Genesis 40:1-4

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1 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. 3 So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while. ~ Genesis 40:1-4

Today, we transition into our study of Genesis 40 where Joseph is in prison. This whole chapter is a single story and though being long, it must be considered in its context. Today’s passage gives us a glimpse of how Joseph’s release from prison came about, but it won’t be realized in today's study. At this point in his life, Joseph was holding onto the promises that God had given him. The events of this story though came together to ensure that his release would happen in the near future. God works in all places but His best work is most often done in the most woeful of places.

In v.1 of today’s passage we read, “It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.”

The words, “It came to pass” follows after the previous chapter without interruption. The previous chapter always leads to the  next. The false accusations of Potiphar’s wife led to Joseph’s imprisonment and that led to what is about to happen. The sovereign hand of God is seen in the guidance and direction of each step. Joseph saw one event after another without knowing why they were happening to him. He had to trust that the Lord allows and causes all things to happen in our lives for His sovereign purposes and for our ultimate good. Joseph had been in prison for some time, in fact, we do not know exactly how long he was there, it was at least a few years. And, while he was there, two very important people joined him.

Into this unfolding tapestry arrived the butler and the baker of the king. The butler was the king’s cupbearer; the baker was his personal chef. These guys were people of very high rank and they were considered extremely important officials. The king’s cupbearer would have been responsible for tasting Pharaoh’s wine to make sure it wasn’t poisoned before giving it to him. The baker would be responsible for the king’s food, making sure it was good before giving it to his boss. 

In ancient times, a king was always vulnerable to assassination or to being overthrown. This explains the need for both the cupbearer and the baker who were two of the closest servants to the king. They had to be trusted. Any failure or betrayal would have proven deadly to them. They had direct access to the royal presence and they had been selected from the most respected of all of the nobles of the land. These two guys were placed in prison with Joseph because they “offended their lord, the King of Egypt.” The exact offenses we were not told.

In v.2 of today’s passage we read, “And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker.”

These two offended the king and he, in turn, was angry with them. For the king to be angry with such high-ranking people meant that they had done something which was pretty grave. If the king got sick from his meal, that would have been enough for their incarceration. And, in a few verses, we’ll see that his anger will end in a bad way for one of them. These men obviously lacked the wisdom and patience that God was working into Joseph's life. 

In v.3 of today’s passage we read, “So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined.”

Nothing is coincidental with God involved. These two high officials were put into the same place with Joseph who was confined, but he could move about a bit. Joseph was not literally bound but he was unknowingly being confined to the patience and to the wisdom of God. In Proverbs 19:11 we read, "A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." In just a few short years this verse would be born out in the life of Joseph.

In v.4 of today’s passage we read, “And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.”

From Potiphar to servants of the king, Joseph always seemed to find himself in the vicinity of power. This was the setting of Joseph’s waiting and if he had not been committed to being defined by God, Joseph would have missed out on a lot of really important things. Everything that happens to us is part of the setting for God to unfold His story in our lives. All of the good and all of the bad is always found in our amazing adventures with Him. God wastes nothing, in fact, He always uses all of the good and all of the bad to bring about His best for us. And, since we are followers of the Lord Jesus, we are wise to be defined by Him no matter what.

While everything in our lives is part of the unfolding of God’s story for us, the pain we suffer is of most use to Him and to us. Pain is a universal language which transcends borders and cultures, reminding us of our shared vulnerability with and capacity for the God of all creation. Like Joseph, when we find ourselves in an undeserved hard spot, due to the inculcation of His patience and wisdom, we can rest assured that God is preparing us for something beyond our imagination. That was certainly true for Joseph. And, if we walk with God long enough, it will certainly be true for us as well.

Genesis 39:19-23

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19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. ~ Genesis 39:19-23

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 39 where we find Joseph in the fight of his life over temptation and accusation. The key to Joseph's success was that the Lord was with him. In addition, Joseph had to be careful to access the presence of the Lord in and through his life by practicing God's presence. As a result, he was defined by the Lord which is what enabled him to recognize the sin that called out to him for what it was and to say "no" to its invitation to give safe haven in his life to death and destruction.

In v.19 of today's passage we read,"So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, 'Your servant did to me after this manner,' that his anger was aroused."

Potiphar’s anger was aroused when his wife told him that Joseph tried to rape her. As a result Potiphar placed Joseph into jail. Similar to Potiphar's anger, God’s anger was aroused at the sin that had occurred, but it was aroused in a unique way in Christ who became the Substitute for our sin. What all of sinful man had done was, in fact, judged in the Lord Jesus. This is why the Lord Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, said, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

The cup of God’s wrath was handed to the Lord Jesus, and He drank it down in our place despite being innocent of any wrongdoing. Potiphar’s anger was aroused as well and he took it out on an innocent man. We can see this more clearly in the very next verse.

