Joseph and His Brothers: A Case for the Redemption of Judas

Joseph and His Brothers: 

A Case for the Redemption of Judas

“Ye indeed planned against, me, evil,-Cod, planned it for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.” (Gen. 50:20)

“So Judah said unto his brethren,-What profit that we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him…”(Gen. 37:26-27)

“Then, went one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, unto the High-priests, and said-What are ye willing to give unto me? And, I, unto you, will deliver him up.  And they appointed him thirty pieces of silver.” (Matt. 26:14-15)

​The Old Testament has many types and shadows which point to Christ Jesus, God’s Promised One.  There are aspects of various ordinances to Israel, Feasts of the LORD, and men used by God, which are used to foreshadow things which will be accomplished by God, through Christ Jesus.  One such Old Testament shadow is Joseph, son of Israel (Jacob).  

​Most of us are pretty familiar with the story of Joseph being sold by his brothers and what came to pass in Egypt.  This is a terrific story that provides great teachings on many topics, such as: jealousy, God’s sovereignty, God’s use of evil for ultimately good purposes, relative versus absolute viewpoints in scripture, repentance, and forgiveness.

​How and why did Joseph come to be in Egypt?  This is where we get into some of the issues listed above.  Rather than narrate the entire story, I will provide a few verses below and discuss those.  The story in its entirety, can be found in Genesis, chapters 37,39-50.  

“So Judah said unto his brethren,-What profit that we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites; but let not, our own hand be upon him, for our own brother, our own flesh, is he and his brethren hearkened.” (Gen. 37:27)

“So Pharaoh said unto Joseph, After God hat made known unto thee all this, there is no one discreet and wise like thee.  Thou shalt be over my house, and on thy mouth, shall all my people kiss,- only as to the throne, will I be greater than thou.” (Gen. 41:39-40)

​Joseph’s brothers were greatly jealous of him and wanted rid of him.  The debate amongst them was what to do.  As we see in the scriptures, Judah sold him to the Ishmaelites who were traveling through on their way to Egypt.  

​From our perspective, and certainly from the brothers’ perspective, what they did was wrong; evil.  The question becomes, “What is the larger perspective and was this plan really concocted by Joseph’s brothers?”  

“Now, therefore, it was not ye, who sent me hither, but, God, Himself…” (Gen. 45:8)

​In the latter half of Genesis chapter 39, we see how Joseph ends up in prison because he has snubbed Potiphar’s wife’s advances toward him.  While in prison, he gains favor with the captain of the guards and correctly interprets strange dreams by two cellmates, who were from Pharaoh’s staff (the baker and butler).  Some time passes and Pharaoh is troubled by a dream of 7 fat cows being eaten by 7 skinny cows and 7 good ears of corn being eaten by 7 poor ears of corn.  None of his magicians, soothsayers, or advisors can interpret the dream.  The butler, then, remembers Joseph and how God enabled him to interpret his dream.  

​Joseph is brought to Pharaoh, and explains that 7 years of plenty will be followed by 7 years of famine, and points out that God has determined this.  It will happen.  Pharaoh knows now that God is with Joseph, and after consulting with his advisors, places Joseph directly under him, as ruler of Egypt and specifically tasks him with preparing for the coming famine.  Egypt survives the famine and people from other lands also come to Egypt to buy food so that they too will survive the famine.  This is how Joseph is first reunited with his brothers, although they do not recognize him.

​When his brothers come to him to buy food, Joseph speaks to them using an interpreter.  Thinking he is an Egyptian and can’t understand them, his brothers talk amongst themselves and remember what they did to him and agree that the reason they are in their current predicament is because of what they had done to their brother.  This is the first admission of guilt on their part, for what they had done.  Before Joseph reveals who he is, he requires various things of them, says hard things to them, even has one of them framed for being a thief.  All of this is to break them down, and bring them to repentance (a change of mind for the better).  

“Then said Joseph unto his brethren-Draw near I pray you, unto me.  And they drew near.  And he said-I, am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.  But, now, do not grieve, neither let it be vexing in your eyes, that ye sold me hither,-for, to save life, did God send me before you.” (Gen. 45:4-5)

​What did Joseph’s brothers expect from him?   Joseph is now the second most powerful man in Egypt and he has his brothers (who sold him into slavery) in his grip.  Joseph could have easily had them all put to death for their treachery against him.  

