Genesis 44
Dear RTB’ers,
Joseph and his brothers, again. The bulk of today’s reading (Genesis 44:16-34) is Judah speaking to Joseph, recounting Jacob’s relationship with Benjamin and offering himself up as Joseph’s servant in place of Benjamin. He had made this offer to his father in yesterday’s reading (Genesis 43:9) and now he is following through.
Let’s look further at Judah. First, he is making this offer in fulfillment of the promise he made to his father, but also he is doing it out of the love he has for his father: …when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. So your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, down to Sheol in sorrow. (v. 31) Second, Judah has twin boys back home (Genesis 38:18b, 27-30) and is willing to abandon them forever, again on behalf of his father. Finally, although Benjamin surely would be proclaiming his innocence, Judah does not know the truth – and even if Benjamin is lying, Judah is willing to proceed with his offer, again because of the depth of love that he has for his father.
Although we have only Judah offering himself up in place of Benjamin, there is an obvious connection here with Jesus’ death. First, Jesus has given up His life for ours in obedience to His Father, “Not My will, but Your will be done.” (Luke 22:42) Second, with His death, Jesus is willing to separate Himself from His Father’s love for that one and only moment in all of eternity, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) Finally, Jesus knows that we are sinners, that we have been lying to Him and to ourselves all our lives, but again it is His hatred of sin and the depth of His love for us: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) If Judah in his fallen humanity can offer up such sacrificial love on behalf of one man, how much more, how much deeper is Jesus’ eternal love for each and every one of us!
Blessings!