37_Before honour comes humility

Gen 43:8 So Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. 9 I myself will take responsibility for him! You may demand him back from me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you, then you can let me take the blame forever. ”

Gen 44:32 For your servant accepted responsibility for the boy from my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then my father can let me take the blame forever.’ 33 So now, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear that I may see the evil that would overtake my father.”

Gen 45:28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to guide him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

The Moravian movement, one of the largest gospel-based missionary movements in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, was founded on sacrificial love. Given to fervent prayer, the Moravians greatly desired to reach those in distant lands with the good news. Two men, John Leonard Dober and David Nitschmann, devoted themselves to the slaves isolated on West Indies plantations. To reach them, these brave men sold themselves into slavery. There was no other way to bear the good news. As they boarded the ship from Copenhagen, their loved ones heard their departing cry, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.” This phrase became a rallying cry for the Moravian mission and a testament to their grateful devotion to Christ.

Genesis 44 shows one more step on Judah’s path through humility and servant-like sacrifice. offered himself as a slave to save his younger brother Benjamin. In humility is the path to honor, and it reflects the heart of Christ.

The story unfolds during a time of crisis for Jacob’s family. Famine had driven them to seek grain in Egypt. On their earlier trip, Simeon, one of the older sons of Jacob, was held hostage on suspicion that the brothers were spies. They had to prove the truth of their story by bringing their youngest brother Benjamin back with them on their next journey.

Benjamin was the last remaining tie to Rachel, Jacob’s dead wife. Years earlier, Rachel’s firstborn son, Joseph, had gone missing and Jacob thought him dead. Without Benjamin, his brothers would not be allowed to buy grain in Egypt. Yet if he went, he might fall into danger. Faced with the need to make a decision, Jacob was paralyzed by fear and grief.

It is in this moment that Judah steps forward. His three older brothers had already disqualified themselves from their father’s trust by their actions, leaving Judah as the de facto eldest son. Judah’s past was also far from spotless. He had been complicit in selling Joseph into slavery out of envy and had failed his daughter-in-law Tamar. That in turn led to his own shame. Jacob did not yet know about Judah’s role in Joseph’s disappearance.

Yet Judah redeemed himself by offering, not his own sons, as Reuben did, but himself as surety for Benjamin’s safe return. He takes responsibility, empathizing with Jacob’s grief and fear. His own great losses of his wife and two sons helped him grow into the understanding of Jacob’s pain. God often uses our life experiences for our growth into maturity and empathy. Age should be accompanied by wisdom. As we grow older we should grow in love and understanding, becoming more eager to share and spare others’ pain.

When the brothers returned to Egypt, Joseph continued to test them for signs of repentance. He orchestrated a scenario in which Benjamin was accused of theft and faced enslavement. This moment revealed the change in his brothers’ hearts. In the past, they betrayed Joseph without hesitation. But now, they are overcome with grief at Benjamin’s fate.

As they strive to deliver their youngest brother, Judah steps forward. His words to Joseph are a masterpiece of humility and love. He does not look at the present crisis in despair or self-justification. Though inexplicable to him, he sees God’s hand in the situation. He acknowledges their guilt, attributing their predicament to their past sins. He offers himself in Benjamin’s place, begging that he be spared the sight of his father’s agony at losing yet another favorite son.

Judah’s willingness to lay down his life for Benjamin for Jacob’s sake moves Joseph to tears, and he cannot keep himself hidden any longer. He reveals his identity, and removes their fears and grief. This reconciliation is made possible by the transformation in Judah and his brothers, from envy and self-interest to love and humility.

Judah’s actions highlight the essence of true repentance. Repentance is not merely regret but turning away from sin and a genuine effort to make amends. It requires humility, confession of wrongdoing, and a readiness to bear the cost of one’s mistakes. Judah, who once sold his brother for profit, now offers himself in another brother’s place. Thus he demonstrates his intent to keep his word to his father and spare him further agony. Repentance is essential to restore relationships and honor comes from humility.

Judah’s leadership extends beyond this single act of sacrifice. Later, Jacob entrusts him to lead the family to Egypt, recognizing his growth and reliability. Ultimately, Judah’s line becomes the royal line of Israel, culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This honor is a direct result of Judah’s humility and willingness to serve others at great personal cost.

Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, fulfilled the great task of delivering us from the wages of our own sins. He, the Son of God, humbled Himself by his birth, his life as a man and a servant, and his death on the cross. Through his delight in the Father’s will he reconciled us to God. As the Lamb of God, He was sacrificed for our deliverance. Now as the Lion of Judah, He reigns in glory. His authority is rooted in His servanthood, teaching us that true greatness lies in the humility of love.

True humility is not about thinking less of ourselves but about thinking of ourselves less. It is simply seeing ourselves rightly in the place that God has appointed for us. . It is both the ground and fruit of knowing God. We come in humility when we submit to all that we know of him as the eternal and sovereign creator. This leads us to fear and love him in trust and obedience. And in this humility we grow still more in our knowledge of him.

Humility underlies godliness. It leads to the fear of God. It reflects the heart of God. It produces unfeigned love that seeks the welfare of others above our own. It excludes pride, selfishness, and the desire for personal gain. It compels us to help, protect, and care for our brothers and sisters, praying for and loving them into our Father’s house.

Do we walk humbly with our God? Do we seek to serve, or do we want to be served? Are we driven by love or self-interest? Let us embrace humility as the path to God’s honor. Let us be filled with the Spirit of our Lord Christ, who laid down His life seeking our welfare. Let us bear one another’s burdens and seek their good. In doing so, we fulfill the Lord’s command to love one another and show that we are his disciples. God bless you.