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genesis 38-what's up Judah?

1/13/2015

5 Comments

 
*Breaking News*~We interrupt your regularly scheduled story of the man of integrity, Joseph, to bring you a breaking story on the man of not so much integrity Judah.

That is what chapter 38 does for us in the middle of the story of Joseph. The last section of Genesis, which starts in chapter 37 is about Joseph and his faith and integrity in the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the writer of Genesis, Moses, throws in this story of Judah for us to read and ponder. The Judah in chapter 38 is there to contrast the Judah of chapter 44 along with the Joseph of chapter 39. Even more important for us to remember in reading this is the fact that Judah was in the line of David and Jesus. This man if sexual promiscuity and unfaithfulness is in the family tree of the Savior. By this unexpected interruption of the story of Joseph, Genesis and the original readers were kept in suspense. We must wait a little longer to discover what happens to our man Joseph after he is sold in the slavery.

But the story of Judah and Tamar is not irrelevant to the main course of the whole narrative. This was not added as a footnote but also teaches us the theology of Genesis and continues the themes and phrases of the rest of the story. It is concerned with how the promises of the descendants for the patriarchs should be fulfilled. It shows how the hard-hearted Judah was stopped in his tracks and then prepares us to meet a different Judah later on the in the story. It even gives us another set of twins in the picture of the younger overtaking the older. This story of Judah has a purpose and reason and when compared to Joseph begs to ask us the question.

Are we more like Judah or more like Joseph?
5 Comments
Tammy
1/13/2015 08:04:19 am

Wow. Good points to ponder. It shows how even in Bible times they did what they saw fit with no consultation to God. Same as we do today. However in each instance, God uses the person anyway in spite of their disobedience. This all shows me how we have a hope and a future despite our own disobedience now and then. I understand we live under grace as they lived under law...but God was gracious to Judah. Amen!

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Pastor Jeff
1/13/2015 10:45:00 pm

"Disobedience now and then"...we disobey continuously every hour of every day. We live in unbelief of Jesus ever hour every time we sin and commit an act of treason. And then there are times we sin even when we do not know we do!

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Tammy
1/14/2015 10:17:21 am

Ok....thanks for clearing that up, but once saved we become more concious of sin and should strive to sin less.

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Ashley
1/14/2015 11:11:56 am

I don't think I've ever read the story about Judah here before. A lot of people today don't think that the Bible can relate to current day problems. But I think God put these events and stories into the Bible to show that these people were just like us and that we can relate. Prostitution still occurs today. Judah screwed up just like anyone else. These people during this time in the Bible could actually have a conversation and see God and they still sinned! And screwed things up and needed God always! Not very different from us today.

Reply
Pastor Jeff
1/14/2015 11:34:58 pm

Get point Ashley...why I call the Bible not only the story of Jesus but also our story. We can totally relate to others in Scripture like Judah and Joseph.

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