Judah: An Example of Self Sacrifice

Genesis 44:18-34

GOLDEN TEXT: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”—Romans 5:1

TODAY’S lesson shows us that Joseph’s brethren were not nearly so hard-hearted as at first they appeared to be—when they purposed to kill him, and subsequently left him in the pit to die, and still later sold him into slavery. The doctrine of total depravity, which a generation or two ago was accepted and taught by many, is again and again disproved, not only in our own characters, but in our experiences with others.

Our lesson shows that Joseph’s experiences, mixed with faith by him, worked out in him a grand character, full of sympathy and wholly obedient to God. But by a different process, Joseph’s ten brethren were exercised by remorse, and became more sympathetic, more kind and more considerate of their father Jacob. The experiences of life, the bitter and the sweet, the result of right doing and wrong doing, are intended, under divine supervision, to be corrective and helpful to us. Confidence in God, however, is necessary as a basis for any such blessing. We have seen Joseph’s confidence, and today’s lesson shows us that his brethren, although of a different character, still recognized the Almighty, had a reverence for Him, and realized that He might be expected to give just recompense for every evil deed.

Our lesson tells us that after the feast which Joseph made and at which Benjamin received five portions, the eleven brethren departed for home, well pleased with their experiences and the favor of the Egyptian ruler. Before their departure, Joseph, desiring to test his brethren as to their sympathy for their father, and for their loving interest in their youngest brother, had caused his own silver cup to be placed in the mouth of Benjamin’s sack of wheat. After they had gotten fairly started on their journey homeward to Canaan, Joseph sent after them a servant from his house to say, “Why have ye been so ungracious to your benefactor? Why have you taken his silver cup? What treacherous men you are!” They protested innocence, and declared that if the cup were found in their possession, they would all willingly become slaves. The search for the cup, according to Joseph’s direction, began with the eldest brother and ended with Benjamin’s sack. There it was found. In great distress the entire company wended its way back to the palace.

Again Joseph assumed an austere attitude toward his brethren, that he might give them the opportunity to show their selfishness and to abandon Benjamin. Again protesting their innocence, they nevertheless declared themselves willing to become Joseph’s slaves. But he answered, “God forbid! Only the one who has been guilty—Benjamin—shall be my slave. Return to your families and your father with food, and continue to enjoy the favors of Egypt.” This proposition he knew would test them. Would they be glad to escape personal servitude, and get back to their own families and leave Benjamin a slave? Had they the same cold heartlessness that they had exhibited in his own case, when they sold him into slavery? Would they similarly disregard their poor father’s interests and happiness?

And then it was that Judah, who had pledged himself to his father that Benjamin should return in safety, made an appeal to Joseph. He narrated the circumstances connected with Benjamin’s coming—how the poor old father had set his heart upon Benjamin and how he had pledged himself for the lad’s return. He wound up an eloquent plea with the entreaty that he might be retained as the bondsman and that his brother Benjamin might be permitted to go free.: “Now, therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad, a bondsman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. But how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? Lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.”

The evidence of a change of heart was satisfactory to Joseph, and is to us all. All who love righteousness, rejoice in righteousness, as those who love sin, rejoice in it. When we perceive so marked a change in those men, we rejoice not only for their sakes, but also for the general lessons which their experiences furnish. The conviction is borne in upon us that much of the sin, much of the meanness, of the cruelty of the present time, may be attributed to inherited weaknesses and immature experience. We say to ourselves, “How great a change probably would be effected by a larger, broader, deeper knowledge of ourselves and of each other!”

And do not the daily experiences of life tend to give us the broadening of sympathies and thus character development? We believe that this is true. Doubtless there are exceptions to every rule, but it is our conviction that there is a sufficiency of the likeness of God remaining in every member of our race to permit him at times to appreciate the good, the true, the noble and pure. It is because he is surrounded by sin and selfishness that these godlike sentiments are so rarely appealed to, or brought into exercise.

It seems reasonable to suppose that if every human being were to have a hundred years’ experience under present conditions, and then be given a fresh start, nearly all of them would profit greatly and thereafter live more sane and reasonable lives. Nearly all of them would be more generous as well as more just. We admit that there are exceptions. We are free to confess that the divine arrangement which limits life under present conditions is a very wise one.

The experiences of the present life, good and bad, will have their bearing upon the world’s future trial, but will not fully decide the case for any one. Because of misuse of present opportunities and knowledge, some will enter upon the future life and its judgment, with a corresponding disadvantage, resulting in stripes, whippings and chastisements for present failures.

Others, rightly exercised by the trials and difficulties of life, will be made more gentle, more sympathetic, and just, more loving by them, as were Joseph’s brethren. Thus they will be better prepared for a favorable entrance upon the testings of the great judgment day of the Messianic Kingdom. And as Joseph, whom they sold into Egyptian slavery, was the judge of his brethren, so the Christ, Jesus and the church, will be the judges of the world. And we may be sure that their judgment likewise will be wise and kind and effective.—I Cor.6:2

QUESTIONS:

Explain the circumstances under which Judah displayed the spirit of self sacrifice.

Is it reasonable to suppose that most people profit from the experiences of life and would do better if they had another opportunity?

In what way will the misuse of the opportunities of the present life work to the disadvantage of an individual during the future day of judgment?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |