Witness CONCERN FOR THE FATHER
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. Gen. 44:34.
"For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?" Judah was pleading for his younger brother Benjamin. Judah had been the one whose idea it was to sell Joseph into slavery. Judah had been part of the plot to kill a young sheep and dip Joseph's coat in its blood, and present it to his father to make him think that Joseph had been killed. But now we see him pleading for his brother's life and willing to take the place of his brother in prison, if only his father might be spared further grief. There's been a change of heart somewhere, a complete change. I like what has happened to Judah, don't you?
Previously, Judah hadn't cared for his father's feelings. Now he is concerned about them. Before, he thought only of himself. Now he is thinking of the welfare of others as more important. He used to be dishonest; now he is honest. Judah's life had been changed. He has taken the responsibility of becoming surety for Benjamin. Judah had voluntarily become surety for him. He had taken that responsibility upon himself by choice.
When a couple decide to have children, they have made the choice to become surety for those children. When one chooses to become a teacher or pastor, he is choosing to become surety for those under his charge. These are voluntary responsibilities, not ones that are laid on us by another.
The day is soon coming when we will go to our Father (1 Thess. 4:16, 17). We can be thankful today for a God who cares, and who will do everything possible that when we go up our Father and His Father, those we love will be with us. Aren't you thankful for the One who, like Judah, stepped forward and said for you, and for those you love, "I will be surety for them. Let Me take their place"? Aren't you thankful for the burden of the parent or teacher or friend that you knew, who became surety for you? Won't you join me today in determining not to bring sorrow to the heart of our Father by not being there when all His children are gathered home? Won't you join with Judah in that plaintive appeal made in the court of one of the mightiest nations of the land, "Let me be surety. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?"
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. Gen. 44:34.
"For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?" Judah was pleading for his younger brother Benjamin. Judah had been the one whose idea it was to sell Joseph into slavery. Judah had been part of the plot to kill a young sheep and dip Joseph's coat in its blood, and present it to his father to make him think that Joseph had been killed. But now we see him pleading for his brother's life and willing to take the place of his brother in prison, if only his father might be spared further grief. There's been a change of heart somewhere, a complete change. I like what has happened to Judah, don't you?
Previously, Judah hadn't cared for his father's feelings. Now he is concerned about them. Before, he thought only of himself. Now he is thinking of the welfare of others as more important. He used to be dishonest; now he is honest. Judah's life had been changed. He has taken the responsibility of becoming surety for Benjamin. Judah had voluntarily become surety for him. He had taken that responsibility upon himself by choice.
When a couple decide to have children, they have made the choice to become surety for those children. When one chooses to become a teacher or pastor, he is choosing to become surety for those under his charge. These are voluntary responsibilities, not ones that are laid on us by another.
The day is soon coming when we will go to our Father (1 Thess. 4:16, 17). We can be thankful today for a God who cares, and who will do everything possible that when we go up our Father and His Father, those we love will be with us. Aren't you thankful for the One who, like Judah, stepped forward and said for you, and for those you love, "I will be surety for them. Let Me take their place"? Aren't you thankful for the burden of the parent or teacher or friend that you knew, who became surety for you? Won't you join me today in determining not to bring sorrow to the heart of our Father by not being there when all His children are gathered home? Won't you join with Judah in that plaintive appeal made in the court of one of the mightiest nations of the land, "Let me be surety. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?"
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