In this week’s reading, Miketz Torah Portion, we encounter another father, who, like Judah in the story of Tamar, is unwilling to risk the life of his youngest son. This time it is Jacob that is averse to risking the life of Benjamin.
However, this is not where the parallels between Jacob and Judah end. In Gen 43:36 we read: You have bereaved me – Yosĕph is no more, and Shimʽon is no more, and you would take Binyamin! All this is against me.
Change the names and these words could just as well come from Judah’s mouth: You have bereaved me – Er is no more, and Onan is no more, and you would take Shelah! All this is against me.
Then we also have a pledge like in the story of Tamar: Judah could not give her the payment they had agreed upon, and gave her three pledges, symbolic of his three sons involved. In the situation regarding Benjamin, Judah does not pledge possessions, but rather his own life: I myself shall stand guaranty for him – from my hand you are to require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever (Gen 43:9). These words tell us that a huge change of heart, attitude and character is clearly visible in Judah’s life – he changed from Gen 38 to 43. He is putting the life of another above his own desires.
Like our Creator granted Tamar mercy in the eyes of Judah, Jacob prayed in Genesis 43:14 And Ěl Shaddai give to you compassion before the man, so that he shall release your other brother and Binyamin. And I, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved!
There are two questions I ask myself after thinking about these:
What in my life am I unwilling/reluctant to let go of? What is the Shelah or Benjamin in my life? Material things like jobs or earthly possessions? Will we still stand as men and women of faith if we are to lose our financial security? Our intellect and qualifications? Will we still see ourselves as part of the royal priesthood if we can no longer rely on these? Even the people or relationships that are dear to us? Will our grief or loss cause us to blame God?
How will it impact my life, my heart, and my character if I am willing to let go? I do not imply that we must quit our jobs, stop educating ourselves and our loved ones or cut all ties with people we love. The question is, will the loss cause my character to grow more to the image of our Father or will it cause ugly fruit of bitterness, envy, hate, unforgiveness, rage, anger, greed, selfishness and resentment? Or even more?
The lesson I learned from Jacob and Judah is that we all have something we are unwilling to let go of. Will the process of letting go in our lives cause us to grow spiritually, or to wither away?
For more about Tamar, read our blog about her : https://restorationfellowship.co.za/tamar-a-pledge-of-signs-that-bind/
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