Daily Devotions
Genesis
"You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:5-6
Text: Genesis 44:1-34
PLEADING TOTAL HONESTY
Judah’s first point was the fact that they had been absolutely honest, right from the start. He recalled how they were queried with reference to their family.
“My lord asked his servants, saying,
‘Have you a father or a brother?’
And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man,
and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead,
and he alone is left of his mother’s children,
and his father loves him.’ ”
GENESIS 44:19-20
They had been straight in all their dealings with the Egyptians. They had not lied but declared everything truthfully. Did that count for anything?
PLEADING TOTAL COMPLIANCE
Judah recalled the firm words that were given to them concerning future dealings in Egypt.
“Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me,
that I may set my eyes on him.’
And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father,
for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother
comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ ” GENESIS 44:21-23
They had complied with the command given to them! Did their full compliance count for anything?
PLEADING COMPASSION
Judah knew that he must press on while he could. There was no sign that his words made an impression on this austere Egyptian. But at least he was not dismissed. Judah recounted the difficulty that he and his brothers faced, persuading their father to allow Benjamin to go down to Egypt with them.
“Then your servant, my father said to us,
‘You know that my wife bore me two sons, and the one went out
from me, and I said, ‘Surely he is torn to pieces…’
But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him,
you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.'”
GENESIS 44:27-29
Judah begged for compassion to be shown to an old man who had already lost one son. How could he lose another? Would he not die from sorrow?