QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

• Discuss (again) how Joseph was a “type” of Christ (how his life was similar to the life that Christ would live, but on a smaller and less significant scale).
• What can we learn from Joseph’s attitude towards others while in prison?
• Should we expect God to reveal his word to us through dreams today? Why or why not? 
• What encouragement can those who feel abandoned take from the story of Joseph? Will those  in Christ ever be abandoned by God? Discuss.

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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 40

“Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, ‘Why are your faces downcast today?’ They said to him, ‘We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.’ And Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.’ So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, ‘In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.’ Then Joseph said to him, ‘This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.’ When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, ‘I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.’ And Joseph answered and said, ‘This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.’ On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” (Genesis 40, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Philippians 2:1–11

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:1–11, ESV)

*****

[Please excuse any and all typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.] 

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, we now return to the story of Joseph. And as we do, we should remember where Joseph has been. 

Remember that Jospeh was the favored son in his fathers house. He was thrown into a pit and left for dead by his own brothers, who were envious of him. And after realizing that they could make a profit by selling Joseph into slavery, they did. He was taken by Ishmaelite traders down into Egypt and sold to Potiphar, who was a high ranking official, the captain of the guard. 

While a slave to Potiphar Joseph was blessed by the LORD. In due time he rose to a position of power within Potiphar’s house. In 39:4 we read that, “Joseph found favor in [Potiphar’s] sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had” (Genesis 39:4, ESV). Trouble arose when Potiphar’s wife took notice of Jospeh — he was a successful and skilled man, handsome in form and appearance. She desired to lay with him. And when he refused to sin in this way out of his love for God and man, she grew envious and falsely accused him of assault. Potiphar was enraged, and Jospeh was sent to prison, “the place where the king’s prisoners were confined…” (Genesis 39:20, ESV).

In 39:21 we read, “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed” (Genesis 39:21–23, ESV).

It is here that our passage for today picks up. Joseph is in prison, but he had been blessed by the LORD there. Much like  in the house of Potiphar, Joseph had charge over everything in that place. 

Notice, therefore, the trajectory, pattern and quality of Joseph’s life thus far. 

Considered from a merely human perspective, the trajectory of Joseph’s life to this point was downward. He had been brought down to a very low point. Not only was he enslaved in Egypt, but also imprisoned. 

But notice the pattern — Joseph remained faithful in every circumstance. 

And notice the quality of Joseph’s life. Though the circumstances were very trying and difficult, Joseph was blessed of the Lord.

It is no wonder that many students of the Bible have been moved to compared the life of Joseph with the life of Christ. I have said it before: Joseph was a type of Christ. And when I say that Joseph was a type of Christ I mean that, though he was not in fact the Christ, his life functioned as a preview of the life of Christ. 

Consider the trajectory, pattern and quality of Jesus’ life and compare it to Jospeh’s. 

Considered from a merely human perspective, the trajectory of Jesus’ life was at first downward. He, being the eternal Son of God — the favored one his Father’s house, if you will — took on the weakness of human flesh. He was mistreated and betrayed. He suffered to the point death, even death on a cross.  But Christ remained faithful in every circumstance. And the Lord blessed him. 

Of course, there will be an upward swing of exultation that will occur in Jospeh’s life, and this also typifies the upward swing of exultation in Christ’s life — he was not left in the grave, but was raised and exulted to the Father’s right hand — but we are not there yet in the story. We are still considering Joseph’s humiliation.

As we consider this narrative today I would like to look at in three ways. One, I wish to consider how Jospeh behaved in his humiliation. Two, I wish to consider how the life of Joseph prefigured the life of Christ. And three, I wish to consider how Joseph might serve as an example to us, especially in times of difficulty. 

We will notice three things about Jospeh: One, in his humiliation, he cared for others. Two, in his humiliation, he revealed God’s will. And three, in his humiliation, he was forsaken by men. 

*****

Verses 1-8 — In His Humiliation, Joseph Cared For Others

Consider, first of all that, in his humiliation, Jospeh cared for others. This we see in verses 1 through 8. 

In verse 1 we read, “Some time after this…” We do not know how long Jospeh had been in prison before the events that are described to us in this chapter transpired. But it is worth noting that Jospeh was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he was 30 years old when he raised to power by Pharaoh. So, for thirteen years Jospeh was either a slave in Potiphar’s house or imprisoned. Jospeh had his prime years stolen from him. Circumstances like this can cause people to grow bitter towards God and man, but not so with Jospeh. Joseph’s faith remained strong, and his heart soft to God and man, as will see. 

Now, I think it would be naive to think that Jospeh did not struggle during those 13 years. Im sure that wept. I’m assume that he experienced times of darkness and despair. But as we consider the whole of his life we see that he persevered in the faith and waited upon the Lord to exult him in due time.   

This is also what Christ did. 

And this is what you and I called to do. We are to “Humble [ourselves]… under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt [us], casting all [our] anxieties on him, because he cares for [us]” (1 Peter 5:6).  

“Some time after [Joseph was thrown into prison], the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined” (Genesis 40:1–3, ESV). 

It is a mistake to assume that these men merely held a cup and baked for the Pharaoh (though this they did). They were high ranking officials and trusted by Pharaoh. 

We are told what they did to anger Pharaoh, but the text makes it clear that they did commit an offense (or sin) against their lord. So, unlike Jospeh, they deserved to be in prison. “The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody” (Genesis 40:4, ESV).

“And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation” (Genesis 40:5, ESV). Dreams were very important to the Egyptians. Their view was that through dreams they had contact with the spirit world. There was an entire class of men in Egypt who’s job it was to interpret dreams. We hear of them in chapter 41. After the Pharaoh himself had dreamed a dream “he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men” (Genesis 41:8, ESV) for an interpretation. The NET translation calls these men “diviner-priests” and “wise men”, which I think is more helpful. 

The Christian view of dreams is quite different. We know that in times past God spoke to his Prophets and Apostles through dreams, but that mode of revelation has now ceased given that the Christ has come. This is what Hebrews 1:1 speaks to, saying, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV). I do not doubt that Lord may use dreams to encourage the people of God today. But he does not reveal himself and his will for man through dreams today as he did in ages past, for the Christ has come. In times past he spoke through the prophets, but now he has spoken supremely through his Son, and we have his word. 

In other words, this passage that we are considering today about dreams and the interpretation of dreams should not lead the Christian to seek to know the will of God or the word of God through dreams. To do so is to ignore the progress that has been made in the history of redemption. To view dreams as a current source of revelation is to ignore what that New Testament says — that God spoke through the prophets in ages past, and supremely through his Son, The New Covenant church of God is repeatedly encouraged to look to the Word of God previously revealed and now inscripturated to know God’s will for us. 

With that said, it is not difficult to understand why the chief cupbearer and the chief baker were troubled by the dreams that they dreamed. They had both experienced something traumatic when they were thrown into prison by the Pharaoh. They were afraid. They both dreamed dreams on the same night. As we will see, the dreams were similar, indicating to them that they were meaningful. And, finally, they did not have access to the “diviner-priests” and “wise men” of Egypt who, in their minds, could interpret the dreams for them, for they were in prison. 

Verse 6: “When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, ‘Why are your faces downcast today? (Genesis 40:6–7, ESV).”

I think you are able to see why I have made the point that “in his humiliation, Jospeh cared for others.” Even in his extreme hardship, Joseph was a true servant. And it seems to me that he did not just go through the motions in his servanthood, but truly cared for others.  

He was a wonderful servant to Potiphar. And when he had opportunity to sin against him and to please himself, he would not do it. He refused to sin against his master and God. And as he served within the prison he truly cared for those whom he served, even saying, “Why are your faces downcast today?”

Friends, this was also the way that Christ lived. He came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28, ESV). Though “he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5–8, ESV).

And this is also to be the way of the Christian. In that same Philippians passage that was just read, Paul commands us, saying, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3–4, ESV). And then he says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5, ESV). In other words, the servant hearted attitude that Jesus had is to be ours as well. 

