Lessons From Israel: Judah

As we continue our journey through the sons of Jacob we come to Judah.  Judah is Jacob's fourth born son to Leah.  Judah name means praise.  It was Judah who ended up with the royal scepter meaning that Jesus Christ would ultimately come from his descendants and after 42 generations Jacob's prophecy came to pass.  You remember it was Judah's idea to sell Joseph into slavery as opposed to killing him. It is this act that many believed lead to his receiving the royal scepter.  Judah perhaps has the most prominent position of any of the twelve tribes and Judah is listed first of the tribes receiving the Seal of God for 12,000 of its members.

Judah teaches us a very important lesson and that is sometimes in life you are going to be force to take a stand. Joseph was his father's beloved son by his love Rachel and Judah knew the love and affection that his father had for his brother Joseph.  Judah also knew the great disdain his brothers had for Joseph because of the affection his father had for him.  The hatred was so intense they wanted to kill Joseph but Judah took a stand!  What's interesting is that even though he took a stand he still had evil intentions.  Sometimes we do the same thing:

• We don't come to someone defense because we love them we do it because we don't like a particular situation or the particular person they are fighting against.
• We don't give God praise because we love Him we do it because we think that unlocks the blessings we so crave.

God shows us through the story of Judah that even though our motives may be impure He can still use them to accomplish His purposes!  We have a God that loves us despite us and also can use us despite us!!  What a MIGHTY God we serve.


Scripture Reference: Genesis 49

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis