The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

BECOMING A SLAVE SO A SLAVE COULD GO FREE

Judah makes a risky and bold move in this passage in complete contrast to his cowardly and unrighteous behavior earlier (Ge 37:26 – 27; 38:11 – 26). When Judah was forced to act on this pledge (44:33 – 34), he remained faithful to his promise, offering himself as a slave so that his brother could avoid a similar fate (44:17). His substitutionary act would have allowed Benjamin to return to his father as a free man.

Centuries later, one of Judah’s descendants would offer himself in the place of sinners so that they might be freed from their penalty and slavery. Judah’s pledge of his life as the substitute for his younger brother is a striking parallel to Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice of his life for his adopted brothers and sisters — the church (Ro 8:17,29). Unlike Judah, however (Ge 37:26 – 27), Jesus did not contribute to the slavery of the church. Instead, Jesus graciously pledged himself as a substitute so that he might bring home his redeemed ones, right into the heavenly Father’s very presence.

Jesus, I praise your holy name. Thank you for your sacrifice, which freed me from my slavery to sin and brought me home. Amen.