Scripture: Genesis 44:1-34
Psalters: 283:1,3,5 - 443:2,3 - 289:2,5,8,9,10 - 109:3 - 427:2,6,7
JUDAH THE SURETY
1. Accepted by his father
· At their first trip Joseph commanded the brother to bring their younger brother with them the next time.
· Jacob is suspicious of his sons because of their sins (cf. 37:3, 35:22, 34:25-2, 42:36).
· Jacob rejects Reuben as a surety.
· Jacob accepts Judah as a surety, because he is prepared to give himself for Benjamin.
Application
· Judah is a type of the second Person of the Godhead Who in the stillness of eternity offered Himself to His eternal Father as a Substitute for the elect Church.
o He would need to assume the nature of the sinner (Heb. 2:16; 10:5), but be without sin.
o He would remove the curse by taking their sins upon Himself (2 Cor. 5:21).
o The Father accepted Him as Surety and gave the elect to Him (John 17:6).
· Is comfort to children of God and reason to praise His Name.
2. Offering himself to the judge as a substitute for his brother
· Benjamin faced a lifelong enslavement and utter impossibility to save himself.
· Judah makes his appeal
o He acknowledges the sovereignty of the judge (v18);
o Expresses his love for his father (v30-31);
o Expresses his love for his brother ((32-33a).
Application
· God’s anger against our sin is just (Ps. 51:4).
· Nothing that you can give can appease your Judge (Rom. 3:27; Gal 2:16, 3:10).
· Jesus came as the Surety of a better covenant (Ps. 40:7-8, Heb. 7:22, Heb. 2:11, 14-15).
3. Requesting the freedom of his brother
· Zaphnathpaaneah had appealed to justice; Judah responds on that very same principle of justice.
· The death of the Son of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sin (Heb. 10:17-18, CoD, 2, 2&3).
· In Christ, guilty sinners have access to God as their Father (Jn 8:36, Heb. 10:19).
· Do you struggle with this? Plead upon Lk. 4:18-19 and see Prov. 18:24.
· Gratitude for liberty is holiness (Rom. 6:22; cf. Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:16).