Godliness Eclipses Self Part I
Gen 44:16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. :32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren
Spend some time to reflect on this lengthy narration. The old Judah initiated the plan to sell off Joseph for his own selfish need to retain the love of a father and preserve his inheritance, or just an unresolved. This is the old man, the first man …Adam who disobeys God and ends up running from God, fallen. The old Judah is not just ungodly but has come under a satanic influence to murder his own blood and bring deep sorrow to an aging father.
Do not assume that time changes people for the better or that crisis births saints. More likely, it breeds even greater plots and opens doors to worse habits. The old Judah is wicked and disobedient. Benjamin could be so easily disposable as Joseph was. This was yet another opportunity for revenge on the children of Rachel so obviously preferred by their father. The old man is selfish, it seeks its own and puts God out of his thoughts. Every sin, be it lust, murder, lies or others is rooted on the desire to simply please self and disregard God. All sins. Selfishness is at the core of the hardened heart of stone. Not everyone changes for the better. Indeed, most are like King Saul, they only get worse until they are found in a cave with witches. But Judah had found grace with God … and the opportunity to prove the new heart he has received. Has God given you another chance to prove a new heart? Are you getting worse like King Saul or better?
Song.
Room for pleasure, Room for business – But for Christ the Crucified
Not a place that he can enter – In your heart for which He died
Prayer: Lord, Occupy all the rooms in me …Give me a heart of flesh – A new heart for you. Amen
The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa
