One of the longest sections in the Bible is the story of Joseph, which begins in Chapter 37. We are now in Chapter 44, still considering Joseph and his relationship with his brothers.
Genesis 44 opens with Joseph’s hidden placement of his personal cup in Benjamin’s baggage. Subsequently, Judah is shown pleading with Joseph, seeking to free his brothers from the difficulty that has engulfed them.
Below is Judah’s response to Joseph, where he attempts to rectify the harm that will come to Jacob if Benjamin remains in Egypt while they travel back to Canaan.
To clarify Judah’s appeal in the rest of chapter 44, I’ve summarized the key points.
- Judah’s Plea: Judah respectfully addresses Joseph (whom he doesn’t yet know is his brother) and asks for a patient hearing, comparing him to Pharaoh.
- The Previous Encounter: Judah recounts Joseph’s earlier inquiry about their family, specifically their father and a younger brother.
- Jacob’s Love for Benjamin: He explains that Benjamin is the youngest, a beloved son of their father’s old age, and the only remaining son of his mother.
- Joseph’s Demand: Judah reiterates Joseph’s command that they bring Benjamin back with them.
- The Father’s Reluctance: He describes their father Jacob’s deep distress at the thought of losing Benjamin, fearing he would die of grief.
- Judah’s Guarantee: Judah reminds Joseph that he personally guaranteed Benjamin’s safe return to their father.
- Judah’s Sacrifice: Judah offers to remain as Joseph’s slave in Benjamin’s place, to spare their father the devastating loss.
- Judah’s Concern for His Father: Judah expresses his profound fear of witnessing his father’s suffering if Benjamin does not return.
Reflections
Diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s surface, under conditions of extremely high pressure and temperature. Carbon atoms crystallize under these conditions, forming the diamond’s characteristic structure.
Pearls are formed within the shells of oysters and mussels when an irritant (like a parasite or a grain of sand) enters the shell and it secretes a substance called nacre to coat the irritant that produces a pearl.
Like Judah, our response to pressure and irritation will cooperate with God in the development of our character.
We are all faced with issues that will make us bitter, angry, and increasingly selfish. We will also encounter situations where God can further develop our character into a more Christ-like demeanor.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 