Daily Devotions
A Redemption Story
Title: A Redemption Story
Reading for January 14: Genesis 44-46
"Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers."
Genesis 44:33
A good portion of the book of Genesis is devoted to the story of Joseph (ch 37-50), but a major and, perhaps, an unheralded player in this is Judah.
Judah's story does not begin well. Judah's behavior in chapter 38 with Tamar is not flattering. There may even be an intended contrast with Joseph in chapter 39. Where Judah lacks any integrity in keeping his word or in demonstrating self-control sexually, Joseph shows integrity in captivity by faithfully serving his master and then in refusing the advances of his master's wife.
However, it is commendable that Judah owns up to his sin in the end. In fact, this may be the turning point in his life. Perhaps Judah feels remorse for his involvement in selling his brother into slavery and the grief that brought to his father. Whether he feels guilt in that moment or not, we know Judah feels this way when we come to this chapter. He says to Joseph, "God has found out the guilt of your servants." And this feeling of remorse seems to be at least part of the reason why Judah is willing to take Benjamin's place at the end of the chapter.
As Jacob blesses his sons at the end of his life, we see that Judah is given the greatest blessing of all the brothers. He promises that the "scepter shall not depart from Judah," and that "your father's sons shall bow down before you." (Gen 49:8, 10)
One lesson from this is that though our lives might be filled with mistakes and moral failures on our part, if we are honest enough to own up to our sins there is always the opportunity for us to make changes in our lives and even, in some ways, make things right.
Father, give us the courage to admit our transgressions and the opportunity to try to make things better in the lives and the relationships we have injured.
