‘Then Judah stepped forward and said, “Please, my lord, let your servant say just one word to you. Please, do not be angry with me, even though you are as powerful as Pharaoh himself”‘ (Genesis 44:18 NLT).
When Judah, the fourth son of Jacob’s twelve, stepped forward to act as his brother’s advocate, the future of his tribe began to unfold. For this is an early indication of Judah’s rise to leadership.
Reuben, the eldest, had lost his birthright through sexual misconduct with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah (Gen. 35:22), and the bloody revenge taken by Simeon (son #2) and Levi (son #3) following the rape of Dinah (Gen. 34), led to Jacob’s curse over them (Gen. 49).
Judah, who had been against killing Joseph, now offers himself as ransom for his brother, Benjamin (Gen. 44:33). Even though Joseph is their rescuer during this time of famine, Judah is the brother who offered to take his brother Benjamin’s place as a slave. It was Judah whom Jacob later blesses as the “lion’s cub” and the one to whom the “scepter shall not depart,” speaking of the kings that would be born to his tribe (Gen.49). Judah is the tribe to which both King David and the Lord Jesus are born.
Judah’s willingness to take Benjamin’s punishment foreshadows Christ’s willingness to take our punishment. For Jesus stepped forward and offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins and rose from the grave and ever lives as our Advocate before the Father.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You stepped forward in love and sent Your Son, Jesus, to stand in our place. We are overwhelmed by Your provision and plan for our lives. Forgive us when we worry about tomorrow or how we live. For You have always provided for us and You have a plan to bless us and to sanctify us, making us like Your Son. We trust You. Strengthen us for today. In Jesus’ name, amen.