Why was Judah Chosen

Genesis 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Of all the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah was chosen to be the rightful heir and son of promise. It is important for us to understand God’s divine choice in this.

Judah was not the first born in Jacob’s family and Rueben was the first. But Rueben was not a good person as he defiled his family (35:22). Jacob was silent at this action till his deathbed in chapter 49. This incident is very disgusting for us to hear but we easily ignore similar offences around us. This should be compared with people who steal God’s glory. The church has one sole purpose of existence which is to please its husband, Christ. But if it works hard to please any other person including the pastor, it becomes disgusting for both the Church and its leader. The problem here is that it is the leader who has more chances of this sin. But we have to understand what it means from God’s perspective to steal his glory. Rueben was a good person at times. We also have this thought that the leader is a good person except that he made some money for himself. No good deeds will be valid if we steal from God Almighty. Paul and this team were a good example where he tore his clothes when people honored him. (Acts 14:14)

Chapter 34 is one incident where pride and anger of Simeon and Levi cost them their opportunity. Jacob was also not right here by not acting against Shechem first. He was silently waiting for sin to happen. Just like false promises and hypocrisy, silence at wrong times can be very much destructive.

Now when the sons of Jacob saw this incident, they found that disgraceful “in Israel”. The whole chapter does not mention God anywhere but seeks to fulfill personal or local justice. Israel was not established yet and they have just arrived and are living outside a city. But the sons of Jacob had that developed that pride at this stage itself. Also, we read sexual offences throughout early history but this particular one was acted upon instantly because of this pride. We try to compare others with the sins that we just have overcome at many times. We also measure others with Christian standards which we ourselves are struggling. These actions which we may think are very righteous become the reason for our failure. Also Pride and Anger together becomes cruelty and caused Simeon and Levi to lose their positions.

Also this incident made them lose opportunities where a whole city could have turned to God. But Simeon and Levi used the same methods God used to save people for destruction. This has repeated in history many times like the Roman Catholic Church which had performed destruction at many stages because of its wrong understanding of doctrine. The sons promoted circumcision and not God anywhere in the chapter and it was their protocols that brought anger inside them.  Christians should be clearly aware that we should not judge others because God has made law very personal to us through the Holy Spirit.

When the brothers wanted to kill Joseph in 37:26, Judah says that it is not good have the blood on our hands. Rueben wanted to please his father but there is danger still for Joseph. Judah had compassion towards Joseph and had clearly instructed them that “He is their flesh and blood”. The verse quotes that “they listened”. This is a characteristic of a chosen one.

In Chapter 38 we read about Judah and Tamor which becomes a righteous deed because Christ was born in this lineage. Judah was immediate in accepting his mistake in 38:26.

Also we read Judah allowing himself to be blamed both with Jacob in Chapter 43:8 and with Joseph in Chapter 44:33. This submission is required to carry the burden of God. For God to perform His will and if we wish to carry it in our hearts, it is required that we allow ourselves as shields for the protection of others.

Amen.