There’s something about admitting you’re wrong. It’s hard to do, but what beautiful change can come about. When the brothers return with Benjamin and the silver cup ends up in Benjamin’s sack, Judah – acknowledges his guilt (44:16). Of course they are not actually guilty of stealing the cup, but Judah seems to be recognising that God has uncovered their guilt from their earlier transgression of selling Joseph as a slave. We have already seen how the brothers are troubled as they remember Joseph’s cries as he was sold as a slave. Now Judah links this ongoing trouble to their sin. In a sense, he’s right. Joseph is testing them to see have they changed. He’s helping them to see their wrongdoing so that they may change.
And then amazingly Judah offers to take Benjamin’s place in prison so that Benjamin can go free and spare his father yet more anguish. (44:33)
Is this the same Judah who wanted Joseph dead? The same Judah who slept with Tamar and nearly had her killed?! Well yes and no, it’s the same man, and yet a different man. God has been changing him through his trials by His amazing grace.
Our reading from Galatians tells us of another man who was changed by God’s amazing grace – the apostle Paul. Here is someone who was changed from a persecutor of the church to a servant of Jesus. The good news is that you and I can also experience this grace and this change.
Paul speaks of someone who was born in the line of Judah who would offer an even more amazing swap than taking a prison sentence so that we might go free. Galatians 1:4 tells us Jesus “gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father”
Jesus took the punishment we deserve for our sin so that we can ascend the mountain of the Lord and stand in God’s holy place (Psalm 24). The Galatians were in danger of leaving this gospel by adding some extra things to it! Why leave this gospel of amazing grace?!
Thank you Father God for your amazing grace, for your Son Jesus who gave himself for our sins to deliver us. May we always see our need of Him and never move on from Him. Thank you that through Jesus we can stand in your holy presence and one day we will be with you forever. Amen
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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