Brothers and sisters, this servant hearted attitude is to be in us always. We should have the mindset of Christ the servant day by day. It is to be in us when things are going well. And it is also to be in us when things are difficult. 

I’m afraid that many assume that when things get difficult it is time to be served rather than to serve. And it is no wonder that people think this way, for there is some truth to it. There are times for mourning. There are times when, because of sickness or injury, the service of others is needed. I do not intend to undermine this obvious truth. But here I am addressing the tendency that some may have to sulk in their sorrow, and to grow self centered in their grief. 

When the circumstances of life are difficult you can choose to respond in one of two ways. You can feel sorry for yourself, complain against God, and assume that everyone around you should be your servant, or you can choose to be thankful to God, to give glory to him even for the hardship, and to serve those around you, remembering that others are hurting too, and that Christ served in his humiliation. This second way is the Christian way. God will be glorified in this, and it will be a blessing to you and to those around you. 

 Joseph is to be admired for the way he responded to the terrible circumstances that came upon him. He kept the faith, he honored God, and he served others. 

*****

Verses 9-22 — In His Humiliation, He Revealed God’s Will

Secondly, see that Joseph, in his humiliation, revealed God’s will. 

After Jospeh inquired concerning the downcast faces of the cupbearer and chief baker “They said to him, [verse 8] ‘We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them’”  (Genesis 40:8, ESV). Again, these men knew that there was something significant about their dreams, but they were discouraged because they did not have access to the “diviner-priests” and “wise men” of Egypt, whom they believed had the sole ability to interpret their dreams. 

Joseph’s response to them was very bold. He said to them “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” In saying this Jospeh challenged the trust that these men had placed in the “diviner-priests” and “wise men” of Egypt, and also asserted that God alone has the ability to reveal truth to men. The God that Joseph referred to was his God — the God of the Hebrews — and not the gods of the Egyptians. 

Does this not show that Jospeh was a faithful witness while in captivity. Remember that the he told Potiphar’s wife that he would not lay with her because to do so would be to sin against God. And here he gives glory to God when he testifies before these men that it is his God — the God of the Hebrews — and not the false gods of the Egyptians, who is able to reveal truth to men and to provide the interpretation.

These men were desperate. They had no one else to turn to. And so they told their dreams to Joseph.

First, the chief cupbearer described his dream to Joseph, saying, “So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, ‘In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand’” (Genesis 40:9–11, ESV). 

Jospeh, being illuminated by God,  provided the interpretation, saying, “Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer” (Genesis 40:12–13, ESV).

So confident was Jospeh that this would happen that he made a request of the cupbearer, saying, “Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit” (Genesis 40:14–15, ESV). Again, it should be remembered that the cupbearer was more than a cupholder for the king — he was a trusted advisor. Jospeh knew that one he was restored he would have the ability to vouch for Jospeh before the Pharaoh. 

The chief beaker was understandably encouraged by the favorable interpretation given to the cupbearer, and so he shared his dream as well, saying, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head” (Genesis 40:16–17, ESV). 

Jospeh, being illuminated by God,  again provided an interpretation. This time the news was not encouraging to the recipient. “Joseph answered and said, ‘This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you” (Genesis 40:18–19, ESV).

Jospeh was proven to be a true prophet, and not a false prophet, when “On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them” (Genesis 40:20–22, ESV).

I have noted that Joseph, in his humiliation, revealed God’s will. In other words, he functioned as a prophet of God. 

Here we have yet another way in which Jospeh was a type  of Christ. Joseph was a prophet, whereas Jesus was the prophet of God — the eternal Word of God come in human form. 

John 1:1, 14 and 18 speaks to this  saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:1, 14, 18, ESV). 

Jesus the Christ was the pinnacle of God’s revelatory activity. He was (and is) the eternal Word of God come in human form. It was by the Word that God created the world. It was by the Word that God spoke to the prophets of old. And it was this Word — the second subsistence (or person) of the Triune God — that took on humanity in order to redeem humanity, and to reveal God to us. Again, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18, ESV). 

As I turn now to make application for us I think you can understand why I cannot say, “you also are to reveal God’s will as Joseph and Christ did!”, for Jospeh was a prophet, and Christ was the eternal Word of God come in the flesh — you are not those things.

But I can I ask you, are you looking to the Christ and to his word to know what its true? Are you looking to Christ and his word to know how it is that you are to live in this world? Are you doing what James exports us to do, saying,  “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21, ESV)?

It is no secret that the non-believer does not submit to God’s word in this way. They look many other places in  their search for truth. They have many other things as their source of authority — their unaided human reason, their feelings, their preference, etc.

But it is deeply concerning when one who professes faith in Christ looks to something other than God and his word as their authority for truth? Friends, “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience” (Baptist Catechism, 4).

Look to the scriptures, friends, to know what is true. Ask God to give you wisdom to apply the scriptures to your individual circumstances. Surround yourself with wise and godly counselors to help to know which way you are to go. 

Secondly, though I cannot say to you, “reveal the word of God”, I can say, “proclaim it”. Do not neglect to proclaim the truths of God already revealed in both good times and bad. Could it be, Christian, that the Lord has willed for you to reside in some unpleasant circumstance so that you might testify to Christ there?

Be like Jospeh in this regard — testify to Christ in your humiliation.  

*****

Verse 23 — In His Humiliation, He Was Forsaken By Men  

Thirdly and lastly, see that in his humiliation, Joseph was forsaken by men.  

Remember that Jospeh made a request to the cupbearer that when he was restored to his position that he remember him. He said, “please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.”

But after the baker was executed and  cupbearer restored in fulfillment to the dreams and to the interpretation [verse 23] “the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him” (Genesis 40:23, ESV). 

This must have felt terrible to Jospeh. Certainly, Jospeh must have struggled with feelings of betrayal and abandonment through out this season of his life. His own brothers abandoned him. His master, Potiphar, abandoned him. The cupbearer, to whom he showed this kindness, abandoned him. I wonder if it he did not feel as if God had abandoned him in the pit. 

It is no secret that Christ Jesus our Lord also knew what it was to be rejected and abandoned by man. He was hated and eventually crucified by his own people. One of his own disciples betrayed him near the end. And in his hour of greatest difficulty, most had fled. Indeed, on that cross, Christ, in his humanity, even felt as if God the Father had forsaken him. He cried out, saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34, ESV).

Of course,  God did not abandon Jospeh, but was with him in the pit and would raise him up in due time. 

And neither did God abandoned the Christ.  He did “not abandon [his] soul to Sheol, or let [his] holy one see corruption”, in fulfillment to Pslam 16:10. 

Friends, if you belong to the Father through faith in Christ Jesus,  neither will he abandon you, “for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV). 

*****

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6–11, ESV)

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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Why did Jesus choose to enter into Jerusalem riding upon a colt of a donkey that was borrowed, and not his own? What message did this communicate? What prophesy did this fulfill?

What kind of king is Christ?

When Christ returns how will he come?

How should the “triumphal entry”, as it is commonly called, effect our worship?

Tags: Gospel Com

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Com
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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 39

“Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, ‘Lie with me.’ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?’ And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, ‘See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.’ Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, ‘The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.’ As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, ‘This is the way your servant treated me,’ his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.” (Genesis 39, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Matthew 5:1-16

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.’ ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.’ ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.’ ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ ‘Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’ ‘You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.’ ‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’” (Matthew 5:1–16, ESV)

*****

[Please excuse any and all typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.] 

