# 346 No Loopholes In Grace

The Book of Genesis

Day 346

Ge 37:26 So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?  27 "Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened.

There is a great lesson here for any of us who would seek to live Law oriented lives as opposed to lives controlled by grace. Here’s the thing about the Law, those who live under it are always seeking for loopholes. Their mantra is always “But what about?” and then they come up with absurd scenario’s to justify their actions. These, “but what abouts” show up today in matters of divorce, abortion, and even in our giving to the church.

Do you see what Judah was suggesting here to his brothers? “Let’s sell Joseph into slavery and let not our hand be upon him! That way we aren’t really guilty of any harm that may come his way, that would be on the Ishmaelites!”

It’s the same ploy David used when he ordered Joab to send Uriah the Hittite on a suicide mission. I mean come on, David didn’t actually kill Uriah, he died in the war right?

Yes “loophole livers” more often than not do grievous things to others in the mistaken belief that they are “technically” innocent of any wrongdoing.  Jesus puts that line of thinking to rest when He delivers His “Sermon on the Mount.” Read it often and see the loopholes close.  See how the actions of Joseph’s brothers match up with Mt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'  22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

What are you saying about the value of another human being when you sell them like a piece of property for 20 pieces of silver?

What are you calling someone when you mock them because they are different than you?

What are you calling an unborn child when you terminate a pregnancy? You are calling them, worthless, expendable creations of God! What is their crime?

You and I are also creations of God, made in His image, and to call one of His creations a fool, is to call the one who created us a fool too! Isa 45:9 "Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'?

 Oh, my friend, in the sermon on the mount, Jesus destroyed all the loopholes, and captured the true spirit of the Law. He made sure none of us can say with Judah, “let not our hand be upon him and we will be innocent.” By removing any and all loopholes, He made sure that all of us would know that we are guilty of breaking the Law.  Our only hope then for salvation and forgiveness must be found in some other place than the Law, and that’s where Jesus comes in. He DID keep the Law…..perfectly! Then went to the cross and died for us who can’t! Sinner, turn to the only One who can save you from your sins….Jesus!