Fw: Judah's New Season

Team:1

Today's Coach is Chuck Swindoll. Coach Swindoll talks about Repentance and Transformation and a New Season. He shows how QB Judah Transformed his game and led His Team to Victory. Gen 44

Early in Judah's career he was
Bitter with Anger, Resentment and Envy because his dad was abusive and showed favoritism to his step brother Joseph. This led to some very unwise decisions on Judah's part.

Did Judah ask for this type of treatment?
No. It wasn't fair. But that's when the Enemy comes in and Creates reasons to be Bitter and Angry. Some of the results of Bitterness and Anger were:

-The Shechem Massacre with his Brothers - Gen 34

-Committed Adultery with Tamar - Gen 38

-Sold His brother as a Slave. Gen 39

These decisions affected a lot of people
Which resulted in loss of Income and Job Opportunities for his family. His Family's Reputation was Tarnished because of these decisions.

"Bitterness hurts us not the person we are bitter toward."

The Bible says, "don't let a Root of Bitterness take hold in your life." Hebrews

God says, "Vengence is mine saith the Lord." God wants to take care of it and make things right.

Leviticus 19:18 "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

Bitterness and Resentment will destroy us. It leads us to bad decisions. It is hard but we need to let God Take care of it.

Luckily God Transformed Judah's Game as he came Full Circle and offered himself to be imprisoned instead of his brother. Judah became a Great Leader in the end.
Now here is the Exciting Reward for Forgiveness:

From Judah's Offspring would come the Greatest Leader in the Universe: The Messiah Jesus Christ.

Joseph Saved his Family and the World. Judah Saved the future Generations through Jesus Christ. In the end it can always work out if we Repent and allow God to Change the Direction of our Lives from Bitterness to Forgiveness. Romans 8:28

One Final Thought:

Everyone thought it was Joseph who Forgave. The Underlying Story is that Judah needed to Forgive his Dad. When he did the family was Freed.

What an incredible lesson to those who have issues with their parents.

Our Attitude is our choice. We can be Bitter and Angry or we can be people full of Faith and Gratitude.

God turned Anger, Resentment and Bitterness into Love, Peace and Forgiveness.

Now check out what Coach Swindoll says.

"ALL GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED TWICE. FIRST IN YOUR MIND THEN IN REALITY!"

Just Go!

Rick
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April 2, 2011    
Final Exam, Part Two by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Genesis 44:17--34
This was Joseph's second part of the final exam. First came the vertical test. Had his brothers gotten to the place where they read the hand of God into their daily life? Yes. They had demonstrated this in their attitude.

Next came the horizontal test. Which would they choose, themselves or Benjamin? Had there been any change in their hearts over the years?

So Joseph said, "I would never punish all of you for one man's crime. The cup has been found in your youngest brother's possession, so he is the one I will punish.

He will forfeit his freedom and become my slave. The rest of you, go in peace. You can return to your father."

Following this pronouncement comes a shocking speech:

"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. 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?" (Genesis 44:33--34).

Do you realize who is saying this? Again, it is Judah. These "unexcelled" words were coming from the same man who, twenty years earlier along with his brothers, proposed without remorse,
"Here comes that dreamer, Joseph. Let's kill him and say that a ferocious animal devoured him."

Shortly after that cold-blooded proposal, he rationalized, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Let's sell him to the slave traders instead."

Yet here he is now, pleading for his youngest brother. Added to that, he is pleading on behalf of his aging father.

A few years earlier, Judah could not have cared less what his father thought, since his father had always shown favoritism to Rachel's sons. In fact, the violence and cruelty Judah and his brothers perpetrated against Joseph was an indirect act of cruelty committed against their father.

Now, of all things, this same man is exhibiting a sacrificial attitude. "Take me instead. But send Benjamin back home. I cannot bear to imagine such grief that would overtake my father."

No, it's not the same man; Judah has changed.

No doubt about it. All his brothers were becoming transformed men, and Joseph recognized this. Repentance had done its work.
 
Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.