Introduction

As you can see we have returned again to the beloved story of Joseph. Chapter 38 of Genesis felt like an unpleasant interruption, didn’t it? I say “unpleasant” because the story told there is truly scandalous (the story is pleasant in the sense that it magnifies the grace and glory of our God). I say “interruption”  because the  story of Judah, his sons, and Tamar felt out of place given that the story of Joseph began in chapter 37. But as I said in the previous sermon, chapter 38 plays a critical role in the Genesis narrative. It interrupted the Joseph story, but for a reason. The moral decline of the sons of Israel is documented there  — they were no better than the Canaanite peoples who surrounded them. Knowing this will help us to appreciate all the more the grace of God shown to them in their election and redemption. In particular the wickedness of Judah is documented there. And this will help us to appreciate the transformation that we will see in him later in the Genesis story. But now we return to Joseph. We are to remember how badly he was treated by his own brothers. They hated him, being driven by jealousy. They conspired to kill him. But seeing that they could do away with their brother and make a profit, they sold him to Ishmaelite traders who then took him down to Egypt, which is where our passage for today begins. Verse 1 of Genesis 39: “Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.” (Genesis 39:1, ESV)

This chapter may be divided into three parts. One, in verses 1-6 we learn that Joseph was blessed by the Lord while in Potiphar’s house. Two, in verses 7- 18 we learn of the temptation of Joseph, and of us his righteous devotion to the LORD.  And three, in verses 19-23 we learn that Joseph was blessed by the Lord while in prison.

The central theme of this passage is very clear: the LORD was with Joseph wherever he went. He was with him to sustain him, to bless him, and to make him prosper in every circumstance. Notice the repetition of the phrase,  “the LORD was with Joseph…” It is found in verse 2 where we read, and “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” In verse 3 we learn that “[Potiphar] saw that the LORD was with [Joseph] and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.”  And after Joseph was unjustly thrown into prison we read in verse 21, “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” And again in verse 23 we read, “The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.”

Notice that in each of these verses (and in others also) the word LORD is spelled with all capital letters. This signals to the english reader that it is the Hebrew name YHWH that is in use here. And we know that that name for God communicates that he the God who is near. He is the God who makes and keeps covenants. He is the God who is faithful to his people. How appropriate it is, therefore, that this name for God be used in this passage. For here we see that Joseph’s days are dark and filled with trouble. Judging by the appearance of things, one might be tempted to say that God had abandoned him. But this could not be further from the truth. The LORD was with him. The LORD blessed him even in the dark and troubled days. The LORD showed him favor and made him prosper. 

[APPLICATION: It is no wonder that the story of Joseph is so dear to the people of God. All who walk with Christ in this world will experience difficulties, trials and tribulations. There will be good days, and there will be bad days. There will be pleasent and unpleasant seasons. How crucial it is for the people of God to know that the LORD is with them even in the evil day. And how important it is for the people of God to know how to walk in days of difficulty. We are to walk faithfully no matter the circumstances of life, just as Joseph did.]

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Verses 1-6

Undoubtably, these were dark days for Joseph. Nothing is said in this passage regarding his emotional state, nor are we given any insight into his thinking, but this must have been a very traumatic experience for Joseph. He was a young man when he was assaulted by his own brothers. They threw him into a pit and left him for dead. Try to see these events through Joseph’s eyes. Imagine looking up from the bottom of that deep pit watching your brothers leave you to die. They eventually returned, but only to sell him into slavery. He plead with his brothers, but to no avail. He was taken away by foreigners and sold again in a foreign land. The language in that land was strange to his ears. The food was different. Undoubtably, the customs seemed odd. A traumatic experience like this might cause some to loose their faith, to grow hard towards the Lord, and to be overwhelmed with despair. But Joseph remained faithful. He flourished even as his world came crashing down around him.

How could it be that Joseph remained so strong in the midst of such adversity? Again and again we are given the answer: “The LORD was with Joseph”, we are told. The LORD was near to him, and he was near to the LORD. Everything that Jospeh had was stripped away — his privileged position in his father’s house, his freedom, his wealth, his comfort, his family and friend. To loose all of that at once would bring most men and women to ruin, but the LORD was with Joseph to sustain him in the midst of the trial, and it appears that Joseph clung tightly to the LORD.

[APPLICATION: Brothers and sisters, the LORD will sometimes test his people in this way to show if their faith is true. And if it is true, the LORD uses trials like these to make their faith even stronger. Remember that the LORD did something like this with Joseph’s father, Jacob, when he was sent away to Laban for all those years. We know that the LORD did this with Job — he too lost everything, but refused to turn his back on his God. When the Apostle Peter wrote to suffering Christians he reminded them of their eternal reward and then said, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6–7, ESV). Joseph was certainly grieved by various trials. The genuineness of his faith was surely tested. But he was found faithful, for the LORD was with him to bless him. What are we to do in times of difficulty? Well, we are to cling to the LORD and seek his blessing. We are to remember that the LORD does not leave his people, but he does use trials and tribulations to test, refine and strengthen them. And it is for this reason that we can do what James commands us to do, that is to “Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds…[knowing] that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2–3, ESV).]

The text here says that Jospeh was a “successful man”. He started as an ordinary slave to Potiphar, but before long he was moved from working with the slaves in the field to working inside in a privileged position. And yet again, Joseph was promoted until all that Potiphar had — both inside and outside — was left in his charge. So trusted was Joseph that the only thing Potiphar concerned himself with was eating his food!

Why did Potiphar promote Joseph so quickly to the position of overseer? Certainly Joseph was a hard worker. He must have been very responsible. Clearly, he had the ability to oversee and lead people. But none of that is mentioned. Instead we are told that Potiphar “saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands”. For this reason, “he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.” And from then onward, “the blessing of the LORD was on all that [Potiphar] had, in house and field.”

Here we have a little example of a fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham that all of the nations of the earth would be blessed through his offspring. I say it is a “little example”, for this promise really finds it’s fulfillment in the Christ who would be born from Israel — the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But here we get a little taste of the nations of the earth being blessed through Abraham’s offspring when the estate of Potiphar the Egyptian was blessed of the LORD on account of Joseph’s presence with him.

[APPLICATION: Brothers and sisters, we should expect the same to be true of the people of God in this New Covenant era. We should expect the Christian to be blessed of the LORD, and to also be a blessing to the nations. This is what Jesus was referring to when he spoke to his disciples saying, “You are the salt of the earth…” and, “You are the light of the world… ” (Matthew 5:13–16, ESV). God’s people are to live in the world in such a way that the world is affected by them. If we are in Christ then we are blessed. But we must never forget that we are blessed to be a blessing. As we live for God in this world — as we love Christ and keep his commandments — we should expect that those around us will be blessed also. And here I am not only thinking of the blessing of salvation coming to others. Certainly that is our prayer, that others would come to faith through our witness! But here I am saying that the Christian should have an affect upon those around them in other ways too. Sadly, the opposite is sometimes true. Sadly, it is sometimes the Christian who is affected by the culture, and not the culture by the Christian. But if the Christian is strong and mature — if the Christian is faithful and true — they will walk with Christ in such a way that they have an affect, instead of being affected. Such was the case with Joseph. He was blessed, and he was a blessing.]

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Verses 7-20

It is in verses 7 through 18 that Joseph’s faithfulness to the LORD is put on full display. Here we see that he resisted strong temptation because he loved the LORD. 

At the end of verse 6 we are told that “Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” And in verse 7 we learn that Potiphar’s wife took notice of him. She was an unfaithful wife. She was a temptress. She was also very forward and aggressive. When Potiphar was away she spoke to Joseph saying, “Lie with me”. Notice Joseph’s reply in verse 8: “He refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?’” In brief Joseph refused to lie with Potiphar’s wife out of love for his neighbor and out of love for his God. And is this not summary of God’s law?  To love the Lord with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself? Joseph resisted the temptation because he would not sin against Potiphar, nor would he sin against God — “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”, he said. 

[APPLICATION: Brothers and sisters, see that Joseph’s love for God was manafest in his obedience to him. He loved God, and he obeyed him, which demonstrated that his love was true. Those who love God keep his commandments. This is what Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV). 1 John 2:3-6  makes a similar assertion: “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:3–6, ESV). These texts are not teaching that if we sin at all then we do not love God at all. Instead, they make it plain that love for God and obedience to God go hand in hand. To say that you love God and to live in disobedience to him is a contradiction. To love God is to obey him. The greater our love for him, the greater our obedience will be. Do you love God, friends? Then keep his law. Do you love Christ friends? Then walk as he walked.]

[ILLUSTRATION: This principle should not surprise us. Other relationships function in the same way. Over time a wife will doubt the sincerity of her husbands love if he treats her poorly. He might say “I love you” often. He might even buy her gifts from time to time. But if he treats her badly day to day, his actions will contradict his professions of love. The same is true of the relationship between child and parent. If a child truly loves mom and dad then the love will show itself in obedience and respect, generally speaking. It is easy to claim  to love God, friends. It is even possible to act like you do in public worship. But if your love for God is true, it will manifest itself in obedience to God’s law.]

Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Notice that Joseph knew that adultery was “a great wickedness and sin against God” prior to the giving of the ten commandments, the seventh of those being, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”. I say this to support the idea that the ten commands contain God’s moral and universal law which was written on Adam’s heart in the beginning. 

In verse 10 we learn that Potiphar’s wife  “spoke to Joseph day after day, [but] he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.” Over time she grew more aggressive. Verse 11: “But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment [probably a cloak] in her hand and fled and got out of the house” (Genesis 39:11–12, ESV).

Brothers and sisters, sexual sin is not an exclusively male sin. In Genesis 38 it was Judah who was the aggressor. Here in Genesis 39 it is Potiphar’s wife. She was a temptress. 

Notice that Joseph was once again stripped of his cloak. His brothers tore his coat of many colors off of him when they assaulted him, and now Potiphar’s wife tore his cloak from him — perhaps this to was a coat of honor, signifying his privileged position within Potiphar’s house. 

Here is where things turned for Jospeh. Potiphar’s wife, feeling scorned and being driven by envy, decided to do Joseph harm by falsely accusing him. She had his cloak and so she used it to claim that he had taken it off to assault her. She bore false witness and slandered Joseph’s good name. 

[APPLICATION: Take notice, friends. While it is true that men sometimes do horrible things to women (and sometimes women to men), and while it is true that the testimonies of those who claim to be victims of assault should be taken very seriously, it is also true that people sometimes tell lies. To bear false witness and to slander someone’s name is a terrible sin. It is possible to destroy a person with lies. Never should we bear false witness, and never should we forget that people sometimes do.]

[ILLUSTRATION: Many of you know that my wife works at a public charter school. One thing that she does with some regularity is to look into allegations that students make against others students — “so and so is bullying me” is a common one, I think. A few years ago the school installed cameras so that most of the campus is covered. Lindsay spends a good amount of time reviewing video footage to sort out conflicting testimonies. It is disturbing how often the accusers are found to be lying. And it is even more disturbing to know that often times the accusers are in fact the ones guilty of aggression! This needs to be kept in mind when considering allegations. People do lie.] 

Potiphar’s wife lied  because she felt scorned. And when Potiphar was told, “his anger was kindled.” But there is evidence that Potiphar wasn’t entirely sure of his wife, for he  took Joseph and “put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.” Typically, the punishment for such a crime would have been death. But Joseph was put into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined — an unpleasant place, no doubt.  

*****

Verses 21-23

In verses 21 through 23  we  have a repeat of verses 1 through 6. Just as Joseph was made to prosper in Potiphar’s house, so the LORD made him to prosper in the prison. Verse 21: “But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed” (Genesis 39:21–23, ESV).

*****

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, it is critical for God’s people to know that God is able to make them prosper even in the most trying of circumstances. In every circumstance of life they are to cling to Christ and walk faithfully before him.

Are you experiencing good days? Are your circumstances pleasent? Then walk faithfully before God. Love him above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself. Or are you experiencing days of great difficulty? Are you circumstances most unpleasant? The admonition is the same! Walk faithfully before God. Love him above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself. For if God is with you — if you have been reconciled to God through faith in the Christ — then you have all that you need.

We have taken an up close view of Joseph in this sermon today. But as we move now to a conclusion I would like to step back just a little bit to gain some perspective. There is a larger story that is unfolding. We know that Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery and plunged down into the prison so that from there the LORD might raise him up to a position of power and, through him, save a great multitude of people, both Egyptian and Hebrew.

And if we step back from this story even further we will certainly recognize that the story of Joseph mirrors another story — that it, the story of Jesus the Christ. Just as Joseph was brought low so that he might be raised up in due time, so also the Christ, but in a much greater way. Paul puts it this way, reminding his that “Jesus… was in the form of God, [but] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV). Jesus was emptied and humbled — he suffered and even died — so that through him many might be saved, not only from amongst the Jews, but also the gentiles, and from salvation, but from the judgement of God in hell forever.

So while it is true that we learn that God is present with his people to bless them in difficult circumstances; and while it is true that we learn how to walk when facing trials of many kinds — we are to be faithful! And while it is true that we learn that God has purposes for our suffering — for this reason we can count them all joy! It also must be recognized that something bigger was happening in the life of Joseph. A bigger story was beginning to unfold. God would provide salvation for Israel in Egypt through Joseph. And more than that, in the fulness of time, God would provide salvation through his one and only son, Christ Jesus the Lord, for all who believe upon him.

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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

• Why would Matthew highlight the fact that Jesus descended from Perez who was born to Judah by Tamar?
• What does the promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning “offspring” have to do with this story?
• How does this story communicate that God’s love is unmerited?
• What indication do we have that Judah was softened and changed for the good through this incident with Tamar?  
• What application can be made to our lives from this passage?

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Old Testament: Genesis 38

“It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, ‘Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up’—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house. In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And when Tamar was told, ‘Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,’ she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. He turned to her at the roadside and said, ‘Come, let me come in to you,’ for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, ‘What will you give me, that you may come in to me?’ He answered, ‘I will send you a young goat from the flock.’ And she said, ‘If you give me a pledge, until you send it—‘ He said, ‘What pledge shall I give you?’ She replied, ‘Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.’ So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood. When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. And he asked the men of the place, ‘Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?’ And they said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’ So he returned to Judah and said, ‘I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’’ And Judah replied, ‘Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.’ About three months later Judah was told, ‘Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.’ And Judah said, ‘Bring her out, and let her be burned.’ As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, ‘By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.’ And she said, ‘Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.’ Then Judah identified them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not know her again. When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, ‘This one came out first.’ But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, ‘What a breach you have made for yourself!’ Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.” (Genesis 38, ESV)

New Testament: Matthew 1:1-17

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:1–17, ESV)

*****

[Please excuse any and all typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.] 

Introduction

I am aware that to some Genesis 38 will seem like a strange text to preach on the Sunday before Christmas. It’s a rather scandalous story that we find here, isn’t it? And I’ll admit, this story doesn’t feel very “Christmasy”. But I hope you can see that Genesis 38 is not all together unrelated to the story of the birth of Jesus the Christ. Perhaps you noticed that the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew 1 makes mention of the main characters of Genesis 38 — Judah and Tamar. Listen again to Matthew 1:1-3: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar…” (Matthew 1:1–3, ESV). 

When Matthew set out to write his gospel concerning Jesus the Christ, he began, not with the story of his birth, but with his genealogy. Matthew was concerned to demonstrate that Jesus was in fact the offspring of Abraham and David. This was important, for Jesus could not possibly be the Christ (that is to say, the Messiah) unless he descended from Abraham and David. For the Old Testament scriptures are clear — the Christ would be born in the line of Abraham and David. Matthew does eventually tell the Christmas story that is familiar to all of us, but only after establishing the descent of Jesus from Abraham and David. 

After reading the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38 one might assume that Matthew would be eager to distance Jesus from this mess. But instead he highlights the fact that Jesus’ ancestors include Perez who was born to Judah by Tamar, who was Judah’s daughter-in-law. Notice that Matthew in his genealogy of Jesus does not usually mention the women by whom such and such a person was born. Typically the fathers are the only ones mentioned. But here in Matthew 1:3 we read, “Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar…” As I have said, one my expect Matthew to burry this unsavory story to distance the Christ from the scandal, but instead he does the opposite. He draws attention to the relationship. Not only was Judah the father of Perez (Matthew could have said only that and the genealogy would have been complete), he was the father of “Perez… by Tamar.” 

