If you met someone who knew you twenty-three years ago, would they notice your life attitudes had changed for the better?

This occurred in the time of Joseph when he was second to Pharaoh in Egypt.  He met his eleven brothers after twenty-three years.  He tested these brothers to see if their lives had changed from when he was a seventeen year old.

Scripture zeroes in on Judah, the fourth born son of Jacob.  Judah became the leader among his brothers and with his father.

Judah convinced nine of his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave rather than kill him and have his blood on their hands.
(Genesis 37:26-27)

Judah, a sinner; yet, through his lineage Messiah was born.  (Genesis 38)

Judah convinced his father, Jacob, to send Benjamin with them to buy grain in Egypt during a sever famine. (Genesis 43:1-10)

Judah took full and personal responsibility for Benjamin’s safe return to their father.

Judah led the way back to “the man” (Joseph) because his silver cup was found in the sack of Benjamin.  (Genesis 44:14-17)  The brothers still had not recognized their brother Joseph.

Judah insisted that he stay in Egypt as a slave, exchanging his life for Benjamin’s.  (Genesis 44:18-29)

What was Judah’s reason, what was revealed about his changed life attitudes?

(NASB) Genesis 44:30-34 “Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad (Benjamin) is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life,
31 when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die.  Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.
32 ‘For your servant (Judah) became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.
33 ‘Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers.
34 ‘For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me – for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?”

Judah’s life attitudes had changed, drastically, and he showed deep concern for his father’s mental and emotional well-being.

~ Take it to heart ~

Is your life a changed life because Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord?

Do others “see” your changed life attitudes from twenty-three years ago?