Yehuda was the only one to whom Yaakov addressed directly: אַתָּה יוֹדוּךָ YOU will be praised by your brothers. We mentioned last week that his speech to Yosef has 17 Pesukim. The Seforim HaKedoshim say that his speech is an example in how to speak to Hashem. The Gr”a (on Shulchan Aruch) uses וַיִּגַשׁ אֵלָּיו יְהוּדָּה as a Derech in davening to Hashem. For sure, Yehuda was indeed talking only to Hashem when he spoke to Yosef. He wanted to make an impression on Hashem, and to show Him how much Teshuva he is doing, by sticking up for Binyamin.
Yehuda quoted his father Yaakov as saying: כִּי שְׁנַיִּם יָּלְדָּה לִּי אִּשְׁתִּי “My wife gave birth to (only) two children”, as if Rochel was Yaakov’s only wife. Look how Yehuda demonstrated his Hachna'a to Bnei Rochel, similar to Bnei Yehuda at the end of Megilas Rus who mentioned Rochel before their own mother Leah, since Rochel was his main wife. (Rashi). This is typical of Shevet Yehuda, who are known for being: מוֹדֶה (admitting) ("יְהוּדָּה" לָּמִּשׁוֹן "מוֹהדֶ").
Just like when Yosef dealt with his brothers, he barely seemed to have any concern about their reaction, the same with Yehuda. Yehuda was a Melech, and a Melech is “above”; i.e., he is entirely for Hashem and fearless of people. And from the detailed speech of Yehuda, we learn how a Yid has to spell out all the details of his problem, as if Hashem is not aware of all the details. Yehuda is also known for Tefila in Parshas: וְזֹאת הַבְרָּכָה (Rashi).
I have seen this Yesod in the Seforim of R' Shimshon Pincus Zatzal, and in the Ohr HaChaim. A Yid has to be real when he speaks to Hashem. Not to daven like a machine, but rather to imagine that Hashem is listening, and you are trying to make an impressive speech! “Watch every word you say! A million people are listening to you, and your words will be in the newspapers!”
A friend of mine’s wife was depressed, and despite all his davening she didn’t improve, until... he was inspired to demand from Hashem. He started feeling like he deserved a Yeshua, since he suffered so much. His Tefilos became real. The Gemara speaks about Hashem asking for a Bracha from the Cohen Gadol in Kodesh HaKodoshim.
And Hashem thanked him. The Bracha was that Hashem should have more Rachmanus and hold back His Ka'as, etc. (and Hashem had a special name: ליאֵרִּתְכַ). After the Bracha, כְבְיָּכוֹל (if it was possible) Hashem shook His head in thanks. Surely this Chazal is impossible to understand, but it can be a Remez how Hashem wants us to be real when we daven to Him, as if He was a human who needs us, כְבְיָּכוֹל (if it was possible).
Perhaps this is why it says by Yehuda: אַתָּה יוֹדוּךָ YOU will be praised by your brothers; it only says “you” by Yehuda. since he was so real in his Tefilos, and he knew how to relate to Hashem like you are talking to someone. So Yaakov, Midda K'neged Midda, addressed him directly.