In v.20-21 of today’s passage we read, “20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

Joseph was Potiphar’s property, and Potiphar was the captain of the executioners. If he believed that Joseph was truly guilty, it was certain he would have had him executed. But because of the accusations of his wife, which couldn’t be substantiated, he took a course of action that pictures for us the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus. He sent Joseph to the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. In the Hebrew, Moses employed a very unusual term which is only used eight times in the Bible and all eight are in this particular story and nowhere else. This place was made under ground, and at the top of it was a hole which let in light, and at which they went into it. It pictures for us the tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ; a round area cut out of stone with an entrance which could be covered.

We are not told of the conditions Joseph faced in that prison, but we do find a description of how he was treated in Psalm 105. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron. Once again, Joseph did the right thing. He should have been honored for his virtue, and Potiphar’s wife shamed for her immoral pursuits. Instead, it was innocent Joseph who was the one who got hammered with a false sentence.

For the second time in Joseph’s life, he had followed the Lord’s will and got a raw deal for it. His chains no doubt were made heavier by the utter injustice of it all. In such times, the mind screams at the unfairness involved. But there is yet one more incident in Joseph’s life that will pound the abuse in deeper. Joseph was never abandoned by the Lord, even though he suffered for a crime he didn’t commit. Joseph will be in prison, but he won’t be abandoned. Instead, he will be brought out and made ruler over all of Pharaoh’s kingdom.

In v.22-23 of today’s passage we read, “22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.”

This was the beginning of God exalting Joseph. As in Joseph’s life, everything in our lives and service for the Lord depends upon His blessing. But, the meeting of the need is not dependent on the supply in hand, but on the blessing of the Lord resting on the supply. As John Piper once said, “God wants us to find that He is sufficient in the midst of trouble rather than just demanding that he deliver us from it.”

God’s blessing is the working of God and it is not based on anything we do. True success is when we have discovered to trust the Lord especially when life gets worse to only realize that during those gravest of moments God is preparing us for something much better. We just simply have to trust in Him.

Genesis 39:11-18

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11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” 16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.” ~ Genesis 39:11-18

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 39 where we find Joseph whom his brothers hated so much they sold him to Ishmaelite traders from Midian. After being sold in Egypt, we now see Joseph living in the house of Potiphar an officer in Pharaoh’s army. Like Joseph’s, our lives have a bunch of peaks and valleys. As the Lord was with Joseph through the good and bad, so He is with us. This is why we must practice His presence every day, especially on the most dark of days. It was Jim Eliot who once said, "God always gives His best to the one who leaves the choice to Him."

So, Joseph was a slave away from his family, in Egypt. But God was with him and caused him to succeed at his workplace as he worked for Potiphar. However, he gained the unwanted attention of Potiphar's wife, who repeatedly demanded that he lie with her. This was a daily temptation. As a slave, Joseph had no prospect of marriage and no freedom. To a young man in the prime of his life, this naturally meant a lifetime of celibacy. This was a real temptation that Joseph had to fight daily. This fight had to be extra hard since he was yet a teenager.

In v.11-12 of today’s passage we read, “11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.”

If nothing else, Potiphar’s gorgeous wife was persistent. Her persistent advances teach us that the more we feed the flesh, the harder it will be to not be defined by it. This is why we must not avail ourselves to those things that we know will cause us to be unfaithful to our commitment to our God. 

In the Middle East at that time and even now, the people wore garments that were loose around the body. It was hot and having something like this would have been cool and yet fashionable. Slave garments would probably have been of different material, style, and/or color to identify them, but they would follow the general motif of the day. In Joseph’s case, Potiphar’s wife grasped Joseph’s outer garment. It was then that he ran away from her. 

In v.13-15 of today’s passage we read, “13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, ‘See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.’”

Potiphar’s wife tried to get Joseph to be defined by her passion. When this didn’t work, she then referenced Joseph as a “Hebrew” which is a descriptor that hasn’t been used in the book of Genesis since chapter 14 when it was first introduced into the pages of the Bible. Hebrew is synonymous with Israel and yet it provides something deeper. It is the calling of the national group. Just as our national identity is American, we are first and foremost “Christians.” This is the force and the effect of the term Hebrew here which is derived from Abraham’s great-great-great-great grandfather named Eber. Eber means “he who crossed over” and it signifies that he and his family are the ones who crossed over the Euphrates and away from Babel, the land of apostasy. This was more than just a physical crossing of a river, but a spiritual crossing over, hence a title being used first of Abraham. So, recognizing that it was only Joseph and her in the house, Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of trying to rape her.

In v.16-18 of today’s passage we read, "16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, 'The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.'"

