The Transformation of Judah

Among Jacob’s twelve sons, Joseph received the birthright and a double portion of the inheritance, while Judah became the leader of his brothers. Among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribe of Judah became the head of the tribes, producing many kings. The later King David was a descendant of Judah. David’s descendants also sat on the throne of the kingdom of Judah until God destroyed the entire nation. More importantly, the Lord Jesus—the Messiah—was also a descendant of Judah in the flesh. Clearly, Judah was greatly blessed by God.

Genesis 29 records Judah’s birth. He was the fourth son born to Leah, Jacob’s wife. After Leah gave birth to four sons in a row, she said, “This time I will praise the Lord,” and so she named him “Judah,” which means “praise.”

In his early years, Judah, along with his brothers, was jealous of their younger brother Joseph. They went behind their father Jacob’s back and sold Joseph into slavery. This event is recorded in Genesis 37. The brothers listened to Judah and sold Joseph for twenty shekels of silver to Midianite merchants as a slave. Joseph was then taken to Egypt.

Because of God’s plan, Joseph later became the prime minister of Egypt. During a famine, his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. Many years had passed, and they did not recognize him at all. Joseph tested his brothers’ hearts to see if they would abandon their youngest brother, Benjamin, just as they had conspired to kill him in the past. But the brothers did not abandon Benjamin. Instead, they all “tore their clothes,” grieving and returning to the city with their brother to share the burden, showing their deep fraternal love. Judah spoke on behalf of the brothers, confessing their sin. He did not defend or excuse himself but insisted on staying with his brother, sharing life and death.

Judah pleaded with Joseph, “Now please let your servant remain here as a slave to my lord in place of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear I will see the misery that would come on my father.” Judah’s words overflowed with love for his father and protection for his brother, showing that he had been so changed by God that he was a completely different person from his former self. Before, he had sold the son his father favored, Joseph, into slavery; now, he was willing to become a slave in place of the son his father favored, Benjamin. Before, he was cold and deceptive toward his father; now, he was considerate and compassionate toward his elderly father. Before, he had broken his promise to Tamar; now, his word was as good as gold to his father. Before, he was self-righteous; now, he was willing to take the blame for his brother. Because Judah had this kind of self-sacrificial love, his words and actions were acceptable to God. All his previous shortcomings were covered in God’s sight, and from then on, he was chosen by God to receive the promise of the Messianic king. Genesis 49:9-10 says, “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh [the Peacemaker] comes and the obedience of the nations is his.”