Date: 01-18-2020

Title: Responsibility

(S) cripture:
    Genesis 44:32-34 (NASB77) “For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ 33 “Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 “For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest I see the evil that would overtake my father?”

(O) bservation:
    Joseph seems to be taking great delight in making his brothers sweat. They are clueless to his identity and he is making them pay for selling him into slavery. Although Joseph knows it was God who had sent him to Egypt in order to provide for his people during the famine. Judah has promised his father that he would take care of Benjamin. When Joseph takes Benjamin as a slave Judah must step in. Judah takes responsibility for his brother and offers himself as a substitute.

(A) pplication:
    It is from Judah’s line that Jesus comes. It is interesting to me that as Judah offers to be Benjamin’s substitute. Jesus has offered himself to be ours. What we could not do for ourselves Jesus did for us. He died that we might live. We are forgiven and have a relationship with God because of His act on our behalf. I cannot be the substitute that forgives or pardons another. I cannot do what Jesus did. I cannot make another right with God but I can follow Judah’s example and take responsibility for my actions and step up to show another the provision God has made for them. In conversations today I will seek to point others to the provision God had provided in Jesus’ death and resurrection for them.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, forgive me when I try to cover up my sin. Let me confess to you and make right whatever I need to make right. Let my life reflect your glory to the people I meet. Amen