In fact, there are four other instances in the genealogy of Jesus where Matthew mentions the mother of such and such a person. “Salmon [was] the father of Boaz by Rahab”, “Boaz [was] the father of Obed by Ruth”, “David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah”, and “Joseph [was] the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” In each of the five instances where the mother of such and a person is mentioned there is either some scandal or some surprising thing to be noted about the woman. Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah by whom Perez and Zerah were born — that story is scandalous. Rahab was a prostitute and a foreigner (not an Israelite)— scandalous and surprising . Ruth was a foreigner too — it is surprising that the line of the Messiah would run through her. Solomon was born to David by Bathsheba, who was the wife of Uriah — this too was scandalous. And Jesus the Christ was born to Mary, who was a virgin betrothed to Joseph — very surprising. 

What then should we think about the surprising genealogy of Jesus. How should we interpret the sin-laden family history of the Messiah? Clearly, Matthew was not eager to bury these unsavory stories, nor to cover the blemished in the family history of Jesus. To the contrary, he seems to draw attention to the scandalous and surprising things as he traces the generations of Jesus from Abraham and through David. What are we to make of this? 

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I. God’s Plan Of Redemption Was Accomplished Despite The Sinfulness Of Man 

First of all, as we consider the genealogy of Jesus in general, and the story of Judah and Tamar in particular, it is apparent that God’s plan of salvation was accomplished despite the sinfulness of man. 

This is an important observation, for it demonstrates that God is able to bring about his plans and purposes in a messy world. He is able to accomplish his will even while men and women rebel against him. Our sins — though they be truly ours, and though they be truly sinful — do not frustrate the plans and purpose of God.    

In the presence of Adam and Eve it was announced that one of her seed would eventually come into the world to defeat the serpent who had deceived them. From that first announcement of the gospel the people of God awaited the arrival of this promised and anointed one, who we call the Messiah or Christ.  

We know now that the Christ did not come into the world immediately, instead he was born in the “fulness of of time”, to use the language of Paul (Galatians 4:4). And he would descend, not from a pure people, but from a mixed multitude — a blemished people with a checkered past. Even the so called “good guys” in the biblical narrative were not really good. Some of them had great faith, and in that respect they are to be emulated, but they were not without blemish. Consider Abraham and his flaws. Consider King David and his. Remember that Solomon was born to him “by the wife of Uriah”, as Matthew points out.  

I suppose that some might reason this way: If God accomplishes his purposes despite my sin, then are my sins really so bad? And that answer to that question is “yes”. Yes, your sins and my sins are truly heinous before God. Each one of them deserves the wrath of God. Our sins have terrible consequences in this life and in the life to come (which is why we must washed by the blood go Christ and clothed in his righteousness by believing upon him).

Here I am not trying to minimize the heinousness of our sin, but to magnify the greatness of our God by saying, nothing can thwart his purposes or frustrate his plans. 

The story of Judah, the son’s of Judah and their relation to Tamar is truly scandalous. So scandalous is this story that I hesitate to go though it in great detail with small children present. I’ll retell the story generally, and I’ll leave it to you to contemplate the details. 

Judah already has a bad reputation in the Genesis narrative. He took part in the plan to kill his brotherJoseph, being driven by jealousy.  And remember also that it was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph into slavery seeing that they could make a profit while doing away with him. 

It is therefore not surprising to learn in Genesis 38 that Judah’s sons were wicked men. Wicked men do sometimes produce godly offspring, but this is by the grace of God. It far more common, though, for the son’s of wicked men to be wicked also. 

Notice in verse 7 that “Er, Judah’s firstborn, was [so] wicked in the sight of the LORD, [that] the LORD put him to death”. We are not told the nature of his wickedness. Onan, Judah’s second born, was also wicked. Instead of having intercourse with Tamar to raise up offering by her, he went into her only for pleasure. This was wicked in the sight of the Lord. If he did not want to take Tamar as wife, he could have refused to do so. Having taken her as wife, it was his duty to raise up offspring by her. Onan did neither. Instead, he took her as wife only to use her for pleasure. 

One thing that needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting this story is the significance of raising up “offspring” within Israel. To the serpent it was said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15, ESV). With these words the significance of offspring was established.  To Abraham it was said, “To your offspring I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7, ESV), and “I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth…” (Genesis 13:16, ESV), and “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2–3, ESV), etc. Here it is clear that the offspring of Abraham would be of particular importants to the accomplishment of God’s plan of salvation for the world. The same promises were reiterated to Isaac and Jacob. So for the sons of Judah to show such disregard for the responsibility and privilege of raising up offspring within Israel was  especially wicked. Clearly, Onan cared little about the promises of God given to his fathers. He cared only for physical pleasure. In verse 10 we read, “What [Onan] did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.

Judah promised to give his third son, Shelah, to Tamar when he came of age, but he was afraid that he too would die (as if Tamar had anything to do with the death of his first two sons!) and so he withheld him. 

Though Tamar’s methods were very questionable (sinful), she does come across as a kind of heroine in the Genesis narrative. She, unlike Judah and his sons, was eager to raise up offspring within Israel. If she did not care about offspring for Israel, I suppose she could have went her way and taken a husband from her own people (she was probably a Canaanite). But instead she waited for one of Judah’s sons. And when the third was withheld, she deceived Judah to bring forth offspring by him. Is Tamar to be condemned or praised in this narrative? If only things were so  black and white! What she did was sinful, but again, it appears that her desire to raise up offspring within Israel is to be commended. 

Judah comes off all bad in this story. He promised his third born to Tamar, but withheld him. He joined himself to what he thought was a prostitue while on a journey — really she was his daughter-in-law in disguise. And when his daughter-in-law was found to be with child he ordered that she be put to  death by burning. Wow! The hypocrisy of the man! But he was put to open shame when Tamar presented his signet, his cord and staff — the very signet, cord and staff that she had taken from him as a pledge of payment when disguised as a prostitute. 

The signet was a ring with seal on it. The  cord was a ornamental cord probably used to bind Judah’s cloak. The staff was obviously a walking stick. All of these were personal objects which would easily be recognized as belonging to Judah. The irony is that Jacob deceived Isaac with a cloak and goat, Jacob’s sons (including Judah) deceived him with a cloak and goat, and now Judah is deceived by Tamar as she covers herself with the cloak and awaits the payment of goat for her services. 

The turning point in the story is when Judah’s hypocrisy is discovered. “As [Tamar] was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, ‘By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.’ And she said, ‘Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.’ Then Judah identified them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not know her again” (Genesis 38:25–26, ESV).

This may have been a turning point in Judah’s life. [Sometimes the Lord works in this way  — in order to grow us he first humbles us.] In chapter 43 Judah will appear again in the Jospeh story, but he seems to be a changed man. Instead of cold hearted and self serving, he appears compassionate and selfless. There in Genesis 43  Jacob urges his sons to go back up to Egypt to get food, for the famine  in the land was very severe. But Judah protested  saying, “The man [who we know was Jospeh] solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you’” (Genesis 43:3–5, ESV). The brother being referenced was Benjamine, the youngest, and the second born to Rachael. As you know, Jacob would not let Benjamine go for fear that he would loose him also. Listen to how Judah responded to his fathers hesitancy. “Judah said to Israel his father, ‘Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever” (Genesis 43:8–10, ESV). And when Jospeh threatened to keep Benjamin it was Judah who pleded for the boy and offered to be held captive instead, saying, “Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father” (Genesis 44:33–34, ESV). 

