32 Your servant guaranteed the boy‘s safety to my father.
I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear theblame beforefather, allyou, mymylife!‘ - P55
33 Now then, please let your servant remain here as mylord‘s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy returnwith his brothers.
how - P55
Now that Joseph demands that Benjamin be punished for stealing hiscup, it is time for Judah to make good on the promise he made to hisfather. - P56
Judah displays commendable boldness and humility as he retellsthe events that have brought them to this situation. He puts his life atrisk by stepping up to share his story in the hopes that he will receivemercy. - P56
In doing so, he shows Joseph how much he has changed. Judah‘sspeech is a reminder to us of the power of telling one‘s story. - P56
When weshare our testimony in an honest and authentic manner, we might besurprised at how our story softens the hearts of even those who seem staunchly opposed to our beliefs. - P56
Judah tells Joseph that his aging father will die if Benjamin is notbrought back to him. - P56
He goes on to explain that he promised his fatherhe would bear the blame for the rest of his life if he did not returnBenjamin safely and then offers himself as a substitute; he is willingto be enslaved in Benjamin‘s place. - P56
In Judah‘s willingness to become asubstitutionary sacrifice to save his family from ruin, we are remindedof his descendant our Lord Jesus Christ-who gave up His life in ourplace so that we would be saved. - P56
Jesus took the punishment that wedeserve so that we might be free to serve the Lord with joy and power. - P56
"The very essence of Christ‘s deliverance is the substitution of Himself for us, Hislife for ours. He did not come to risk His life; He came to die!" - Horatius Bonar - P56
Ever since the fall of humanity, we have been in hiding. Our firstparents hid from God among the trees of Eden. - P57
Our modern hidingplaces are more sophisticated and diverse: entertainment, religion,philosophy, work, self-assertion, etc.
- P57
We take good things, hide underthem, then bury ourselves a little deeper until we become lost soulswandering from one hiding place to the next. - P57
God, in the meantime,
tirelessly seeks after us, calling, "Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9). - P57
Raskolnikov. Porfiry eventually corners and confronts his suspect, butinstead of immediately arresting Raskolnikov, he converses with himwith a mixture of severity and kindness, and convinces the young manto turn himself in. - P57
Thus begins Raskolnikov‘s journey to redemption.
- P57
A day is coming when hiding will no longer be an option for anyof us. We will face our Maker, and all our deeds will be known. - P57
Buttoday, God is still seeking the lost. Through the cross of Christ, Hehas made a way for us to be able to come to Him without fear ofpunishment. - P57
Come out of hiding and run to Him! - P57
Lord Jesus, thank you for announcing Your life-saving gospel from the verybeginning. - P57
Help me to take hold of this precious truth and share it with every-one You have placed in my life. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P57
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