Scriptural accounts set the precedent. Judah betrays Joseph into slavery for twenty pieces of silver and Judas betrays Jesus into death for thirty pieces of silver. Joseph, through events that can only be attributed to God, moves through slavery to the right hand of Pharaoh. Jesus, through events that can only be attributed to God, moves through the cross to the right hand of God. Because of Joseph, both Israel and Egypt are saved from death, which would result from the famine in their land. Because of Jesus, both the church and the world are saved from death, which is the result of sin.
Because this theme of betrayal is told in both stories, a pattern is revealed of how God works in the face of betrayal throughout history. A congregation, in the face of betrayal, is tempted to run as the disciples ran at Jesus’ arrest. Yet it was as the disciples gathered together again that faith and hope were restored to them and so it can be for a congregation. By faith we learn that the point of the stories of Judah and Judas is not their betrayals but that God is more powerful than betrayal and can work even through such betrayals to reveal a saving truth.
Next week I will give you an example of how that might look in our time.
