For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 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.
In a group of bad characters, there is always a ringleader, one who has taken leadership of the group. When Joseph was mistreated by his brothers, the oldest, Reuben, and the leader, Judah, were the ones who intervened for Joseph to keep him alive. It was small comfort for Joseph to be sure. A true brother would have stopped the entire plot. Judah then went on to demonstrate his proclivity to sin by falling to the temptation of Tamar in chapter 38. It would seem that there is no redemption for Judah but with God, all things are possible and the guilt of their brother’s plight began to wear on the brothers, led by Judah. Judah is willing now to sacrifice for his brother Benjamin. It is an interesting look at our glorious future.
Come to Cape Community Church tomorrow to see the completion of the reunion of Joseph and his brothers and a restoration of their place as brothers. We will also see the beginning of repentance in Judah especially. We will see how all things that happen are getting us ready for the great things he will do in the future. We will worship our “pledge of safety” who took our place…
Jesus Christ
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church