When the guilty get caught in the act of a transgression or wrongdoing, a spirit of desperation tends to take over. As a teenager, I witnessed many classmates and friends, beg and barter with a teacher to avoid consequences. Sometimes this was successful, but as most were being handed an after-school suspension, a common final plea was “you can’t let this happen!”
When he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die; and your servants will be responsible for his death and will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. 32 For your servant became security for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever, Genesis 44:31-32.
As the governor of Egypt is about to make Benjamin his slave for life, Judah asks to have a word with him in private. Judah provides context for what he is about to share. My father who is old had an inclination that something bad was going to happen Benjamin, his youngest son. Judah is using a scare tactic, implying that if you let this happen my father is going to die of a heart attack.
Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant remain instead of the youth [to be] a slave to my lord, and let the young man go home with his [half] brothers. 34 For how can I go up to my father if the lad is not with me?—lest I witness the woe and the evil that will come upon my father, Genesis 44:33-34.
Whenever the inconceivable turns into reality, certain events are hard to grasp and fathom. Judah becomes so desperate, dreading the consequence of not wanting to go home without Benjamin, he offers up his own life to become the governor’s slave. After getting the governor alone in a room, Judah pours out his heart, pleading to not let this happen to Benjamin. While few people are successful with this plea, if your heart is right sometimes your prayer will be answered like Judah.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 