“Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever” (Gen. 43:8-9).
Whenever I am weary and faint because of my sin, I love to hear the “Old, old story of Jesus and His love, of Jesus and His glory, of unseen things above.” God paints the Gospel in many colors throughout scripture: the thief on the cross, the woman who begged a crumb of mercy from Christ, the prodigal son, and so many others. But there are few more delightfully comforting pictures than the story of Christ our Surety.
When father Jacob considered what seemed to be an inevitable loss of life, either his entire family would starve of famine in Canaan, or the beloved son of his sorrow, Benjamin, would be taken to stand before “the man” in Egypt (Gen. 43:14), it was then that Judah engaged his heart to approach his father to be surety for Benjamin. From this view, scripture reveals the eternal engagements of our Lord Jesus Christ with His Father for His people as their Surety: “...who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD” (Jer. 30:12)? For Christ was made Surety of a better testament (Heb. 7:22).
It was a bold move for Judah. He shouldered the weight of Jacob’s entire family. He bore the burden of standing before Benjamin’s judge. Jacob agreed to Judah’s terms. He sent Benjamin with him to Joseph for bread.
But when the sons of Jacob arrived, the ruler of Egypt, who, unbeknownst to them was their brother Joseph, arranged to hold Benjamin on charges against the throne of his rule. After all hope seemed lost, Judah stepped forward once again, according to his promise to his father. His pleading to Joseph for Benjamin outlines Christ’s pleading to God in justice for His Father’s sons by adoption. Thus, the Father “predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself” (Eph. 1:5). First, Judah rehearsed the love of his father for Benjamin, his son. He told Joseph the judge how Benjamin was the son of his father’s old age, that his father had lost one son already, and that his father would die from unbearable sorrow if he lost Benjamin (Gen. 44:18-31). Second, Judah pleaded his own suretyship engagements with his father. He told his judge how he had promised his father to bring Benjamin back again, and if not, that he would personally bear the blame to his father forever (Gen. 44:32). Third, Judah pleaded himself as substitute for Benjamin, his brother. He told Joseph, “Take me instead of the lad.” “Let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren” (Gen. 44:34).
Joseph himself had experienced the loss of his father. He understood something of his father’s sorrow, because he knew his father's love. He had been the object of unjust cruelty at the hands of his brothers. No one stood for him. And now, for Joseph to hear again of the love of his father for the son of his love; to hear how his love tortured his heart in placing Benjamin into the hands of Judah, his surety; and to hear the love Judah now had for his father and for his younger brother Benjamin; to hear how Judah engaged with his father as surety for Benjamin; and seeing Judah now offering himself as Benjamin’s substitute, to answer every charge in Benjamin's place, and to do all of this in love, brought Joseph to tears of joy. In all of this, Joseph saw his own Surety, the Lord Jesus Christ. He saw Christ's love that fulfilled God’s holy law to establish the righteousness of His people (Mark 12:28-34; Rom. 13:9-10; 10:4). He saw Christ's answer of Himself to God's justice. For all of this, Joseph could restrain himself no longer.
This account vividly portrays the eternal engagements of Christ to His Father for His people. Justice demanded an answer to the just charges against the throne of heaven. An account must be made to the Judge of all. The situation was impossible for all but One. How could God be just and the justifier of the ungodly?! The Son of God engaged His heart to approach to His Father, to make Himself Surety for His little brothers, the adopted sons of God, the lads of His Father’s love. And there, on the cross, He took those sins that were mine, those that were His people’s. He bore them as His own before God (1 Pet. 2:24). He knew the guilt of them. He bore the shame and reproach of them (Ps. 31:11; 69:19-20). He pleaded His Father’s eternal love. He pleaded His own Suretyship engagements. He pleaded Himself as our Substitute. Justice received His sacrifice of love. Justice sheathed its sword in His side. Justice accepted Christ instead of God’s lads. An answer was demanded. A Surety was found. Christ’s blood was shed. An Answer was given. Our release was obtained for eternal days (Heb. 9:12). Having found a Surety, the Governor of heaven’s court rejoiced to hold the sons of heaven’s love in free justification. It was impossible for all but One. But “When He had by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).
Upon hearing this account from scripture, do you find it in your heart to approach the throne of God by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19)?! Do you cry, “God, be merciful (propitious) to me THE sinner” (Luke 18:13)?! Then God has revealed to you His Son and His eternal promise to enthrone His Son because He became Surety of the New Testament in His blood for His people. He ever lives. He is therefore able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him (Heb. 7:25). I would live my life a thousand times over if I could convince you of the glory of God in this. But I cannot. God Himself must speak it to your conscience. He must make Christ precious to you. May He do so now and forever to both you and to me, to the honor and glory of His eternal grace (Rom. 9:23)!
Rick Warta
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