Surety

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Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother?”  But they said, “The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”  Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.  I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever.  For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.” Genesis 43:6-10 NASB

There are no guarantees in life. That’s for sure. The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry. Man plans, God laughs. All these sayings remind us that we live in a precarious and unpredictable world. Jacob and his sons endured a famine. Their brother had grain in Egypt. He had disguised himself from them and withheld Simeon as collateral for their promised return with Benjamin. Naturally, Jacob is reluctant to send his youngest, believing Joseph to be dead. But Judah steps in as a surety. “My life for his”! He is a type of Christ, reminding us what Jesus has done for us… “His life for ours”. He paid the penalty of my sin on Calvary’s cross. I love that this passage ends with a prompt… let’s get going. There is always an impetus to following Christ. Today is the day of salvation.

For whom am I willing to sacrifice? How fully do I appreciate what Jesus has done for me?

God, as this day begins- I am grateful that Jesus is my surety. Would you use me today to bring comfort to the Davis family as they honor Otha at his memorial service. I know life has no guarantees, but God… You are still in control and able to move with power. I pray You will change the heart of California health care officials and allow schools to meet in person. Continue to use Crossroads church and school to proclaim the hope we have in Christ in a myriad of ways and places to tens of thousands.

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