. A new born baby becomes an old man. A new house becomes an old house. A new fish becomes a rotten fish. They recycle waste papers and make a new carry bag. But the new carry bag again becomes a waste. This is the law of nature. But in God we find a new law. An old thing becomes a new thing. An old self becomes a new self. A selfish man becomes a sacrificial man. A pleasure seeking woman becomes a prayer mother. The worst becomes the best. This is the law of God. Is here anybody worse than the old Judah? God will make you better than the new Judah. God promised in Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." The God of Judah has unlimited power to change us. He will make us the best people of God. Do you see someone worse than you and worse than Judah? God can make him the best servant of God. Let us always see ourselves and others in God of Judah.
A NEW JUDAH
Genesis 44:1-34
Key verse 44:33
"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."
Few days ago, some of us bought their new shoes. With the new shoes they looked quite fresh. We like something new— a new song, a new dress, a new mobile, a new scooter, and a new year. In today's passage we see a man who received a new thing. The man's name is Judah and the new thing he received was a new life. An old Judah became a new Judah. Do you want to live a new life? Do you want to be a new person? May God teach us the secret today.
About 4000 years ago, there was a father whose name was Jacob. He had four wives and twelve sons. His eleventh son Joseph and twelfth son Benjamin were born of Rachel whom Jacob loved most. So he loved Joseph much more than other sons. Out of jealousy Joseph's elder brothers sold him as a slave. But they told their father that Joseph was eaten by a ferocious animal. Since then twenty two long years had passed. By God's marvellous grace Joseph was raised to be the ruler of Egypt, the superpower of ancient world. A severe famine struck the whole world. Joseph's ten elder brothers went down to Egypt to buy food. Joseph recognized them but they did not. Then he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. He put all of them in custody. After three days he released them all except his second elder brother Simeon. All these things made them recall what they had done to Joseph in the past. They came to fear God and his judgment. Joseph gave them grains but ordered them to bring their youngest brother Benjamin. In their second journey to Egypt, they took Benjamin along with them and met Joseph. They were invited to have dinner with Joseph, the governor of the land. There was no trail of famine on the dining table. Food and drinks were served without limit. However Joseph still pretended to be a stranger. Today's passage begins after the feast was over.
Verses 1 to 5 are Joseph's instructions to his steward. Joseph said to him to provide abundant grains and silver for his brothers. At the same time he directed his steward to put his silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin's sack. Early in the morning the brothers began their journey back to their homeland. This was a happy return. Everyone was safe and sound. Their bags were full of grains. They kept talking about the governor's food and his generosity. Asher was smiling because he secretly packed the delicious food in his polythene bag. Naphtali was singing with his beautiful voice. But suddenly everyone was frightened because Joseph's steward caught them up. It was Joseph who sent him to question about his silver cup.
In verses 6 to 13, we see the brothers returning to Joseph. Without knowing anything, they said to the steward, "Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! If any of your servants is found to have the silver cup, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." But the steward replied, "Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame." When the search was made, the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Joseph's elder brothers were free from blame. But they tore their clothes. They took Benjamin's blame upon themselves. They were free to go back to their homeland. But they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city where judgment was waiting.
In verses 14 to 17, we hear the ten brothers' confession of sin and Joseph's verdict. When they came to Joseph's house, they threw themselves to the ground before him. When Joseph rebuked them, Judah the fourth elder brother replied, "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." Judah was saying they were innocent yet guilty. They were innocent in this cup case. But they were guilty before God because of what they had done to Joseph. They admitted their sin and were ready to accept slavery as God's punishment. But Joseph said, "Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace." If they don't go back to their homeland, everyone there will die of hunger. What should they do?
Look at verse 18. Then Judah went up to Joseph 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." From verses 19 to 32, he explained to Joseph how precious Benjamin was to his father Jacob. Benjamin was Jacob's only son left among the two sons of his most beloved wife. Judah was more than sure that his father would die of sorrow if Benjamin did not return home.
In the past Judah did not care about all these things. All he cared about was money and romance. He was the one who sold Joseph as a slave for twenty silver coins. He did not care how much his brother would suffer in slavery life. He did not care how much his father's heart would be broken at the loss of his most beloved son. Even after this terrible event, he was just busy to date with his girl friend. She did not fear the God of the Bible. But he didn't bother. His father asked him to cut off his relationship with her. But Judah cut off his relationship with his father and left the family. He married his girl friend and had three sons. But his sons were so wicked that two of them were put to death by the Lord. After the death of his wife, Judah ran after prostitutes. One day he even slept with his daughter-in-law whom he thought a prostitute. When he came to know about her pregnancy he ordered his servants to burn her to death. Judah became a stranger both to God and humanity. He was worse than a ferocious animal. He devoured his brother, his father, his wife, his sons, and his daughter-in-law. Can we expect anything good from such person?
But we see God's miracle in verses 33 and 34. Let's read together. "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." Now Judah's only concern was Benjamin's safe return and his father's peace. Even if his father would not feel sorry about him, it was okay with Judah. If only his father could rejoice over the safe return of Benjamin, Judah was more than happy. Instead of living as a selfish and cruel son to his father, he chose to live as a slave for his father's happiness. In the past he sought happiness by sacrificing others for his sake. But now he gladly sacrifices himself for others' sake. From there he found true peace and joy. At last the image of God's love was restored in him. He became a new Judah. God blessed him to be the leader of all the tribes of Israel. Jesus came through Judah's line. If Judah took Benjamin's blame, Jesus took all our sins upon himself. He laid down his life on the cross for our sake. He set us free from the eternal bondage of sin and death. He sacrificed himself to guarantee our safe return to our heavenly Father. Before sending this wonderful Jesus, God prepared one man Judah's heart. God chose the worst and made him the best.
God has many kinds of powers—power to create everything, power to sustain everything, power to know everything and many more. But among all his powers we are amazed at his power to change the worst into the best. According to the law of nature, every new thing becomes old. A new born baby becomes an old man. A new house becomes an old house. A new fish becomes a rotten fish. They recycle waste papers and make a new carry bag. But the new carry bag again becomes a waste. This is the law of nature. But in God we find a new law. An old thing becomes a new thing. An old self becomes a new self. A selfish man becomes a sacrificial man. A pleasure seeking woman becomes a prayer mother. The worst becomes the best. This is the law of God. Is here anybody worse than the old Judah? God will make you better than the new Judah. God promised in Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." The God of Judah has unlimited power to change us. He will make us the best people of God. Do you see someone worse than you and worse than Judah? God can make him the best servant of God. Let us always see ourselves and others in God of Judah.
posted by bunyan90 @ 8:23 PM
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