God travels the winding roads of our life to bring us to the place of repentance, forgiveness and change.
Judah’s life was full of undesirable choices, selfish gain and thoughtless actions. To some, he looked too far gone to change. Too far gone to bother with. But God didn’t think so.
Is there someone in your life that you have been quick to judge and write off as not good enough for “the church?” Have you seen actions that would bring a cloud on your fellowship with God if you had made that same choice? Have you decided to wrap your self-righteous robes about you and spurn that person in mind and heart, if not outwardly?
From all outward appearances, Judah was there. He gave no heed to Joseph’s cries for mercy when his cloak was ripped from him and shoved into a dry well. It was from Judah’s desire for gain, that brought about the selling of Joseph with no thought of care for his brother’s life. He ripped Joseph’s coat and dipped it in the blood of a dying sheep, bringing it before his father with no remorse for the anguish it caused him. He took a Canaanite for a wife, didn’t keep his promises, chose ungodly friends and took up with a “prostitute.”
As I was reading the account of his life, dropped in the middle of what seemed to be Joseph’s story, questions of why it was there and what purpose would God have of putting this story of a no good character like Judah in the middle of what seemed like nowhere made me pause to ponder.
Then I realized it was through Judah’s line, that King David appeared. It was through Judah, we see the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all men. Why would God choose such a scoundrel for His holy child to be a part. To me “of the tribe of Judah” sure didn’t sound like a good thing. Then the realization came that it was for the men and women like Judah that the Messiah came. He came to those who have messed up their lives, who have made wrong choices, who haven’t kept their promises. He came to bring about a difference. A change. Forgiveness. God uses Judah’s story to show us that no matter how far we’ve gone, or what we’ve done He can make a change in us.
Let’s jump back into Judah’s story and see how change is brought to Judah’s life. How God doesn’t give up on him, but continues to speak in the quiet recesses of his soul.
Judah faces the death of two of his sons, his wife dies and then he is brought face to face with his sin with Tamar. As realization dawns on him of where his choices have led him, instead of trying to deceive and cover up his wrong doing, he confesses. The words from his mouth are “she has been more righteous than I.” In other words, “I was wrong.”
If we were defined by our past choices it would be all over for Judah. All over for us, too. Right here though, I think Judah began to change. God had followed him down the road of his life. He had seen the man Judah had become. Not a “church member” by any means. But God didn’t let that stop Him from drawing close and continuing to speak of grace that could change a man’s heart and life.
At first, I don’t know that much changed outwardly in Judah’s life. But God was working with the inner man. He was changing his identity. The very foundation of who Judah used to be, was now different. Others may not have known or seen the change, but God knew. This man, whose sin and wrong choices were laid open for all to see, had an uphill battle ahead. The whispers that were heard throughout the camp, the cold shoulder that chilled and the accusations that were flung must have pierced his heart. These people didn’t know God’s story that was changing Him from the inside out. They looked on the outside evidence and cast judgment.
We too, are too quick to judge and assume that God has lost all interest in them because they don’t measure up and because we have seen the kind of choices they make.
But wait! Stop! And Listen! Maybe Judah’s story was dropped in the middle of Joseph’s narrative to remind us that God can work in other’s lives even though unseen. God was making “Of the tribe of Judah” a thing of redemption from sin, triumph over adversities, integrity of heart and love that would lay down its life for another.
The years roll by and Judah in the quietness of His heart has chosen to listen to the constant whisperings of God. He grows in compassion and integrity. He accepts responsibility and finds that God can bring change even in the midst of the chaos he has made of his life.
When confronted with the trip to Egypt for grain, Judah doesn’t shirk. After returning home and the famine continues it was Judah that took the lead and spoke with His Father, Jacob, in response to the “man’s command”, “Send the lad with me….I will be surety for him;…”
If it had been in the early years of Judah’s life, Jacob probably wouldn’t have entrusted Benjamin to Judah’s care. But he had seen the change in Judah. The changes that God had wrought in Judah’s character had become apparent. Though it was with a heavy heart, Jacob entrusted Benjamin into the care of Judah. Into the care of the man whom God had changed. To the man who now could say with confidence, “I will be surety for him;” and Jacob knew that Judah’s pledge was good.
Judah had determined not to let his past define who he was now. He had grown, he had changed he was made new. When Judah was tested about the statement He made to His father, we don’t see him shrinking back. He steps up and takes full responsibility for his past actions, as well as the pledge he intends to carry out. Even if that means becoming a bondman for the Egyptian ruler. “Of the tribe of Judah” was no longer a thing to be ashamed of. God had brought about change and redemption in this man’s life and He now stood up to face the ruler of Egypt with a confidence that God was with Him and would help him to triumph in whatever he faced.
Have choices took you down the wrong road? Have the mistakes and sins of your past rose up to hurt you? God doesn’t want to leave you there. From right here, right now a change can begin in the inner chamber of your soul as you agree with what God wants from you. He is come to take the broken messes of our lives and make us into the image of the Great Lion of Judah.
We can’t always tell when God is speaking to another. We can’t know the inner workings of their spirit. But be assured God does. He hasn’t given up on them. His grace walks the winding roads of their life with them wooing and calling them unto Himself.
Let’s be a helper of His grace to others in the way we act, the way we care and the way we love.
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