​Instead, Joseph embraced his brothers, forgave them, had a big family reunion, invited them into Pharaoh’s courts, and made them honored guests of Egypt.  After the death of their father, the brothers once again feared that Joseph may bring vengeance on them.  But, Joseph set them straight, knowing that yes, they dealt with him intending evil; but that God was reallywho orchestrated this to a good end, to preserve not only the lives of everyone in Egypt, but to ultimately save the very brothers who sold him into slavery!  Read below the insight Joseph had:

“And Joseph said unto them-Do not fear,-although in place of God, I am.  Ye, indeed, planned against me, evil,-God, planned it, for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.” (Gen. 50:19-20)

​This is not the perspective given however; in most Sunday School settings and sermons.  Instead, Christians from the Arminian persuasion teach this account as Joseph’s brothers being the Co-Sovereigns and God jumping up from His cosmic desk so that He can quickly rearrange the situation to come out to a good ending.  As scripture states, this is not the case and Joseph knew that.  

​Joseph’s forgiveness and grace was bestowed on his brothers without them asking for it.  As one who was a type and shadow of Christ Jesus, this is exactly what we should expect.  

“Then, went one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, unto the High-priests, and said-What are ye willing to give unto me? And, I, unto you, will deliver him up.  And they appointed him thirty pieces of silver.” (Matt. 26:14-15)

​While most Christians do not believe the crucifixion of Christ Jesus (as the propitiation for our sin) to be “accidental”, they often do not see the details as being a part of the plan.  This is a very myopic view.  The last week of Christ’s life fulfilled to the day, each of the Spring Feasts of The LORD.  He came into Jerusalem and was inspected by the priests for four days and found without blemish (no blame), He was crucified on the Preparation for Passover, was entombed just before the High Sabbath, in the tomb during Unleavened Bread, and was resurrected just before the weekly Sabbath, on First Fruits!  Any deviation in the events would have caused Christ Jesus’ sacrifice to not have fallen on the “appointed times”.

​Judas’ role was not only necessary but it was foretold and pre-ordained.  

“Then said I unto them, If it be good in your eyes, give me my wage, and, if not, forbear.  So they weighed out my wage, thirty pieces of silver.  Then said Yahweh unto me, Cast it into the treasury, the magnificent price at which I had been valued by them!  So I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them, in the house of Yahweh, into the treasury” (Zech. 11:12-13)

“Even the man whom I used to salute, in whom I put confidence, who used to eat my bread,-hath magnified his heel against me!” (Psalm 41:9)

​I am convinced that the idea most Christians cannot accept the passages of scripture which speak of God’s complete sovereignty in the lives of people is due to the false teaching that most of humanity will be forever condemned by God.  This is also what leads people to dismiss the many verses which speak of God operating the entire equation of one’s salvation.  

​Just as God worked through Joseph’s brothers, in general, and Judah in particular, to see that he ended up in Egypt to execute God’s plan, it was God’s plan for Jesus Christ to bedelivered by Judas (who, not coincidentally was from the tribe of Judah) to the priests.  

​When it comes to Judas, most Christians do not consider him to be “saved”.  After all, he “betrayed” the Lord.  He delivered Him to be crucified.  Judah and his brothers similarly were used by God to deliver Joseph into the hands of the Egyptians to “preserve life”.   Judas’ act was used to deliver Jesus Christ into the hands of priests and Roman government to be sacrificed to give life; to redeem all.  Yet, most Christians believe that the instruments used by God in His plan will be excluded from what His Plan through Christ was and is to bring.

​Judas is viewed as if he really was never part of “the twelve”.  Is that accurate?  Please read from Matthew 10, below:

“And, calling near his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over impure spirits,-so as to be casting out, and curing every disease and every infirmity.  Now, the twelve apostles’ names are these: first Simon, who is called Peter…and Judas Iscariot, who also delivered him up.”(Matt. 10:1-4)

​As we just read above, Judas was sent out to carry the gospel and to perform healings, cast out demons, and the like.  Judas was a believer.  Not only that, but it seems (unless Jesus was wrong about this detail, and I don’t think He was) that Judas will be reigning on one of the 12 thrones in the kingdom (see Matt. 19:28 below):

“And Jesus said unto them-Verily, I say unto you, As for you who followed me, in the regeneration, When the Son of Man shall take his seat on his throne of glory, ye also, shall be seated upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28)

​Some may contend that Mathias took Judas’ place, and he did but only to the extent of carrying the gospel, after the ascension.  He was chosen by drawing lots.  Jesus Christ specifically chose Judas to carry out the job he was to do, and was most certainly included in the plural, “Ye”, of Matthew 19:28.  There is no textual evidence that this promise was ever nullified or revoked.

