35 She (Leah) conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. Genesis 29
JUDAH, whose name sounds like and can be derived from the Hebrew for PRAISE, was Leah and Jacob’s fourth born son. In human terms he was some way from the front of the line but because of life’s events and the failures of his elder brothers, Judah became a leader in the family and eventually the major tribe in the nation of Israel.
Judah comes to the fore when Joseph was captured by his brothers. Reuben pleaded with them not to take his life but to throw him into a cistern and he planned to rescue him and return him to his father, but that wasn’t God’s plan.
21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. Genesis 37
Reuben intended to rescue Joseph and somehow get him back home to Jacob. However, it was Judah who spoke up and determined Joseph’s fate by suggesting that they spare his life and sell him to passing traders. (Slavery has been around for a very long time)
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. Genesis 37
We understand from what Joseph later said that it was the Lord who initiated all this, but Joseph’s brothers were unaware of it until they met him again in Egypt.
It’s interesting that a younger brother has given us some wise advice this very morning regarding an outstanding legal matter. Judah was the fourth eldest, but he had wisdom from the Lord to help his family. The Lord chose Judah’s descendants to bring blessing to the world and rescue it’s people.
God’s purpose for our lives will prevail as we continue to walk with Him and I believe His callings on many lives are going to come about rapidly in the days we’re entering. We all need to tread carefully before the Lord and pray that His purposes for our lives will come to fruition and that nothing will derail them.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.