SCRIPTURE: Genesis 44
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. [Genesis 44:33]
Once again I see a hint of Jesus in one of the characters in this story, this time Judah.
Judah is prepared to take the place of his brother, so that his brother can be released and restored to his father.
The ultimate sacrifice, my life for his.
It is interesting to note that Jesus is in the family line of Judah: The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. [Genesis 49:10, see Matthew 1:1-4, Matthew 2:6]
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [John 15:13]
Jesus sees that His brothers (friends) are in trouble, and steps in to help them.
There is no greater love… and yet I can think of a greater love.
It’s to lay down one’s life for one’s enemies.
Would Judah have made this sacrifice for a stranger, or for an enemy.
All humanity belong to God’s family, and in this way are counted as Jesus’ brothers and sisters; but we are also opposed to God, defiant of Him and His will.
It is one thing to love those who love us – even sinners do that.
But God’s love is different, for it reaches out to His enemies.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [Matthew 5:44-46]
Greater love… the greatest love… is how the Lord loves us, and willingly steps in our place so that we might be forgiven, set free, restored to God’s family.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:7-8]
We are the Benjamin in this story, and Jesus is our Judah, our brother stepping in to willingly bondage and death so that we might go free!
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
PRAYER:
Lord, unlike Benjamin in the story, I am not innocent. You know me, You know what I have done, and what I deserve. Thank You for loving me and willingly taking my place.