​Judas’ delivery of Christ to be arrested; was an evil act, but consider this as well:  Satan entered into Judas, so that this would be done, after Judas dipped his bread into the oil.  Read the account (given below) very carefully.

“Not, concerning you all, am I speaking,-for, I, know of whom I made choice; but…that, the scripture, might be fulfilled: he that feedeth on my bread, hat lifted up against me, his heel.  Henceforth, I tell you, before it cometh to pass,-that ye may believe, whomsoever I shall send, receiveth, me; and, he that receiveth, me, receiveth Him that sent me.  These things, having said, Jesus, was troubled in spirit, and bare witness, and said-Verily, verily, I say unto you-One from among you, will deliver me up.  The disciples began to look one at another, being at a loss concerning whom he was speaking.  One of Jesus’ disciples was reclining in his bosom, one whom Jesus loved: So Simon Peter beckoneth unto the same, and saithunto him- Say, Who is it? Concerning whom he speaketh.  He, falling back thus, upon the breast of Jesus, saith unto him-Lord! Who is it?  Jesus, therefore, answereth-That one, it is, for whom, I, shall dip the morsel, and give unto him.  So, dipping the morsel, he taketh and giveth it unto Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.  And, after the morsel, then, entered, Satan, into that man.  Jesus, thererfore, saith unto him-What thou art doing, do quickly.”(John 13:18-27)

​John, is lying against the chest of the Lord, and He tells John that He will identify who will deliver Him to be arrested.  He does this as verification that He is the Messiah.  Not only that, but if you look closely at the words used, we find that:

a. Jesus chose who would deliver Him so that the scriptures would be fulfilled (v.18).

b. The disciples had no preconceived notions of who would be chosen (v. 22) except Judas, himself.

c. Satan entered Judas, when Jesus gave the sop to Judas (v.27).

d. Jesus commanded Judas and/or Satan to carry out this act (v.27).

Most Christians who believe in eternal torment or annihilation, hold Judas as the poster child for one condemned to hell.  Is there a reason?  I think there are a few reasons but probably the top 2 answers are something Jesus said of Judas (below) and the hold-over error from Catholicism that suicide condemns one for eternity.

“When I was with them, I, kept them in thy name which thou hast given me,-And I kept watch, and, none from among them, went the destruction,-save the son of destruction, that, the Scripture, might be fulfilled”(John 17:12)

​So, what are we to make of Jesus’ saying above?  He calls Judas the “Son of destruction” after all and says that he was “lost”, correct?  Judas’ suicide can certainly be termed as “destruction”.  The problem comes in when we read into the word “destruction” something which is not there.  Christians tend read damnation into the word “destruction” when it used in the Bible in respect to people.  However, a close examination of the word’s usage, takes us to another truth which most Christians, are also unaware of.  That is the matter of destruction speaking of death and temporal judgment.  The false doctrine of eternal torment has completely blinded people from the truth on many scriptural topics.  While it is beyond the scope of this article, coming to a scripturally correct understanding of death and what happens at death, is key to understanding many fundamental truths.

​Jesus “lost” Judas so that the scriptures would be fulfilled.  The scriptures needing be fulfilled is not speaking only of the verses speaking of Jesus being betrayed by one of his own.  Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and the consequential salvation of creation were also part and parcel (inseparable) of the scriptural fulfillment.  Think back to Judah selling Joseph into slavery.  How would the salvation of the people of Egypt and Joseph’s own family been accomplished apart from Judah and his brothers selling Joseph and betraying him?  The events are linked.  The events are all orchestrated by God and key pieces to His plan.

