A Brother’s Love
Genesis 44
Gen 44:33 (Judah
said) “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.”
JOSEPH
had conspired with his servants to frame Benjamin to hold him captive. He seems
to be testing his brothers to see if they would abandon Benjamin in Egypt as
they had sold him into slavery. This is a character test for the 10 brothers
who betrayed Joseph.
Amazingly, Judah responded with a
willingness to sacrifice his own freedom for Benjamin. Judah spoke to convince
Joseph to hold him, Judah, as a prisoner and to release Benjamin. The brotherly
competition had been replaced with brotherly love to the point of sacrificing
for the other. This sacrificial offer was Judah’s response to honor his promise
to his father Jacob. “I myself will
guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him.” (Gen 43:9)
Now Judah was living into his word. He was
arguing to become Joseph’s servant!
About 1500 years later, a descendant of Judah
would show to the world and to us what it means to sacrifice for his brother. Jesus,
the Savior of the World, descended from Judah’s bloodline. He died on a cross to
honor his Father’s will, and he rose from the dead. On that day of resurrection,
he told Mary Magdalene, “Do not hold on
to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and
tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God.’” (John 20:17)
As you confess
Jesus as your Lord and Savior, he is also your brother. You have the Father in
common with Christ. Jesus has died that you would be free of sin’s slavery to live
with him, the Father and all your brothers and sisters forever.
LIFE Link: Love your brother and sister has Christ as
loved you.
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