It seems to me that one of the reason this story of the wickedness of Judah is told here in Genesis 38 is to help set the stage for the radical transformation that took place within him. We will appreciate the light of Judah’s transformation much more now that it is set against this dark backdrop of Judah’s hardhearted and self-centered way of life.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus the Christ is known as the Lion of tribe of Judah. And now that you know the truth about Judah’s character in the beginning, isn’t it apparent that God is able to accomplish his purpose despite our sin. God is able to use that which evil for good. How exactly he does this, I cannot say. But that he does it is clear. All of the wickedness that we see in the world does not frustrate the plans and purposes of God, and this should encourage us to press onward and to not loose heart. 

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II. God’s Plan Of Redemption Was Accomplished Because Of God’s Love For Sinful Man 

Secondly, as we consider the genealogy of Jesus in general, and the story of Judah and Tamar in particular, it is apparent that God’s plan of redemption was accomplished because of God’s love for sinful man. 

When the scriptures say, “for God so loved the world…” it should astonish us. It should astonish us that God — God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, who is radient in glory and unblemished in his purity — would set his love upon sinful and fallen creatures such as you and me. 

Stories like this one about Judah, his sons, and their treatment of Tamar, are meant, in part, to convince us of our unworthiness before God. These stories magnify the grace of God. They demonstrate his mercy. They make it crystal clear that the love that he has shown to the world by providing a savior through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is undeserved.    

When John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV). It does not mean  that God has set his love upon all human beings equally and without distinction, as the Arminians and semi-Pelagians say. To interpret the passage that way would make the text to contradict all of those passages about unconditional election and predestination that are found in the New Testament. To interpret the passage that way would set John 3 against John 6 and 17. And to interpret the passage in that way ignores the way that John (and every other biblical author) uses the word “world”. The world “world” stands for the all the peoples of the earth — all nations. And the world “world” also  has moral connotations. It is often used to describe a world that is sinful. When John says, “For God so loved the world…” he intends for us to be astonished at the though that God Almighty would bother to set us love upon wicked people such as you and me so as to redeem a people for himself from every tongue, tribe and nation. 

Tamar was a Canaanite, as I have already said, and yet God determined to use her to accomplish his purposes for the redemption of the world. Judah and Tamar were sinful, and yet God advanced his program of redemption through them. Judah bore Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and from Perez Jesus the Christ would be brought into the world. 

Clearly God’s plan of redemption was accomplished because of his love for sinful man, and not because of our merit. He owes us nothing, friends, except his righteous judgement. Instead he has shown mercy and grace. 

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III. God’s Plan Of Redemption Was Accomplished By The Son Of Coming In The Likeness Of Sinful Man 

Thirdly and lastly, as we consider the genealogy of Jesus in general, and the story of Judah and Tamar in particular,  it is apparent that God’s plan of redemption was accomplished by the Son of God coming in the likeness of sinful man. 

I’m sure you have noticed that I have been reading a lot of genealogies lately (and sometimes I really struggle with the names!) But why do the scriptures contain so many genealogies?  Why did Matthew, for example, begin his gospel with a genealogy? 

In part, the answer is that according to God’s plan salvation would be accomplished by one who was truly human. The savior of the world would be of the seed of the Eve. He would be the son of Abraham and of David. Perez is mentioned here because through him the Christ would be born into the world. 

And that is what we are celebrating during this Christmas season — the birth of Jesus the Christ. He was born into the world at the perfect time, according to the will of God.

According to the New Testament scriptures, and in fulfillment to the Old, he was truly human, the son of Abraham, and yet he was truly divine, the eternal son of God.

He was truly human because he came to redeem humans from their sin. He was born into this world a human so that he might live for humans, die for humans, and rise for humans. If redemption was to be accomplished for the sons and daughters of Adam, it required that one from Adam’s race accomplish that salvation by the keeping of God’s law and bearing the penalty that rests upon Adam’s posterity. 

And yet it was also required that this Savior be divine, for no mere human could possible keep God’s law now that the race is fallen; no mere human could possibly bear the weight of the sins of all of God’s elect; no mere human could possibly raise himself from the dead, thus winning the victory over the evil one. 

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Conclusion

Friends, Jesus the Christ was both the son of Perez born to Judah by Tamar, and the eternal Son of God. He assumed a true human nature — he came in the likeness of sinful flesh — so that he might provide salvation for you and me. Let us not forget that this Christmas season, but rejoice that God would love us so. 

Tags: Genesis 38

Posted in Sermons Genesis 38
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QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

• How does the structure of Genesis indicate that Jacob was the elect son of Isaac, and not Esau?
• Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him? How might this apply to the Christain?
• How is Christ typified in the life of Joseph?

Tags: Gospel Community Groups

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Scripture Reading: Genesis 36:1-8 & 37:1-36

“These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)” (Genesis 36:1–8, ESV)

“Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully:  to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, ‘Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?’ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ And he said to him, ‘Here I am.’ So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.’ So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, ‘What are you seeking?’ ‘I am seeking my brothers,’ he said. ‘Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.’ And the man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.’ But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ And Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him’—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’ And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, ‘The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?’ Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, ‘This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.’ And he identified it and said, ‘It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.’ Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, ‘No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.’ Thus his father wept for him. Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard” (Genesis 37, ESV).

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[Please excuse any and all typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.] 

Introduction

Before getting to the beloved story of Joseph which begins in Genesis 37:2, I would like to say just a few words about Genesis 36, of which we read only a part. 

In Genesis 36 we find the generations of Esau. This is the ninth of the ten main sections of the book of Genesis, therefore. In verse 1 we encounter that very familiar phrase “These are the generations of…”. This phrase functions as a heading over the ten sections of Genesis. And who whose descendents are listed here? We are told that “These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). ”

As you know, Esau was the older of the twin boys born to Isaac and Rebekah, but he was not the elect one. Contrary to the custom of the day, the younger son, Jacob, was elect of the Lord. According to the reveled word of God, he would be the one to receive the birthright and the blessing. He would be the one to inherit the promises of God made to his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. 

Paul, when teaching on the doctrine of unconditional election used these two historical individuals to illustrate his point, saying, “when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’” (Romans 9:10–13, ESV). When we read that God “hated” Esau we should not think that God hated him with a human kind of hatred, which is imperfect and impure. The meaning is that God set his love on Jacob, but passed over Esau. He chose to bless Jacob and to bless the nations of the earth through him, but he determined to leave Esau in his sin and guilt. 

Friends, if this is troubling to you — if upon hearing that God loved Jacob and hated Esau you think, “that’s not fair!” —  then I would suggest that you have not grasped what the scriptures have to say concerning the majesty of God and magnitude of our sin. Truth be told, all deserved to be as Esau (passed over by God and left in their sin — hated), and none deserve to be as Jacob (chosen and pursued by God, having the love of God set upon them). This precisely what Paul said when he anticipated the objection of “unfairness” or “injustice”. Verese 14: “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:14–16, ESV).

Jacob was elect of the Lord; Esau was passed over. This is  made clear in the narrative of Genesis in three ways:

One, this was announced to Rebekah before the children were born, before they had done good or evil. The Lord spoke to her saying, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23, ESV).

Two, the narrative of Genesis also demonstrates that Jacob was the blessed and chosen one. The Lord reiterated his promises to him time and time again. The Lord persued Jacob and was present with Jacob to preserve him. The Lord even wrestled with Jacob, and having humbled him, he blessed him. And finally after serving Laban for all of those years Jacob reentered Canaan, and — take special note of this — Esau left. Think of the significance of this fact. At the end of the day it was Jacob who was brought safely into the the land of promise, while Esau left.  

Look again at Genesis 36:6: “Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob…. [Verse 8] So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom)” (Genesis 36:6–8, ESV). And in 37:1 the text says that it was Jacob who “lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan” (Genesis 37:1, ESV). The narrative of Genesis emphasizes this development, for it is very significant. Jacob was chosen one — the one to whom the promises of the Lord were given. 

This really is a surprising development. Jacob was the one who was sent away from the land as he fled for his life from his brother Esau, while Esau remained in the land. From a human perspective it seemed as if Esau had won. It seemed as if Esau had retained the birthright and his father’s blessing. But it was the will of the Lord that Jacob possess the land. And who can possibly resist the plans and purposes of God? If it is the will of the Lord that such and such a thing happen, then it will happen, even if it is against all odds, humanly speaking, for who can frustrate his will? 

