Preimage of Salvation: Genesis 44:18-34
We illustrate imperfectly what only God can accomplish perfectly. When we show love, we show God’s love. When we demonstrate grace, we give people an appreciation for God’s grace. When we sacrifice ourselves, we teach people to value sacrificial living.
It was originally Judah’s idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. In fact, from that moment Judah developed into the spokesperson for the sons of Jacob. The decision to sell Joseph into slavery and be done with their father’s favoritism catapulted him into leadership of the group over Reuben.
That pattern continues into this story. When Joseph explains he has no desire to take all the brothers as servants, Judah comes forward to speak for the brothers. He explains how they cannot go home without Benjamin. There can be little doubt he unknowingly tugged at Joseph’s heart when he exposed how Jacob may die if Benjamin doesn’t return.
Judah stepped into the moment to which God has been working. Judah humbles himself completely, fully embracing the consequences as a leader should. It was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites; it would be Judah’s responsibility to get Benjamin home safely. Judah offers to serve the Egyptian vizier so long as Benjamin is pardoned and allowed to return.
This is a fantastic story with which to conclude Genesis. Genesis takes us from creation to the fall and then weaves a grand story about how God sets up His plan for redemption. In the culmination of Genesis, we see two distinct preimages of Christ.
Joseph is sold into bondage by people who are supposed to love him. God brings Joseph out of that bondage and turns him into a figure who brings salvation to his people. That is an incredible analogy to the physical work Jesus accomplishes during Holy Week. Jesus comes, He is handed over by people who are supposed to love Him, and He brings salvation to us. He makes eternal relationship with God our reality.
Judah accepts responsibility for the fate of others and welcomes the burden completely upon himself. He bargains away his freedom so those whom he loves can truly be free. He embraces the communal guilt and takes it all upon himself. This is a great analogy to Jesus’ spiritual work upon the cross. When Jesus dies, He takes the communal guilty of all humanity upon His shoulders. He bargains away His freedom to take our sin upon Himself. Those whom Jesus sets free are free indeed.
Joseph is not the Messiah. Judah is not the Messiah. Both men suffered from sin and lived imperfect lives. They were not a suitable sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. What they can do, however, is point us to the Messiah. They can show us what to look for in God’s plan. The same is true for all those who follow God. To the world, we illustrate imperfectly what only God can accomplish perfectly.
