The story of Tamar is not out of place here. This incident follows chronologically the sale of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 38:1), and it is consistent with the fact that Judah has just left his brothers, which points to his disagreement with them. In addition, the text shares a number of common words and motifs with the preceding chapter, and it carries the same theological lesson: an evil act that will be turned into a positive event linked to salvation.

Read Genesis 38:1-30. Compare Judah’s behavior with that of the Canaanite Tamar. Who of the two is the more righteous, and why?

Image © Erik Stenbakken at Goodsalt.com

Judah finds a Canaanite wife (Genesis 38:2) with whom he has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah gives the Canaanite Tamar as wife to Er, his firstborn, in order to ensure proper genealogy. When Er and Onan are killed by God because of their wickedness, Judah promises his last son, Shelah, to Tamar.

When, after some time, Judah seems to have forgotten his promise, as he goes to comfort himself after the death of his wife, Tamar decides to play the prostitute in order to force him to fulfill his promise. Because Judah has no cash to pay the prostitute, whom he does not recognize, he promises to send her later a goat from his flock.

Tamar, meanwhile, requires that he give her, in the meantime, as an immediate guarantee of payment, his signet and cord and his staff. Tamar will get pregnant from this unique encounter. When later, accused of playing the harlot, she will show to the accuser Judah his signet and cord and his staff. Judah understands and apologizes.

The conclusion of this sordid story is the birth of Perez, meaning “breaking through,” who, like Jacob, was born second, and became first, and was named in salvation history as the ancestor of David (Ruth 4:18-22), and ultimately of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3). As for Tamar, she is the first of the four women, followed by Rahab (Matthew 1:5-6), Ruth (, Matthew 1:6), and the wife of Uriah (Matthew 1:6) who genealogically preceded Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16).

One lesson we can take from this story: just as God saved Tamar through His grace, transforming evil into good, so will He save His people through the cross of Jesus. And in the case of Joseph, He will turn the troubles of Joseph into the salvation of Jacob and his sons.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(2)

The post Tuesday: Judah and Tamar appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-judah-and-tamar/

However horrible the events that were to follow, they’re not hard to comprehend. To be in that close proximity to, and even to be related to, someone whom you hated would inevitably lead, sooner or later, only to trouble.

And it did.

Read Genesis 37:12-36. What does this teach us about how dangerous and evil unregenerate hearts can be and to what they can lead any one of us to do?

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

The brothers hated Joseph because they were jealous of God’s favor (Acts 7:9), a favor that will be confirmed at each step in the next course of events. When Joseph has lost his way, a man finds him and guides him (Genesis 37:15). When Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him, Reuben intervenes and suggests that he be thrown into a pit instead (Genesis 37:20-22).

It’s hard to imagine the kind of hatred expressed here, especially for someone of their own household. How could these young men have done something so cruel? Did they not think, even for a few moments, about how this would impact their own father? Whatever resentment they might have had toward their father because he favored Joseph, to do this to one of his children was, truly, despicable. What a powerful manifestation of just how evil human beings can be.

“But some of them [the brothers] were ill at ease; they did not feel the satisfaction they had anticipated from their revenge. Soon a company of travelers was seen approaching. It was a caravan of Ishmaelites from beyond Jordan, on their way to Egypt with spices and other merchandise. Judah now proposed to sell their brother to these heathen traders instead of leaving him to die. While he would be effectually put out of their way, they would remain clear of his blood.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 211.

After they cast him into the pit, planning to kill him later, a caravan passes, and Judah proposes to his brothers to sell Joseph to them (Genesis 37:26-27). After Joseph is sold to the Midianites (Genesis 37:28), the Midianites sell him to someone in Egypt (Genesis 37:36), thus anticipating his future glory.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Monday: The Attack on Joseph appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/monday-attack-on-joseph/