“Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:5 

 Jesus is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. But what does that mean?

Judah was one of Jacob’s twelve sons. God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the world would be blessed through their offspring. Since Jacob had so many sons, God had several choices. But he chose Judah. Why? Was Judah a shining example of God’s light? Are any of us?

Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. He wasn’t the firstborn, who would, perhaps, have been the logical choice for position. He wasn’t the son of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife. Nothing about him in his early years suggested his special destiny.

We first learn more about Judah when his brothers plotted to kill their younger brother Joseph out of jealousy. Judah suggested selling Joseph into slavery, thus saving his life, and ultimately, unbeknownst to him, the lives of their entire family.

This sounds like the potential start of good things for Judah, right? Not so much. The next we hear of him, he marries a pagan woman and has three sons. Two of the sons die in disgrace, and Judah fails to keep his promise to his daughter-in-law. He later engages in the services of a prostitute, leading to the birth of twins.

Not such a great legacy so far, wouldn’t you agree? But God had His own plans, and through that pregnancy, He continued Judah’s line that would one day lead to the birth of King David, and ultimately, Jesus.

 Joseph is by far, the most well-known of Jacob’s sons. Most of us are familiar with his story. He is Jacob’s favorite, and the other brothers are jealous. After he’s taken away to Egypt, he has further hardships, but ends up in charge of the entire food supply of Egypt, because God revealed His plans to him. When Jacob’s family faces a famine, they must go to Egypt to buy food. Joseph sells them food, and while they don’t recognize him, he knows exactly who they are. Joseph makes them promise to bring his youngest brother Benjamin with them the next time they need food, or they would receive nothing from him.

Joseph’s brothers had told Jacob that Joseph was killed. Jacob, having already lost (or so he thought) one of Rachel’s children, does not want to put Rachel’s other son, Benjamin, in danger. Judah pledges his own life to protect his youngest brother Benjamin. He seems to have a change in heart.

Judah, Benjamin, and their other brothers return to Egypt and plan to leave with the food, but Joseph frames Benjamin. Joseph tells the others they are free to go and claims Benjamin as his slave. At that point, Judah shows his most Christ-like nature yet. He pleads with Joseph to let Benjamin go and to take him as a slave instead.

Isn’t that exactly what Christ did for us? Judah wasn’t a model man. He made mistakes. But when it really mattered, he was willing to give up his freedom to save his brother. And that is the heart God honored.

At the end of Jacob’s life, he meets with each of his sons and prophesies about their futures. Judah receives the longest and most meaningful prophecy. God, through Jacob, tells Judah he is a lion’s cub (who will grow into a lion, a symbol of royalty). He also tells him someone from his line will rule forever. Judah becomes the ancestor of King David, and ultimately, Jesus Christ. What an incredible honor! Judah started as a jealous young man who sold his own brother into slavery, a man who didn’t keep his promise to his daughter-in-law, and a man who visited a prostitute.

Today his name is forever associated with the Messiah.

One thing I appreciate about the Bible is its honesty about the people of God. It gives us hope we can do great things for God. God doesn’t sugar-coat the lives of His people. He tells us about David who committed adultery and had the woman’s husband murdered. David became a man after God’s own heart. Saul forced Christians to either renounce Christ or be dragged off to prison. He later became the world’s greatest evangelist. And Peter, who, in Jesus’s greatest hour of need, denied he ever knew Him, was used to bring 3,000 people to Jesus at one time.

We are imperfect people, too. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past. What matters is what we do in the future. Don’t be afraid to step out and serve. The devil will remind you of all the reasons you’re not worthy. And he’d be right. You’re not. But you serve the One who is.

God, thank You for the example of Judah. Like us, he made mistakes. But he also made some courageous choices. Please help us not dwell on our mistakes. Help us focus on how You can use us. Thank You so much for using imperfect people to do Your work and giving us hope. Please give us the courage to step out and follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.