The origin of the expression fall guy comes from the Old Testament in Leviticus 16:1-34. Moses introduces the concept of a scapegoat in this passage. In recent years, scapegoat has been replaced with fall guy, using prison terminology meaning let me take the blame, become the fall guy by receiving the punishment. This is what Judah attempts to do in today’s featured passage.
Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life and his soul knit with the lad’s soul, 31 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, Genesis 44:30-31.
In the second year of the great famine in Egypt, Joseph’s brothers weren’t able to return to buy grain unless they brought their younger brother with him. The governor of Egypt, Joseph in disguise, wanted to physically see his baby brother. Initially, Jacob was not going to let his youngest boy old of his sight. However, Judah realized that the only way to buy grain was for him to become the fall guy if anything happened to Benjamin.
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. 33 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, Genesis 44:32-33.
When a practical joke played by Joseph goes too far, Judah pleads with the governor of Egypt. Judah asks to speak alone with the governor, revealing the promise and vow made to his father. When Benjamin is set up, framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he was facing a lifetime commitment to become the governor’s slave. This is Judah’s inspiration for wanting to become the fall guy. When you face future dire situations, may you stand tall to do what’s necessary to help those in need.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 