Day 25: Genesis 38-40

The story of Judah and Tamar is interesting. Judah is the son that Jacob and Leah had together. Scripture zooms in on his life for a moment because he will eventually inherit the blessing of Abraham and be part of the lineage of Jesus. 

Judah marries a Canaanite woman, whose name is left nameless to my knowledge. Remember, the men of his family were avoiding marrying Canaanite women, but he did not. They have three children together. The first, Er, marries Tamar, but he dies because he is wicked. The second, Onan, died due to disobedience. He was supposed to marry Tamar and have children with her to raise offspring for his deceased brother, but he didn’t want to. He uses the withdrawal method to prevent her from getting pregnant. Since he died, the last of Judah’s sons is Shelah. Judah is afraid to allow him to marry Tamar because he believes somehow she has something to do with the deaths of his sons.

Judah’s wife dies, and he ends up stopping to connect with a prostitute while he is out of town shearing sheep. He doesn’t realize that the “prostitute” is actually his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar. She’s desperate to have children, and he has withheld his last son from marrying her. Judah sleeps with Tamar, and she gets pregnant with twins, Perez and Zerah. Perez is the son in the lineage of Jesus.

While God doesn’t accept or condone sin, He can use it to accomplish His plans. (Tony Evans Commentary) We see that God used two very broken people to accomplish His work and send a Savior to redeem us from sin, including the very sins they committed.

In chapter 39, Joseph sets a very great example of dedication to God. Because he is so dedicated, the LORD is with him and blesses him and causes him to be successful. He thrives while working for Potiphar, and Potiphar is blessed because of Joseph. Joseph demonstrates an excellent work ethic, which is a lesson for those who work for others to be the best employees they can be, even when working for non-Christians. 

Joseph is described as attractive, and Potiphar’s wife desires him. Day after day, she tries to entice her to sleep with her, and he declines. He demonstrates a sound mind and self-control in the midst of temptation. This comes from the Lord (2 Tim 1:7). He flees temptation as 1 Corinthians 6:18 instructs. Potiphar’s wife accuses him of rape, and Potiphar gets mad and throws Joseph in jail. Despite this, God is still with Joseph, and he is still promoted and successful in prison.

In chapter 40, the king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker are thrown into prison with Joseph. They both have dreams while they are there. Even though Joseph is dealing with his own suffering, he still seeks to serve and minister to these men who are downcast because they are in prison. Joseph is confident that God not only interprets dreams but will use him to interpret them. He does interpret the dreams, and he is accurate. This is a reminder that even when people forget us or leave us, God never will.

This is a grace-filled space—come as you are. If you’d like, comment below to share what stood out to you; your words may bless another sister. You can also connect with us in our GroupMe Bible Study chat (link in your email).

Resources Used:

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible (Original, Black): Holy Bible, English Standard Version

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda

The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible

Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/

Crayola Silly Scents Twistables Colored Pencils, 12 count

BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils with Erasers, Thick Point (0.9mm), 24-Count

Mr. Pen- Sticky Index Tabs, 480 Pcs, Colorful Sticky Tabs for Notebooks

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Note: I'm sharing my personal study notes, which means they may contain doctrinal or technical errors. Extend grace as we learn together, and be sure to study the Word for yourself.

By: LaRissa J

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