At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. – Genesis 38:1

Today's Scripture Reading (September 5, 2021): Genesis 38

His nickname was Bertie, an unassuming diminutive form of his given name, which was Albert. He was born during the reign of his Grandmother, Queen Victoria, but that did not mean that Bertie had any designs on the throne of England. While he was in the line of succession to the throne, Bertie was not the oldest of his father's male children. The only way he could become King was if disaster fell on his older brother, Edward. So, Bertie made plans for his life as a Royal, but not as the sovereign, which was actually okay with Bertie. He was shy and not a good speaker, so not being thrust into the spotlight was fine with him.

But his father, George V, had a different opinion. Even though Edward would be King according to the rules of succession, George doubted that his oldest son was cut out for the job. George V said this about the reign of Edward; "After I am dead, the boy will ruin himself in twelve months … I pray God that my eldest son will never marry and that nothing will come between Bertie and Lilibet and the throne."

George V's words were prophetic. The King died on January 20, 1936, and less than a year later, on December 11, 1936, Edward VIII abdicated the throne so that he could marry American socialite Wallis Simpson, making Bertie King. The world waited to find out what kind of King he would turn out to be. Britain's across the commonwealth wondered if Bertie was physically and psychologically capable of carrying the mantle of leadership for the United Kingdom. Bertie had the same questions but reluctantly became King George VI, a regnal name that was supposed to bring the people the confidence they had felt during his father's reign. But, as 1936 closed and 1937 began, no one knew what kind of a leader Bertie might make.

We sometimes forget that important people often had a life that happened to them before they became significant. Although there are exceptions, we do not usually emerge from the nursery as Kings, Presidents, or Captains of Industry. There is a period where we are trying to figure out who we want to be. And for some of us, that process takes longer than it does for others.

Judah was the fourth born son of Jacob behind Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. His mother was Leah, and he had not yet distinguished himself as someone great among his brothers. He was just another son of Jacob, one of, now with the exclusion of Joseph from the family, eleven boys. Judah had been the one who suggested that Joseph be sold into slavery rather than murdering him, which had been the original plan. And with that act completed, Judah likely needed to get away from the family for a while.

And so, Judah went to Adullam. Adullam was a town that existed partially in the hill country and partially on the plain in the Valley of Elah. The Valley of Elah would be the place where David would kill Goliath in the distant future. Judah likely just needed to get some time alone to contemplate where he had come from and where he wanted to go in the future. Judah needed to answer the question of what kind of person he wanted to become. But he was also running away from the guilt associated with the events that had led up to the disposal of his younger brother, Joseph. Judah felt the weight of that decision and needed to decide if that was who we wanted to be or if he aspired to some greater purpose.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 39