ESOCS Devotional 26 October 2023 – A Ransom for Another
MEMORY VERSE: “Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.” Genesis 44:33
TEXT: GENESIS 44:18-34 (KJV)
Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.
22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Judah offered to be a ransom for the release of Benjamin his younger brother. A cup that Joseph was looking for was found with Benjamin. Although Benjamin did not commit the crime of taking Joseph’s silver cup. It was an arrangement between Joseph and his steward, to put the cup inside Benjamin’s sack. So, when Joseph searched their sacks, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack as it was arranged.
Joseph had to take the culprit hostage and let others go their way freely. Judah told Joseph instead do taking the young boy let him be taken in his place. This is a very great Sacrifice. He offered himself as a ransom for Benjamin to Live. A ransom is a payment made for the release of another. He offered to become a slave for freedom of the young boy for the sake of their old father lest he dies in sorrow.
It takes a considerate heart, loving heart and sacrificial heart to offer oneself for a ransom for another. This is how our loving Lord, Jesus Christ, the precious Son of the living God offered Himself completely for our rescue, that we may be free indeed, forever.
Beloved Jesus Christ has paid for our sin on the cross at Calvary that we may be freed from the penalty of sin and the bondage of Satan. This demonstrated the love of the Father and the sacrificial life of the Son our Lord towards us the frail mankind.
We must remain eternally grateful to our Lord for this great a Salvation grant unto us free of charge. And then respond with heart full to love, faithfulness and obedience towards our redeemer Lord.
We are also to expected to share this great news with others inviting them to come and enjoy the Salvation of their souls in the ransom provided by our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Beloved have you accepted this great ransom given for the good of mankind? If not, this is your lifetime opportunity to do so now!
- Father, grant me the Grace stay faithful with you as a ransomed soul in Christ Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 17:1-14; 44:18-end; Mark 4:35-end; Romans 8:12-17
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ESOCS Devotional 26 October 2023
