Jacob’s natural penchant for cheating and scheming in order to obtain God’s blessing caused him much sorrow and brought down the discipline of God. As usually happens, this way of life had a sad effect on his family, too. Yet Jacob eventually profited by God’s ways with him, and God’s grace worked in his family, too. In no one is this more evident than in Judah.
Not much is said of Jacob’s sons and their character until Genesis 34, when their anger at Shechem’s fornication with their sister Dinah caused them to act in a deceitful way with the men of that city. Eventually, they murdered all the men of the city and took their wives and children captive. Simeon and Levi took the lead in all this, and although Jacob was upset by what they had done, he must have recognized his own character coming out. Later, it is recorded that Reuben committed fornication with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine, and again, although Jacob heard of it, he evidently said nothing. Finally, in Genesis 37-38, we find sin in Jacob’s family becoming worse. Simeon and Levi were violent men, but there is no record that they were immoral. Reuben committed an immoral act, but later he interceded for Joseph when his other brothers wanted to kill him. Judah, however, embodied both sins.
Judah
Judah was instrumental in suggesting that Joseph be sold into Egypt, knowing that to sell him as a slave in those days was tantamount to a death sentence. Not only did he want Joseph killed, but his avarice found a way to profit by it. Then, in chapter 38, the sad history of Judah’s family is recorded — his marriage to the daughter of a Canaanite, his son Onan’s sin and subsequent death, his immorality with own daughter-in-law, and his subsequent double standard in ordering her burnt for her adultery. By human standards, Judah was clearly the worst one of the family, for he was both violent and immoral, and in a worse way than his brothers. Simeon and Levi at least could claim some cause for their violence, but Judah’s hatred of Joseph had no basis. Reuben had committed an immoral act, but Judah was far worse in seeking out a woman whom he thought was a harlot and then condemning his daughter-in-law for allegedly doing the same thing.
We do not hear of Judah again until chapter 43, when Jacob asks his sons to go to Egypt the second time to buy food. Then it is Judah who protests to Jacob, solemnly quoting Joseph’s words and recognizing the futility of going down without Benjamin. It is Judah who offers to be a surety for Benjamin and to bring him home safely. Finally, on the return journey, when the silver cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, it is recorded that “Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house.” Evidently the grace of God had worked in Judah’s soul, for he not only takes responsibility for Benjamin, but he takes the leadership among the brothers, although he was not the eldest.
Confession and Intercession
When they meet Joseph and are charged with theft, it is Judah who is the spokesman and who admits their guilt. He well knew that Benjamin had not stolen the silver cup, but the grace of God had so worked in his soul that he recognizes the justice of what had happened. More than this, he recognizes God’s hand in it all and includes himself and all of his brothers in the sin, for he says, “God [not Joseph!] hath found out the iniquity of thy servants” (Gen. 44:1616And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. (Genesis 44:16)). When Joseph proposes that only the apparently guilty one (in this case, Benjamin) need suffer any penalty, it is Judah who so tenderly pleads for Benjamin, offering to take his place in being a slave.
Full repentance had taken place, the sin had been thoroughly judged, and now Joseph can reveal himself to his brethren. What a triumph of the grace of God! We may well ask what had made the difference. No doubt God had been working in Judah’s soul, bringing him to repentance. In Benjamin we see a type of Christ, for he was the only one of the brothers who had not been involved in plotting against Joseph. Yet it was in his sack that the silver cup was found —a type of Christ who bore sins that were not His own. It is this that broke Judah down, for he knew that if Benjamin became a slave, he would be suffering for their sins, not his own. His willingness to take that place showed that he had really owned his own sin before God.
The History Opened
Before Jacob
It seems that the Lord had been working in Jacob’s heart too, and we can well imagine the scene when Jacob’s sons returned home with the amazing news that Joseph was still alive and was governor over the whole land of Egypt. The Word of God draws the curtain of silence around the discussion that must have taken place, but what a revelation must it have been! The whole history must be told — the hatred of Joseph, the plotting against him, their selling him into Egypt, the stripping him of his coat of many colors and subsequent deception with the blood of the kid — all must be told. What tears there would be, what sorrowful owning of guilt! Yet in the midst of all this, it seems that a special bond was forged between Jacob and Judah. Although the Scripture does not give details, each must have owned his sin, Judah in wanting to sell his brother, and Jacob in having shown his sons a pattern of dishonesty and deceit. As a result, when Jacob goes down into Egypt, he sends Judah ahead to Joseph “to direct his face unto Goshen” (Gen. 46:2828And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. (Genesis 46:28)). There was a confidence and a bond between them because of common sin and common repentance.
The Order of Blessing
Finally, we see the blessed result of this work of God in the blessings of Jacob. The brethren are dealt with in order of birth, and thus Reuben comes first. There is no record that he ever repented of his immorality, and the sin is laid at his door: “Thou shalt not excel” (Gen. 49:44Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. (Genesis 49:4)). Next Simeon and Levi are named, and they likewise had not repented of their violence and cruelty. Their actions are condemned, and they were to be divided and scattered in Israel.
Judah is next, and we might well wonder what Jacob will say of him, for surely his sin was worse than any of the previous three. But what a surprise! “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.” Not a word said about his failure, but only blessing pronounced on him. He became the royal tribe, and “unto him [that is, Christ] shall the gathering of the people be.” The result of true repentance and owning of the sin is that it is blotted out before God, and blessing follows, not only in the short term, but leading on to Christ, who would spring, in the natural line, from that same tribe of Judah.
With care and detail, God draws the characters of His people in Genesis. We see the dark picture, then the curtain drawn, and finally the wonderful sunshine of blessing! Blessing still follows repentance today!
W. J. Prost