Moving Toward Mission Pt. 6. Genesis 43

What motivates someone to change? What kind of circumstances or life events makes the kind of impact that results in a definite change of attitude and action within our lives? What kinds of changes do we wish to see in ourselves, families and communities and how can living a lifestyle of mission contribute toward those changes?

 

 

The next two chapters in Joseph’s life demonstrate how God can change others as a result of our commitment to living a lifestyle of mission. Such a change is seen in Judah one of Joseph’s older brothers. We first met Judah when he spoke up and led his brothers into selling Joseph into slavery. And no doubt it was Judah who helped to conceive the plan to lie to Jacob about it.

It was Judah who saw the pain on his father’s face while he enjoyed the money gotten from the sale of his brother.

It was Judah who turned his back on his family, his father and the God of his father to live among the ungodly.

It was Judah who used his daughter in law for sex and then self-righteously attempted to have her killed for it.

As we begin this next section of the story however we find that it is Judah who begins to show definite signs of change. One of the things I like about this part of the story is it shows how Judah is still a leader only this time he’s leading the right cause for the right reasons.

While we can’t be sure as to when Judah began to think differently we do know the evidence of this change. The beginnings of Judah’s change are evident by his genuine concern for his family and his willingness to pledge his life for that of his brother’s.

Judah shows genuine concern for his family. And Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. Gen. 43:8.

Whereas before he spoke up out of his own selfishness this time he speaks up for the welfare of the whole family. Whereas before Judah sought his own way even to the harm of others this time he’s willing to put himself in harm’s way for the good of the family. Whereas before Judah was willing to abandon his family to secure his own life now he has bound himself to whatever fate will befall his family and his father.

And it’s this change of attitude that shows a definitive change in Judah. It’s a change because Judah goes beyond the point of just not harming someone for his own good. That might have been change enough. We might have applauded Judah if we discovered that though he was still selfish he no longer sought to harm others to enrich himself.

But he goes beyond that. For Judah has done a complete 180. He’s willing to put himself at risk for the sake of his family and father. There is change in Judah because his actions give evidence of a change of attitude in one of deeply rooted sinful issues which was selfishness.

The gospel that we believe is a message that brings us into a worshiping relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ in which there will be a change of affection and attitude that eventually will lead to a change of action.

Is that true of you? What areas is God working in your life right now so that those who might see you in years to come might notice a clear and definite change?

How does God work change within us today?

Change happens through the regular reading of scripture. In scripture God highlights the character vices we must move from and the character virtues we must move toward. Read scripture regularly so that God can speak to you about your issues.

Second God puts us into committed, accountable relationships so that we can work through these issues.

Third and this cannot be forgotten, God allows us to grapple with these issues in the fresh soil of the gospel of Jesus Christ so that we can know that even though we struggle we’re never out of His favor or His gracious presence.

The extent of Judah’s change of attitude is found in pledging his life for his brother.

Judah makes a covenant with his father.  I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. Vs. 9.

The word pledge as used here is to guarantee something with something of equal or near value. It’s very similar to a down payment on a house when banks used to be smart enough to require such things.

Judah basically says that he will bear the blame if anything happens to Benjamin. In doing this Judah not only takes the responsibility to do all he can to protect his brother, but should something terrible happen he offers himself to be the focus of Jacob’s blame forever. He does this even though the rest of his brothers would surely have to bear some of the responsibility if something were to happen to Benjamin.

In this sense Judah stakes his continued connection with his family and all its benefits to his ability to faithfully protect his younger brother. If he fails then the curse he’s called upon himself will almost certainly result in him bearing the brunt of Jacob’s anger and grief and thus banishment from the family.

And that’s an astounding testimony to the growth of this man. Why? Because the last time Judah gave something as a pledge it was to secure a sexual transaction. The pledge he gave was important but not crucial to him since we know he was willing to walk away from it. Moreover the pledge was given to secure his sensual gratification.

Here he pledges his own life and well being and will have to faithfully live up to the terms of the covenant completely or he will bear the cost of his failure alone.

But as astounding as that is it still does not compare to the pledge Jesus gave regarding our lives and eternal well-being.

Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. ⁷ Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: ⁸  I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." Ps. 40:6-8.

Jesus pledged to be born and have a regular human body just like ours and to live a perfectly sinless life in that body on our behalf. If Jesus isn’t able to live that sinless life that He along with all of the human race will have to bear the blame and punishment of our sin forever.

Do you know why we worship our Lord? We do so because He did what no one else could have ever done. We don’t gauge our worship based on the kind of week we had. We worship because Jesus fulfilled the pledge he made to the Father to live a perfectly sinless life for us so that by faith we can receive His righteousness.

Why do you need that righteousness? You need it because you did not do nearly enough this past week to maintain your own right standing before a holy God.

And it’s Jesus’ commitment to us and our eternal well-being that forms part of the foundation of our desire to change.

Always Joyful                                              Pastor lance