A Word About Life and Things


           

 

Send Judah First

      Judah was the fourth son of Leah and Jacob. Judah interposed on behalf of Joseph so that his life was spared when his brothers threw him in a pit. Judah appealed to the Egyptian prince (Joseph) to detain him as a bondservant instead of his youngest brother. Judah, too, is the one who prepares the way before his father is going to meet Joseph and settle in Goshen.

      Judah, in his conduct before Joseph in Egypt, manifested true nobility. He had sold his brother yet he was willing to be sold, himself for the youngest brother. So, when Reuben forfeited his birthright by incest, Simeon and Levi by manslaughter, Judah the next oldest received from Jacob the best blessing of the older sons. The "lion," the king of beasts, is Jacob's image for Judah; afterward, it was his standard, with the motto "Rise up, Lord, let Thine enemies be scattered.” David and Jesus, as well as Joseph and Mary, came from the lineage Judah.

      When Israel went to war they asked God who should go up first. God said to send Judah first. Judah means Praise. God was saying to send your praise first. We are to give thanks for everything in our lives. We do not thank God for the bad things, we give thanks that God is in control of our situation. We give Him praise first before we ask anything from Him. When we praise Him we are lifting Him up and placing Him before ourselves. Our praise goes before us because our God fights our battles for us.

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      New King James Version
1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

      New King James Version
Psalms 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

      New King James Version
Judges 1:1 ¶ Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, "Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?"
 2 And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand."

      New King James Version
Judges 20:18 ¶ Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?" The LORD said, "Judah first!"