Reflections from January 25, 2011

It's all about family with Joseph. Even though his brothers did this horrific sin against him by selling him into slavery, he was still kind to them when they came to Egypt to buy food. In fact, he gave them their money back, and then, after they returned to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph gave them a feast! But, they thought it was a trick, so they were afraid. This is when we see that God uses others, not just His people, for His purposes and we read what Joseph's steward said in Genesis 43:23,
"Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money."

So now his brothers are really confused. And to increase their confusion, Joseph plays a trick on them. When they leave to go home, he has his silver cup placed in their sacks, as if they stole it, and then has his steward chase them, and bring them back on the notion of theft. When confronted with the cup in the sack of Benjamin, the youngest whom Israel did not want to go to Egypt, Judah tells Joseph in Genesis 44:16,
"What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found."

From Chuck Smith's commentary:

And so Judah, beautiful intercession. An offering to take the place of Benjamin. Oh, what a change of attitude and a change of heart. Notice how he speaks of the love of Jacob for Benjamin. Our father's life is bound up in this kid. And if we don't bring him again, our father will just die. It'll bring the death to my father and it shows a love still for the ancient Jacob that Judah had and it shows really no animosity at all. Willing to take the place of Benjamin in becoming a bondman instead of Benjamin. The final test is being passed. Joseph now knows that the brothers truly have repented. He now knows that the feelings of bitterness and animosity are gone. He knows that that's all in the past. And they are passing the test royally; Judah offering to take the place, to take the guilt and to suffer in the place.

Now it is interesting that from Judah Christ was to come. The Lion of the tribe of Judah who offered to take our guilt and our place and took our punishment for us. Here Judah offering to do that for his brother.

Psalms 24:1 has a nice wrap-up to this showing how God is in control;
"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell therein."

Everything belongs to God. He is free to use whomever and whatever He pleases for His glory. Fortunately, He does!

Blessings to all