Read Selected Scriptures from Gen. 43-45

·       43:1-10: This is Judah’s wise leadership.  As Christ is our wisdom, so Judah was wise for his family.  He had been the one who convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph but to sell him to the slave traders.  That got Joseph into Egypt.  That was good advice in that it avoided the irreversible act of murder.  But it wasn’t righteous.  In the matter with Tamar Judah had acknowledged that she was more righteous than he was.  In this case, his advice is based on reality.  They would starve if they didn’t go to Egypt.  There was no other choice but to take Benjamin with them.  Jacob was having difficulty facing these facts.  But the key was that Judah said he would be “surety” for Benjamin.  Earlier Reuben had offered to let his father kill his sons if he did not return from Egypt.  That made no sense at all.  It was the kind of heroics you expected from Reuben, but it was not wise leadership.  In essence, Judah was telling his father, “I promise to bring him back to you.  If I fail you can put the blame on me (hold me guilty).”  Given the facts of the situation, this was all Jacob could hope for.  Jacob would not bear the blame for losing Benjamin but Judah would.  Furthermore, Judah’s plan allowed Jacob to do what he was good at: he sent along a generous “bribe” to give to the “man.”  But Jacob also put Judah and the brothers in the hands of El Shaddai, God Almighty.  For Jacob, this was a faith issue!

·       44:14: Joseph’s dream #1 was fulfilled here.  The dream was God’s the “eternal gospel” for Jacob and his family.  Remember, as Psalm 105:16-22 said, that God had sent the family and then sent Joseph ahead to provide for the family, through whom the promised Savior would come.  As Joseph would tell his brothers: you meant it for evil but God meant it for good.

·       44:16-17: Judah confessed the sin of the brothers.  “God has found out the iniquity of your servants.”  For years there was guilt.  Now, finally, there was repentance.

·       44:18-34: Repentance leads to faith.  But there must be one/One to bear the sin.  Judah typifies Christ in this when he offers to bear the guilt.  Further, Judah interceded for Jacob and Benjamin.  He bore the sin “vicariously,” as did our LORD.  He was on the cross in our place.  Isa. 53:4-6 expresses this powerfully.  So does Jesus’ dying on the cross while the murderer Barabbas went free.

·        45:1-3: Joseph also typifies Christ.  Like Christ, Joseph was unrestrained in his love.  This is now the moment Joseph’s separation comes to an end.  Jesus experienced great estrangement on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”  Further, the brothers were dismayed in the presence of Joseph.  The gospel is “good news” of salvation.  The brothers first feared, but then “warmed up” to Joseph.  Yet, after Jacob died the brothers were still worried (Gen. 50:15-21).  We need to bathe ourselves constantly in the gospel.  This is the point of Rom. 6, that we remember that we have died with and been raised with Christ.