#18 - The infamous Judah is chosen—-just like us—-by God’s grace, not by merit.
Chapter 38 is a harrowing story about Judah, one of the brothers of Joseph. Of all of Jacob’s sons, this is where Jesus will spring up. Hebrews 7:13. One of the last picks, one would think. The incest and immorality is frightening. Judah will be the brother praised - Genesis 49:8. God shows that his choice of Judah is not based on merit but on grace. Christ came to save sinners, all of us.
Judah was not a favored child. That belonged to Joseph. Favoritism. Abraham and Isaac, his one and only son. Isaac and Esau. Rebekah and Jacob. Now, Jacob and Joseph. And Joseph's brothers hated him for the special treatment and the special dreams. But in the midst of the rift, it is Joseph who is arrogant and boastful. They were all broken people, just like you and me. Gen 37:24 - Joseph is thrown into a pit of no water while his brothers sit down to drink freely and eat unabashedly. That juxtaposition is simply striking; the foreshadowing is simply breathtaking. Gen 37:19 … "we shall see what will become of his dreams." And we do. His dreams came true. Joseph will come to power and save the very lives of his brothers who meant to harm him forever. Their betrayal became the means for their survival. May it never be. God never intended for us to pick sides, to pick apart. Yet, always, the Providential Hand rules over. In my own life, I've played too many favorite games with people but it's over. And God's Providence is utmost our very life and protection. We trust. We bow in gratitude for daring grace.
PHOTO: As I stood on this desert in the Holy Land, I thought long and hard about the grand grace piled on each one of us.
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