It would be an interesting thing to consider how Judah became the progenitor of the Messianic tribe. Read through Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38 and you will discover Judah was from where the Messiah sprang out. However, we can’t deny that Judah also did some dirty actions. We need to study the mistakes of Judah as well as his accomplishments.
Judah wasn’t a good example in Genesis 37
Judah suggested that they sell Joseph for silver. The name Judah is synonymous to both Jude and Judas. Yes, the very name Judas means praise in Greek. However, the name is forever tainted in associated with the traitor that a firecracker was named as Judas’ Belt. Later, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot for silver. Did this very action of Judah lead to the curse that would cause the Savior to die for sin? It seems to be. But unlike Judas Iscariot–this Judas repented later on.
If you backtrack–you may realize that Joseph actually told the truth at all costs. I don’t think it was gossip. Probably, the boys didn’t grow upvery well and Joseph was growing better than them. Jacob’s favoritism couldn’t be corrected by jealousy. Judah was probably motivated by greed with what he did. It wasn’t a very good record on him either.
Genesis 38 talks about the sordid affair of Judah
Judah wasn’t really acting like he was worthy here. It was just moments after he sold Joseph away for money. Now, he’s going to a Canaanite woman, a daughter of a certain man named Shua. Judah sired wicked sons in Er and Onan, Not much is mentioned about Shelah except his name. It would be very interesting to know that Tamar was also a Canaanite. Noah had predicted the curse of Canaan some time after the flood. This was a very taboo thing. Esau, an unbeliever, had no problem marrying them, but not his believing parents. Judah, a believer, should’ve known better than to marry a Canaanite and later take a Canaanite woman as a daughter-in-law.
The next event was that Judah was afraid his youngest son Shelah would die like the first two. Er was very wicked so we probably got the word erred from him. Onan didn’t do his duty either. Eventually, Tamar ended up disguising herself as a prostitute and poor Judah was not discerning. Judah ended up in incestuous sexual intercourse with his own daughter-in-law. From that sinful union came twins namely Phares and Zerah. From Phares we get the Messianic lineage to continue with Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nashon, Salmon who married Rahab the Canaanite, Boaz who married Ruth the Moabite, Obed, Jesse, and David which would lead to the lineage of Jesus. He ended up seeing the error of his ways by not givinbg Shelah immediately to Tamar as he was required.
However, Genesis 44 gives us a more different Judah than we last saw him
Judah had become a more mature individual. As we read this chapter, we see that Benjamin was about to become a slave. This was the final test that Joseph put to see if his family had truly changed from the error of their ways. Judah could’ve committed the same mistake with Benjamin. Instead, he offered himself as a slave in place of his father’s youngest son. This was a very different Judah who was once consumed with jealousy. Now, this Judah was humble and knew his half-brother Benjamin was innocent.
I think this change of attitude caused him to be the new successor of his father. Reuben lost his birthright for defiling his father’s bed. The incident at Shalem caused both Simeon and Levi to lose their privilege too. Genesis 49 has Jacob still recall the three major incidents. then we read that Judah gets the blessing in the smae chapter.
Genesis 49:8-12 gives us the prophecy of the Messianic tribe. Judah was now going to have the privilege of the Messiah coming from his line. Jesus is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. It would be probably that his repentance that led to him previewing above his brethren. It would be that his action for Benjamin foreshadowed the actions of Jesus to intercede for sinners. This maturity would’ve actually allowed Judah to claim the lost birthright from the first 3 siblings.
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