Our Guarantee

Our Guarantee

Judah guaranteed Benjamin’s safety with his own life before they left for Egypt. Then Joseph had a silver cup planted in the sack of his youngest brother, Benjamin. And when it was found, Joseph said that Benjamin would have to remain in Egypt as a slave while the rest of the brothers could go back home. But Judah would not let this happen. “I personally guarantee his safety,” Judah had told his father, Jacob. “You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever” (Genesis 43:9).

So when Benjamin’s sack was found to contain the silver cup, Judah pleaded with Joseph to be imprisoned in place of Benjamin. “My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’ So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers” (Genesis 44:32-33). Judah was willing to give up his family, his future, and his freedom to save Benjamin from slavery and his father from further grief.

Judah offered himself as the guarantee for Benjamin and was willing to take his place to make good on his promise. Hundreds of years later, One from the line of Judah would pledge himself to be the guarantee for the safety and security of his brothers, offering himself as a substitute for sinners so they could go free. “Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God” (Hebrews 7:22).

For Judah to be a guarantee for Benjamin meant that he would become a slave in Egypt the rest of his life. For Jesus to be our guarantee meant that he would become a sacrifice and give his life. Jesus’ dignity and worth far exceed Judah’s in offering himself as a guarantee. Judah was a sinner himself. But Jesus is our sinless surety. Judah’s guarantee was temporary and for only one person, while Jesus is the eternal guarantee, not just for one person, but for a countless multitude of people who turn from sin to him.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah is not only our guarantee to free us from slavery and punishment but our guarantee of an eternal future enjoyed in the presence of God.

My Guarantee of everything that is good, it is your magnificent worth and incorruptible integrity that make your promise sure and your oath secure. You have offered yourself up to guarantee my freedom though it cost you your life. I know my future in you is secure. You have guaranteed it with your own life.