​There is another verse of scripture which is used to “prove” Judas’ condemnation for eternity, but (as I pointed out in my article, “Better to Never Have Been Born?”), the translation and placement of specific pronouns, creates the idea that because of what Judas did, it would have been best for him (Judas) if he had not been born.  Below, is how the KJV and Rotherham, respectively, translate Mark 14:21: (words in light-face italics are mine)

“The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of him (Jesus): but woe to that man (Judas) by whom (Judas) the Son of Man is betrayed! Good were it for that man (Judas) if he (Judas)had never been born.” (KJV)

“Because, the Son of Man, indeed, goeth his way,-according as it is written concerning him (Jesus); but alas! for that man (Judas), through whom the Son of Man is being delivered up,-Well for him (Jesus) if that man (Judas) had not been born!”(Rotherham)

​As you can see, the use of pronouns and the omission of pronouns, make a world of difference.  The KJV translation, makes “that man” and “he”, Judas.  The Rotherham seems to make “that man” (Judas) and “him” (Jesus); consistently in both clauses.  Back, several years ago, I checked both of these translations against the Greek interlinear, and while I have never claimed to be a “Greek scholar”, the Rotherham translation, appears to be the consistent and correct version.

​So, relatively speaking, since we know that Judas was predestined for the role he would carry out, it would have been better for Jesus, had Judas not been born.  This is figurative language, speaking of what Jesus Christ went through and not the ultimate glory and goodness that will result from what He went through for us.

​And, just as Judah and his brothers felt the guilt of what they had done and repented (had a change of mind) of their wrongdoing, what do we read about Judas?

“Then, Judas who had delivered him up, seeing that he was condemned, being smitten with remorse, returned the thirty pieces of silver unto the High-priests and Elders, saying-I have sinned, in delivering up righteous blood. But, they, said-What is that to us? Thou, shalt see to it for thyself.” (Matt. 27:3-4)

​Once the task of handing over Jesus to the officers was completed, we could surmise that Satan left Judas.  One thing we know for sure is that Judas acknowledged that he had sinned and repented.  “But, but, but, it doesn’t specifically say that Judas asked for forgiveness!!”  While that is true, there is nowhere in the narrative of Joseph and his brothers where it shows that they asked his forgiveness; yet he forgave them.  Do we expect any less of the Savior of the world?!  Did you know that in all the instances recorded in the gospels, in which Jesus declares a person’s sins forgiven, not even one shows the sinner “asking for forgiveness”?  Take the famous account of the thief on the cross.  The Lord promised that he would be with Him in paradise (not “today” by-the-way) and I can find nowhere in which the thief prayed “The Sinner’s Prayer”, asked forgiveness for his sins, etc.  He did however, acknowledge who Jesus was, and rebuked the thief who mocked Him.

​To say that Judas is forever lost is to discount the scope of Jesus’ atonement, it is to make God unjust, having ordained that Judas would carry out what he was to do, it makes Jesus Christ (Who reveals to us the heart of the Father) capricious and a hypocrite.  He told His disciples to forgive without end (“70 x 7”).  We are told to not repay evil with evil.  And the following is very important and are three fundamental truths, which we should all keep in mind when it comes to what God will accomplish through His Son; in the great Plan of the ages:

“In hope of life age-abiding; which God, who cannot lie, promised before age-during times.” (Titus 1:2)

“This is comely and acceptable before our Saviour God, Who willeth, all men, to be saved and, unto a personal knowledge of truth to come;”(1Timothy 2:3-4)

“Declaring from the beginning, the latter end, And from olden time, that which had never been done,-Saying My purpose shall stand, and All my pleasure, will I perform.”(Isaiah 46:10)

​The above are three ironclad verses with deep implications.  If you believe that God would lie, we need not go any further.  We can have no confidence or hope in salvation at all.  God does not lie!  So, we are told by Paul that God wills/hopes/desires/wishes (whatever verb you like) that all be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.  Does He?  If God does not lie and we are told in the scriptures that this is what He wills/desires; do we have room to doubt that He so desires this?  That should obliterate the Calvinist reasoning on God only wanting the elect to be saved.  Then we have the final passage in Isaiah.  God (through His prophet) makes a strong declaration here.  “I will do all My good pleasure/will/desire/wishes!!!”  This should obliterate the Arminian position that while God wants all to be saved, most won’t.  He declared it.  He will do it.  

​If your position is that Judas or the jerk next door will not be saved (eventually) then, you need to determine which of the above three verses (or combination thereof), are incorrect.

​Imagine the joy and reconciliation, when Judas is resurrected and reunited with his Savior.  Don’t you imagine that Judas (who is forgiven MUCH) will love MUCH?  

I think so.