The "famine in the land" caused Jacob to ask his sons to return to Egypt for more food. Judah explained that the terms were clear from the Egyptian leader(Joseph) that they could only return if they brought their youngest brother Benjamin with them. At first, Jacob refused because he had already "lost" one son(Joseph) and one son was in Egypt, in prison(Simeon) and he could not bear the thought of losing another son(Benjamin). However, Judah presented himself as a "surety"(v.9) if anything were to go wrong and eventually Jacob let them go and take Benjamin.
A "surety" is "one who agrees to assume the obligation of another". Judah was willing to assume the obligation of all the brothers to make sure everyone returned safely. Paul took on this same role when he offered to meet all the obligations of the runaway slave, Philemon, to his master, Onesimus(Philemon 1:18,19). The book of Proverbs speaks of the seriousness of becoming "surety" for another man's debt.
The greatest example of a "surety" is Jesus Christ! Hebrews 7:22 states "By so much Jesus was made a surety of a better testament". As the Mediator between God and man,(1Tim. 2:5) Jesus Christ is God's great Surety. Our risen and ever-living Savior guarantees that the terms of God's covenant will be fulfilled completely. God will not abandon His people! But our Lord not only guarantees to us that God will fulfill the promises. As our representative to God, He perfectly meets the terms of our agreement on our behalf. We of ourselves could never meet the terms; but because we have trusted Him, He has saved us and He has guaranteed that He will keep us!
Walk with the Lord today in "surety"!!!
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