For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Gen. 37
I noticed another one of those interesting little details in this chapter this morning. I have long known that God used Judah to perpetuate His promised line to the Messiah. Thus, it was through Judah that God set up salvation for those who belong to Him. This morning, however, I noticed something else God did through Judah. It was Judah who instigated the selling of Joseph rather than killing him. Because of Judah’s action, Joseph ended up in Egypt, where God brought about the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams. Thus, God set up salvation for His people through Judah twice.
Gen. 38
I love it – God uses Judah once again in this story! From what I can gather about the culture in Biblical times, widows without children were among the most hopeless of society. They were no longer high on the marriage eligibility list and had no way to care or provide for themselves. They had no status, no rights, no future, no hope. This is why other family members, like a brother-in-law, were supposed to step in and produce offspring for her. Restoring hope to the hopeless in this way was simply the right thing to do.
However, Judah and his sons did not do right by Tamar. From the very beginning, God has desired that we care for the least of these. He wants us to love the unlovable, help the helpless, and give hope to the hopeless. Thus, He was not pleased with Judah’s and his sons’ actions. What I love is that God did not let Tamar go unredeemed. Indeed, God gave her twins by Judah himself. It was through one of these twins – the one who was last that ended up first, incidentally – that God’s promised Messiah came. God used Judah to show us the purpose of redemption in His promise.
Gen. 39
Here is God, once again fulfilling His promise to bless others through His chosen ones. I may not feel like God grants me success with everything I put my hand to, but I know that what was true for these early men of faith is true for me as well. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege to know that God wants to use my life to extend His blessing to those around me. And I believe He does that when I take on the attitude of faithful, devoted service that Joseph displayed. “With me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority.” (Gen. 39:8b). I want to remember that everything in my life belongs to God and manage it in the same kind of trustworthy way.