What I am saying is that not only was Jacob’s election announced to Rebekah before the children were born, but the stories of their lives show it to be true. Jacob, though he clearly was undeserving, was chosen of the Lord. He was called, pursued and kept by the Lord. The promises of God were given to him. And he was brought safely into the promised land, while Esau was expelled. 

Three, the structure of the book of Genesis also shows that Jacob was the elect one, whereas Esau was passed over. 

Notice how brief this section is which tells of the generations of Esau (only chapter 36) and compare it with the length of the section which will tell of the generations of Jacob. That section will begin in 37:2 and run all the way through to the end of Genesis, which has 50 chapters. The “generations of Jacob” occupy 13 chapters of Genesis. That is more space than was devoted to the entire time from Adam to Abraham. But Esau’s generations are described in only one chapter. 

This pattern has already been observed in the “genealogies” or “generations” of Genesis. The non-elect lines are minimized, whereas the elect lines are emphasized and expanded. Remember Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was the older son of Abraham, but he was not the son of promise. Isaac the younger was. The generations of Ishmael are recorded in Genesis 25:12-18  — only seven verses! —  whereas the generations of Isaac occupy 25:19 through to the end of chapter 35 — ten and a half chapters. 

Mind you, it is not that Ishmael and Esau were not blessed. Both men prospered greatly and against  all odds. Both men became great nations. The Ishmaelites descended from Ishmael, and the Edomites descended from Esau. Clearly these men were blessed. They were blessed in the things of this world. But notice this — they were pools of God’s blessings, and not rivers. They were cul de sacs God’s blessings, not thoroughfares. They were recipients of God’s earthly blessings, but they were not the conduits through whom the blessings of God’s salvations would come to the world. 

The Christ would not be born from Lot, Ishmael or Esau. Instead, the Christ would come into the world through Abraham, Isaac and Israel. And in him — that is, in the Christ — all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

Here in Genesis 36 we see that Esau was clearly blessed. But notice that he was blessed only in an earthly way. He had many offspring. A nation and kings descended from him — Esau would become Edom! This is really incredible to think that little Esau would become a nation. But he was not the chosen one. Jacob, his younger twin brother, was blessed of the Lord spiritually. Jacob knew the Lord. And through Jacob and his offspring all the nation of  the earth would be reconciled to God through faith in the Christ that would descend from him in the fulness of time. 

Having now briefly considered the generations of Esau, let us now turn our attention to tenth and last section of the book of Genesis. In 37:2 we read, “These are the generations of Jacob.” The rest of Genesis will tell the story of Jacob’s offspring. Jospeh, who was the firstborn of Rachael, Jacob’s favorite wife, will be the central figure of this story. 

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I. Joseph’s Brothers Hated Him

The story of Joseph, which is one of the most loved stories in all the  Bible, begins with a description of the hatred that his brothers had for him. 

By the way, anyone who thinks that Israel was chosen and blessed of the Lord because of some inherent goodness or worthiness within them has not read the story of scripture very carefully. Time and time again Genesis highlights the sin of Abraham, Issac and Israel, and the same is true here. The children of Israel were plagued by sin. Clearly, any grace shown to Israel was by God’s grace.  Any favor bestowed upon them by God was unmerited. 

Three reasons are given for the hatred of Joseph:

One, in verse 2 we learn that Joseph brought a bad report to his father Jacob concerning his sons born to Bilhah and Zilpah. “Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father” (Genesis 37:2, ESV). 

It is unclear whether the report that Joseph brought to Jacob concerning his half brothers was true. Some commentators suggest that Joseph either lied or exaggerated when he brought this bad report to his father, and that is why his half-brothers hated him. I suppose that is possible. I could be that Joseph, desiring to have first place in his father’s house, slandered his brothers before his father. But narrative of Genesis leads me to think otherwise. It is more natural to see that Jacob’s half brothers were indeed bad men. Consider what has been said about them previously, and consider what will be said about them in just a moment. These were not good people! The hated Jacob, not because his report was untrue, but because he dared to tell Jacob of their bad behavior, whatever form it took. If Jacob erred in some way, perhaps he erred in telling his father. But even that is questionable. Sometimes we are wise to keep our mouths shut and to refrain from sticking our noses into the business of others, but sometimes the only right thing to do is to tell. This is especially the case when some evil thing is being done that will bring harm to others. Jacob told on his brothers, and they hated him for it. 

[APPLICATION: This scenario reminds me of what Peter says in 1 Peter 4:2-5. There he exhorts the Christian “to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. [And then he makes this observation:] With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:2–5, ESV). Brothers and sisters, do not be surprised if these who are worldly hate you when you refuse to live as they do. They will “malign” you, Peter says. That means they will speak evil of you. It is quite natural to want others to like you. Who doesn’t want that?! But we cannot be driven by this desire. Sometimes doing what is right, and refusing to do what is evil, will mean that those who do evil will hate you. The Christian must come to terms with this. This must be a burden that the Christian is willing to bear.] 

Not only did Joseph refuse to run with his half-brothers in their evil ways, he even opposed them by informing his father of their bad behavior. It is  not surprising to learn that they hated him for it.   

Two, Joseph’s brothers hated him because their father, Jacob, showed favoritism to him. This provoked them to jealousy.

Verse 3: “Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him” (Genesis 37:3–4, ESV).

One lesson that we can learn from the life of Jacob is that we should not show favoritism. Jacob showed favoritism to Rachel over his other wives, and this contributed to the division within his family. And Jacob showed favoritism to Joseph over his other sons, and they resented him for it. They resented Jacob and they hated Joseph.

There would have been nothing wrong for Joseph to have a special place in Jacob’s heart. After all, he was the son of his old age, one of the sons born to Rachel. It is evident that Joseph was good boy, especially when compared to the others. But it was very foolish for Jacob to show favoritism to Joseph. Clearly he showed favoritism, for the other could see it. They knew that Joseph was the favored one. In fact, Jacob made a beautiful and lavish coat  for Jospeh to wear — it was a costly coat of many colors. That Joseph was the favored one was far from hidden. In fact, Jacob put it on full display. 

[APPLIACTION: Brothers and sisters, we should be careful to not show favoritism to any of our children. When I think of my four I give thanks to God for each one of them. Each one holds a special place in my heart in one way or another. And this is how it should be. And it is only right that each of them receive the same treatment from their father and mother. Each should be loved, instructed and disciplined equally. Time should be invested into each one. They should know for sure that they are loved. Without a doubt they will grow aware of the fact that they themselves have strengths and weakness. They will probably be able to guess that mom and dad love this or thing about me, but this they probably don’t like so much. But they should know that that won’t change our love for them, for they are our children.]

Jacob may be criticized for showing favoritism to Joseph, but that does not excuse the bad behavior of his sons, for at the end of the day, they were responsible before the Lord for their own actions. 

[APPLICATION: In our day and age it is common for people to blame their bad behavior on their parents. If only my mom and dad were better parents, I would be better, they say. Or, I am this way because of my dad. And while I do not deny that our parents have a powerful impact upon us, this also needs to be said: you are your own person. The choices that you are making are your choices. You yourself will stand before God someday to give an account, and on that day it will not do to blame mom or dad for your sins. At some point we must come to this realization and take responsibility for our own actions.] 

The scriptures do indeed teach that the decisions mothers and especially fathers make will have an impact upon their children. We see that principle here in the story of Jacob and his sons. We also see that principle in the ten commandments where we read, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Deuteronomy 5:8–10, ESV). 

This is how things work, especially in a national setting. The sins of the fathers affect the children. Read Exodus and you will see that many children wandered for a long tim in the wilderness, not for their lack of faith,  but because of the lack of faith of their fathers. Read Kings and Chronicles and see that children would offen suffer the consequences for the sins of their fathers. Many were born to Israel while in Babylonian captivity, brothers and sisters. And why were they born there? They were born there, not for their own sins, but for the sins of the previous generation. Clearly, this is how things work in a national context. Our children will pay our debts in this country, friends.    

