Watch
Listen
Click here to listen to the episode on our website
Read
Growing Up in God's Hands: Judah's Journey from Rebellion to Maturity
The Call to Spiritual Growth
In Genesis 43, we witness something remarkable: a rebellious man demonstrating that he's beginning to grow up. Through these verses, we see how God used the events of Judah's life to bring him to maturity and shape him into the leader he would one day become. There's help for you and me in these verses, because God is trying to do the same thing in our lives - He desires to reach that place where we find maturity.
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes this journey toward maturity:
"Until we all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes, rather speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in every way unto him who is the head, unto Christ." (Ephesians 4:13-15)
When you reach maturity, you won't tolerate lies anymore - the truth becomes so important that you just won't tolerate people playing games. As Scripture tells us, "Like newborn infants long for pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:2-3).
A Man in Need of Change: Judah's Past
Before we can appreciate the transformation, we need to understand Judah's starting point:
- Orchestrated Joseph's sale into slavery (Genesis 37:26)
- Participated in deceiving his father about Joseph's "death" (Genesis 37:31-35)
- Married an unbeliever (Genesis 38:1)
- Raised sons so wicked God took their lives (Genesis 38:7-10)
- Sought comfort with someone he thought was a prostitute (Genesis 38:12-16)
- Committed incest with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38:12-23)
- Hypocritically condemned Tamar before being exposed (Genesis 38:24-30)
Yet remarkably, through this deeply flawed man's lineage would come the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3).
God's Pattern of Transformation
When you study Scripture, you find that many of God's greatest servants started on the wrong side of righteousness:
- Rahab: From prostitute to ancestor of Christ
- Ruth: From pagan Moabite to grandmother of King David
- David: From adulterer and murderer to man after God's own heart
- Matthew: From corrupt tax collector to faithful apostle
- Paul: From persecutor to premier preacher
Not one was perfect when God found them - they were all dirty, filthy, and full of sin. But He knows how to clean them up and use them as vessels of Kingdom honor.
Signs of Spiritual Progress
In Genesis 43:7-10, we see clear evidence of Judah's growth:
- Shifted Focus: No longer just concerned about himself
- Family First: Concerned about their survival and future
- Brother's Keeper: Worried about Simeon's imprisonment
- Moral Growth: Committed to doing things the right way
The Process of Growth
The Lord's work isn't accomplished quickly - it's not like turning on a light switch. While salvation is instant, sanctification is a journey. God knows our numbered days and is willing to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to accomplish His purposes in His children.
Consider how He worked in others' lives:
- Abraham: From doubter to father of faith
- Jacob: From deceiver to Israel, father of twelve tribes
- Gideon: From fearful farmer to mighty judge
- Peter: From impulsive denier to powerful preacher
The Secret of True Joy
Want to know if you're making spiritual progress? Look at where others rank in your priorities. True maturity shows itself through this simple acrostic:
J - Jesus first
O - Others next
Y - Yourself last
Scripture reinforces this priority structure:
- "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4)
- "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15)
- "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor" (1 Corinthians 10:24)
A Picture of Redemption
Just as Judah offered himself as a substitute for his brother, Jesus offers to be our substitute while we are yet sinners. Our Savior descends from Judah's line - He's the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This is no coincidence.
Unless you've lived a perfect life, you can't die a sacrificial death. But Jesus lived the perfect life and became the substitute for all humanity. He's the perfect, spotless Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
The Beautiful Truth
You don't have to clean yourself up before coming to Christ - that's foolish thinking. Jesus wants to take you just as you are, and just like Judah, He can mold you into something He wants you to be. Through His patient work in our lives, He shapes us into vessels of honor for His kingdom. This transformation becomes possible when we, like Judah, surrender to God's molding hands and allow Him to reshape our priorities, perspectives, and purposes according to His perfect will.