Genesis 37-38
Sometimes when we think about the patriarchs and the leaders of the tribes of Israel they take on sort of a patina glow – a sort of holiness – like they were not quite human. But here in chapters 37 and 38 we see the very human nature of Jacob’s twelve sons. We see the dirt swept under the carpet come out (like the time I replaced my carpet with hardwood flooring and saw the ugly smelly mess that had been hidden all those years).
In our lives it gives us insight into dealing with our own relationships, jealousies, anger, and hypocrisy – showing us how not to behave – and we see hints of real character and the transformation that comes with a relationship with God. We also see the Lord once again protect the Messianic line that is in danger of being snuffed out.
Year: 1,998 BC
Verses 1 – 2
Although it says “this is the account of Jacob” in reality the rest of the book (with the exception of chapter 38) is really about Joseph.
Joseph is 17 years old – almost the youngest. Bringing a “bad report” would have really stung the older brothers. If you had younger brothers or sisters you likely encountered a similar thing: “I’m going to tell Daddy what you did” says the younger sibling.
It doesn’t say if the other sons of Israel were doing anything wrong – but we do know from Joseph’s character later on that brutal honesty and integrity were hallmarks of his life.
Be that as it may – we also find out that Joseph had a ready listening ear in Jacob:
Verses 3 – 4
Apparently Jacob’s love for Rachael has been transferred in favoritism towards Joseph. As parents we often tried to make sure our kids knew we loved each one of them equally – but here Jacob doesn’t try to hide it at all – giving Joseph a “coat of many colors.” This figures prominently into the story.
Even before the dreams that Joseph is so famous for – we hear that the other boys hate him. It says they “could not speak a kind word to him.” This meant they wouldn’t even greet him (shalom). Imagine your own brothers just pretending you aren’t even there!
Isn’t it amazing how much trouble honesty can get you in? You’d think God would just take it easy on Joseph – he’s already got enough trouble – but then he brings these dreams which just inflame the boys even more!
It reminds me of Jesus.
Mark 14:61-64 Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
Sometimes you just have to stick to the truth, even if you know it is leading you down a path that will get you into more trouble than you are already in. Now that doesn’t mean to be rude about it – but I think sometimes we hold back when someone has baited the hook – and we don’t really witness as to who we are in Christ. Word to the wise.
Verses 5 – 8
Joseph seems so innocent in this. It’s like he wakes up and can’t wait to share this dream with the others. Had he a sense of what they meant he might have kept quiet. Had he been of any other kind of character (ie: arrogant) he would have spread it abroad with satisfaction and glee. But he just shares it – as if everyone would marvel at what God was doing.
I think the marvelous innocence of young faith too often gets trounced by us old and crotchety Christians. A young believer experiences the love and forgiveness of God and they want to shout it from the rooftops. We say to ourselves – “just wait till they get trounced by the enemy a few times.” Perhaps we are too quick to squelch young faith.
Anyway – the brothers hate Joseph all the more – but it’s not over yet!
Verses 9 – 11
The stars, of course, are the other brothers – and the moon and sun are Jacob and Rachel. Even Jacob rebukes Joseph for presumption – but doesn’t dismiss it outright.
Reminds me of Mary – in Luke 2 the shepherds said all kinds of things about her son – she “treasured” them in her heart. Perhaps Jacob knows there is some hidden truth to this, but isn’t sure what it is yet.
And, of course, they were prophetic in that all of them, including Jacob, would be under the lordship of Joseph as administrator of Egypt.
Verses 10 – 14
You gotta wonder if maybe Jacob sensed that his boys were probably not taking good care of his flocks, and knowing that Joseph was such an honest guy – he sends him to really check up on them and catch them. But I’ll bet Jacob had no idea just how much the other brothers hated him.
Verses 15 – 20
We skip right passed the chance meeting with the man who just happens to know where the boys have gone. They were 14 miles away and Joseph never would have found them had that man not been there. Joseph was “roaming” or perhaps just wandering – lost. Had he given up and gone back home he would have been spared the whole Egypt thing. But that was not God’s plan.
What, you mean God meant for Joseph to go through all that hardship? Yes. And he means for you to go through hard times too – times that will test your faith and teach you to rely on Him.
I think part of what Moses is trying to get across here is the character of these boys – that at a moment’s notice they conspire to murder their own brother because they fear he is going to rule over them.
1. If the dream came from God then just who would they really be fighting against? We think our puny human efforts can actually thwart the will of God?
2. It shows us how God reveals our true nature, then brings us to account for that nature so that we will see ourselves for who we really are, then repent.
Now watch what Reuben does.
Verses 21 – 24
Reuben is trying to suggest an even worse form of death – starvation or dieing of thirst in the pit. But actually he plans to rescue the boy. It doesn’t work out quite that way.
It usually comes back to haunt us when we only partially stand up for what is right.
They took the robe off of him – it was the sign of his favoritism.