But as it pertains to the individual, each one stands before God alone. This is especially true under the New Covenant now that the national dynamic of Old Covenant Israel has been abolished. Jeremiah, speaking of the days of the New Covenant said, “In those days they shall no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:29–30, ESV). 

Have you ever eaten sour grapes and felt the sensations that Jeremiah is talking about — the sensation of your teeth being set on edge? In Jeremiah’s day there was a saying that the fathers eat sour grapes, but it is the children who experience the sensation of their teeth being set on edge. In other words, our fathers were idolators, etc., but were are paying for it! We are reaping what they have sown! Jeremiah is saying that it will not be so under the New Covenant. That generational principle is gone, for the New Covenant people of God are not a nation. They are not a mixed multitude as Old Covenant Israel was. To the contrary, Jeremiah says that under the New Covenant, “no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34, ESV).

Parents have a HUGE impact on their children. This I do not deny. But if you are in Christ you are “a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). You cannot blame your current bad behavior on others, but must take responsibility for yourself and look to Christ for the help you need to progress in your sanctification.

Jacob showed favoritism to Joseph. In this he was wrong. But this does not excuse the sin of his other sons who hated Joseph because they allowed their jealousy to consume them. 

Three, Joseph’s brothers hated him because of the dreams he dreamed concerning his superiority over there rest of the family.  When Joseph shared these dreams with his family, he provoked them to jealously even more so.   

Jospeh dreamed two dreams. 

Verse 5: “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, ‘Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words” (Genesis 37:5–8, ESV).

We know that this dream was from the Lord, for it came true! Not only would Joseph’s brothers eventually bow down to him, but they would do so because they were seeking grain in a time famine. Not only did the dream communicate that Joseph would be superior, it also hinted at the circumstances that would bring it about — it would have something to do with harvesting grain. 

Here we can criticize Joseph a bit. It was probably foolish for him to share this dream with his brothers. It would have been wise for him to keep these things to himself especially given that jealousy was already an issue amongst the brothers. It is wrong to be jealous, but it is also wrong to provoke others to jealously. 

[APPLICATION: Friends, if the Lord has blessed you in some way, don’t flaunt it. Walk humbly before God and man. Don’t put a stumbling block in front of others.]

Jacob’s second dream is found in verses 9-11: “Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?’ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind” (Genesis 37:9–11, ESV).

The sun symbolized Jacob. The moon signified Leah, given that Rachel had already died. And the eleven starts symbolized his brothers. This imagery of the sun, moon and stars has a national significance to it in the rest of scripture. Here it is Israel as a nation considered. But the meaning is the same — in due time his family, including his parents, would own before him. Even Jacob was offended when Joseph shared the dream with him, but instead of being jealous as the brothers were,  “kept the saying in mind.” 

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II. Joseph’s Brothers Conspired To Do Him Harm 

In the second part of this chapter we learn that Jospeh’s brothers hated him so much so that the conspired to do him harm. Notice that just as three reasons were given for their hatred of him, there are three stages to their plan to harm him. 

First, they simply conspired to kill him. You know the story. The brothers were a long way from home, out of their fathers sight and supervision, tending to the flocks. Jacob through they were at Shechem. The mention of this place should remind the reader of the awful thing that the sons of Jacob did there when they slaughtered the people of that land being enraged concerning what was done to their sister. The reader is to remember that these are not good men — they are violent men. Joseph was sent to check on the brothers and to bring them supplies. 

As Joseph journeyed towards them [verse 18] “They saw him from afar [they knew it was him because of his unique coat], and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him” (Genesis 37:18, ESV). 

Immediately we are to remember the sin of Cain who, being driven by jealously, rose up and killed his own brother, Able. Just as Adam’s sons were divided, so too Jacob’s. “They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams’” (Genesis 37:19–20, ESV). 

These are very wicked men. They desired to kill their own brother, and they were willing to deceive their own father concerning the death of his beloved son. 

Two, Ruben, the oldest of the brothers, determined to rescue Joseph by suggesting they not shed his blood, but through him into one of the pits instead, to leave him for dead. The others brothers agreed, thinking that it would be more appropriate to kill him this way. Reuben’s intention was to go away and then return later to save him. 

What it was that motivated Reuben to do this good thing is hard to say. He is not portrayed as a good man in the Genesis narrative. Perhaps this was simply too much for him. Or perhaps he felt some special responsibility for the wellbeing of the family given that he was the oldest. Latter in the Joseph story that does seem to be the case. 

In verse 23 we read, “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat” (Genesis 37:23–25, ESV).

The depravity of man is truly great, isn’t it? These men did this wicked thing — they treated their own brother brutally and left him to die a horrible death — “then they sat down to eat.”  

The third stage of their conspiracy to do Joseph harm came when, Judah, wishing to profit from doing away with his  brother, suggested that they sell him to the Midianite or Ishmaelite (they can go by either name (see Judges 8:24)) traders who were passing by. This they did for twenty shekels of silver.

At the end of verse 28 we read, “They took Joseph to Egypt.”

The texts doesn’t say anything about Joseph’s reaction to this. Later in the story when the brothers stand before Joseph in Egypt we learn that Joseph did plead for his life before his brothers, but they showed him no mercy. And with stage is set for the rest of the Joseph story. 

*****

III. Joseph’s Brothers Deceived Their Own Father, Jacob 

The third and final section of this chapter describes the deception of Jacob. 

Not only did these men sell their own brother into slavery, they even lied to their father, and allowed him to mourn deeply, thinking that Joseph was dead.  

First, it was Ruben who grieved. He returned to rescue the boy but found that he was gone. Evidently he was not there when the decision was made to take him from the pit to sell him.  

Second, the brothers prepared to deceive their father by following through on the plan to dip Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood and to present it to Jacob saying that he was killed by a fierce animal. 

It is worth noticing the irony that just as Jacob used the tunic of his brother Esau and the skin of a goat to deceive his father Isaac in his old age, now he himself his deceived by his sons with a coat and the blood of a goat. Sometimes things come back to bite you, don’t they?

Third, notice that Jacob was left to grieve even though his sons could have easily relieved him by telling him the truth.  “ Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, ‘No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.’ Thus his father wept for him.” Never did his sons tell him that Joseph was alive and in Egypt. To do so would have required that their sin be exposed, but they were not willing to let that happen. Instead they lefty their own father in a state of perpetual mourning. The callousness of the hearts of the sons of Israel is surprising indeed. 

*****

Conclusion

This story is a very sad story. Why then is it so beloved? 

I have three answers, and with these we will concluded. 

The story of Joseph is beloved because the people of God can relate to Joseph in his suffering. This is especially true of those who have been mistreated in this world. The story of Joseph will encourage our hearts as we see that the Lord was with Joseph and preserved him in his suffering.

Two, the story of Joseph is beloved because it answers some of our deepest questions regarding the relationship between sin and sovereignty of God, our suffering and God’s purposes. The truth that will be pressed upon us through this narrative is that God is able to use that which is evil for good. Paul says it this way, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV).  That sounds a lot like what Joseph will say to his brothers after many years of suffering. To them he will say, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20, ESV).

Three, the story of Joseph is beloved because Jesus the Christ is typified in him. It is not difficult to see that in the life of Joseph the redemption that we have in Christ was  foreshadowed. Just as Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob was rejected by his own brothers, was mistreated even to the point of death, was delivered from pit of death and raised up to power so that through him many might be saved, so too Jesus Christ our Lord was rejected by his own kinsmen, was mistreated even to the point of death — death on the cross, was raised up from the grave and was seated high above all poweres, so that through him — through faith in his name — many son and daughter may be brought to glory. Amen.  

Tags: Genesis 36-37

Posted in Sermons Genesis 36-37
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