Verse 25
Another “coincidence” that a caravan is happening by at that moment. The Midianites (from Abraham through Keturah) and Ishmaelites (from Abraham through Hagar) would have been 2nd or 3rd cousins to these boys – so they were kin.
So now Judah also gets a chance to help undo the damage (not knowing Reuben’s plan).
Verses 26 – 28
Sold him for twenty shekels. It was the price of a slave.
Verses 29 – 30
Reuben feels some sense of responsibility as the oldest. And later in chapter 42 he tells his dad to put his own two sons to death if he doesn’t bring Benjamin back from Egypt.
So, although Reuben isn’t perhaps as culpable as the other brothers in the selling Joseph – he has a lot of responsibility to learn and God is going to teach it to him – especially over the fact that he won’t own up to it – the boys now plan a cover up.
Verses 31 – 35
Notice that the boys don’t actually lie. They simply create a situation in which they know someone else will infer a set of facts. But, really, it is lying. They knew the truth and purposefully try to cover it up through obfuscation.
They think they can get away with it, but God has other plans.
Verse 36
We’re going to leave off the story of Joseph for a strange but very important chapter – but we know that where he ended up and we’ll pick up from Egypt in chapter 39.
Chapter 38
Verses 1 – 5
Apparently now it is not as important to avoid marriage with local girls – as the family is well established and there is no danger of assimilation as with Shechem.
As for the timeframe of this chapter – it begins shortly after Joseph is sold – we’ll see Tamar here in a minute – her masquerade and pregnancy would have happened between the two trips that the sons of Israel will make to Egypt.
So we have Er, Onan, and Shelah as Judah’s sons. Judah’s sons, of course, are very important because this is the line of the Messiah. But the two first sons have some problems.
Verses 6 – 7
We aren’t told two very important things here – where Tamar came from – and what Er’s sin was. Whatever it was, it was bad enough for God to kill him.
Verses 8 – 10
We do know what Onan’s sin was – not carrying on the family line. With Er dead, Onan would have been the firstborn – but not if Er’s widow had children. Then it would go to that son. This was later codified into the Law but was a custom in that day as well.
Verse 11
Judah feigns that he is going to give Shelah to Tamar – but the text suggests that he will not for fear that his third son will also die.
Verses 12 – 14
It was actually Hittite law that Tamar is apparently following – that if a widow marries her late husband’s brother and he dies – she is to marry her father in law. Not the way the Law would stipulate later, but she is apparently following her own traditions at this point.
There is some evidence that men would at shearing time go to visit temple prostitutes in order to assist in the fertility of their flocks. This problem of Baal and Ashtar worship would plague the nation for many generations – and here is the first direct evidence of them being involved in it.
Verses 15 – 23
Had Judah remembered his Visa card then Tamar might have been toast when it was discovered she was pregnant. But it seems divinely appointed that he would have to leave his seal and staff. They were signs of his corporate and family identity – akin to a driver’s license.
Hiram goes back with the payment – but doesn’t find the prostitute.
Verse 24
Obviously this is the double standard – the guy can go and be intimate with anyone and it’s just business or even religion – but the woman who gets pregnant is burned to death. Judah’s hypocrisy (both here and in why he didn’t allow his son to marry Tamar) is about to get revealed in a big, public way.
Something else to consider – women who were repeated widows were thought to be witches – and thus the burning at the stake thing.
Just a word of wisdom here – before you make judgments against other people’s behavior, make sure to look at your own.
Luke 6:41-42 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Verses 25 – 26
This really does sound like when Judah and his brothers brought Joseph’s coat to Jacob. The parallel is not likely accidental. Perhaps here we see the beginning of Judah having to take personal responsibility for his sin.
“more righteous” means her actions were more justifiable than his. Sometimes God works His will despite our best efforts to thwart it. Here the line of the Messiah is in danger as Shelah would have had no son – no one to carry on the line – so God intervenes. Yes – He uses less than holy circumstances (Judah’s going to a prostitute – Tamar posing as a prostitute.) and that doesn’t excuse them – Judah will have to answer for his actions.
In chapter 43 as the boys need to go back to Egypt for more grain – Judah personally vouches for Benjamin’s safety, then in 44 he takes the lead in acknowledging sin “God has uncovered your servant’s guilt” he will say.
So we are seeing the first step of Judah’s character transformation.
Conclusions
How to really mess up your life:
Let jealousy rule
Let anger build
Let relationships sour
Let the self be elevated
Let the deception begin
Bridge from anger to action
Think that sparing someone from the ultimate fate is mercy
Mislead to cover your actions
Or like Judah: justify sin based on false presumptions (not giving Shelah to Tamar)
Be blind to your own sin and hypocrisy
Accuse others of sin while you yourself are tainted
Instead:
Realize that God has a plan for everyone – your plan isn’t their plan
Rejoice in what God does in others
Focus on growing in areas where God wants you to grow
Build relationships
Put down the self
Watch out for self deception
Own your mistakes
Confess your sins
For more Bible studies and an audio copy of this message, go to: www.CalvaryChapelNewberg.org