Potiphar's wife reported her story to two groups of people -- the men of the household and her husband, Potiphar. There are slight differences in emphasis in her stories. To the men of the household, she highlighted Joseph's ethnicity and played on the ethnic divide between Egyptian and Hebrew. To her husband, she carefully chose her words to kindle anger through appealing to a hurt pride. In both these cases, however, she carefully arranged the burden of guilt away from her. She set herself up as a poor, helpless victim.

Through all of this the Lord was developing Joseph's faith. Joseph had faith, he trusted in the Lord. But, his faith in the God of the Bible needed to grow. And the way the Lord most often develops our faith is through the trials that He allows into our lives. The most effective way to resist the temptations to be defined something other than God is to be diligent to hide God’s Word away deeply in our hearts.

Faith is the hearts ability to recognize God in a given situation in our lives. Adrian Rogers says, “The devil tempts us to do evil, to cause us to stumble. God tests us to do good, to cause us to stand, to make our faith strong and pure.” It is a really good thing that Joseph passed the tests during those many days that Potiphar’s wife pursued him because it was through the tempering and the strengthening of his faith that he was able to endure the even harder trials that were about to come his way. As we will see Joseph waited by faith, he waited by faith in Potiphar’s house, he waited by faith in a jail cell and he waited by faith in a palace. In today’s world, many would consider Joseph a victim but he wasn’t. Joseph was a victor because he was deliberate at being defined by God. For 13 years God tested and refined Joseph’s faith, making of him a leader who would be able to handle the incredible stresses of leadership. When Joseph had proven himself to God, it was God who exalted him to be the blessing the world needed at that time in history.

Genesis 39:7-10

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7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” 10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. ~ Genesis 39:7-10

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 39 where Joseph has been sold into slavery in Egypt and is now the overseer of the house of the Egyptian Potiphar. In our last study we ended with the idea that Joseph was quite attractive. This is why his walk with the Lord was so important as we will see. And, since Joseph was so diligent to maintain a consistent walk with the Lord, Potiphar grew in his trust in him, so much so that he trusted him with everything in his life including his gorgeous wife.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, 'Lie with me.'"

Potiphar’s wife “cast longing eyes on Joseph” before she made her proposition to him. Her eyes were like torches set aflame by the lust of her wicked heart. She didn’t care to guard her eyes from leading her into the den of wickedness because she loved her sin so. For those who have seen the light, we must feel for her because she was blind to the truth. Due to that, she didn’t understand that all of her earthly desires were mere echoes of that ultimate desire that we all have which finds its only fulfillment in an intimate relationship with our Creator. Couple this together with what we read in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. It then asks, “Who can know it?,” and we discover our desperate need to be delivered by and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we avail ourselves to someone who is under the influence of someone other than the Lord, we run the risk of being cornered by them and defined wrongly. Satan always waits for the optimum time to tempt us. He waits until just the right moment and then he casts his lure in our direction. In Joseph’s case, the timing was perfect because Joseph was far away from home, he was a slave, and he was probably most lonely. In addition, he was experiencing great success. Somebody has wisely said, “The temptations that accompany prosperity are far greater than those that accompany adversity.” Satan strategically timed the temptation for the period of greatest impact.

In v.8 of today’s passage we read, “But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.”

No doubt that Potiphar’s wife was very beautiful. This, I am sure, made it most difficult for Joseph to say “no” to her advances. But he did refuse. Joseph understood that the wife of a man belongs to that man. And he had no intention to violate the sanctity of the bond that was there between Potiphar and his wife despite her beauty or his position. Regardless of what had been entrusted to him in all of Potiphar’s house, without any record of it being spoken, Joseph knew that his authority didn’t reach to the wife, nor could it. In his response to Potiphar’s wife, Joseph elevated the authority that he enjoyed beyond himself, starting with his master and then demonstrating that she was responsible to him as well.

In v.9 of today’s passage we read, “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.”

Joseph understood that his sin against his master in this case was sin against God. It isn’t true that we can only sin against God, the Bible bears out that we can sin against one another. And not all sins against one another are sins against God, but more often than not the two overlap. This is one of those times. After impregnating Bathsheba and having Uriah killed to cover it up in Psalm 51:4 David wrote, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”

It was at least two hundred years before the giving of the law of Moses and yet it was an understood precept, not only to Joseph but also to Potiphar’s wife. And so Joseph invoked God as his defense against her advances. In this exchange, Joseph used the name Elohim for God instead of YHWH. Instead of the God of the covenant, of whom she was excluded, Joseph mentioned the God of creation to whom she was accountable. God had long instilled such knowledge in the heart of man and Joseph hoped that Potiphar’s wife would reflect on it hoping that she would repent.

In v.10 of today’s passage we read, “So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.”

It’s one thing to have someone enticing you to do something you shouldn’t do when you can avoid them. It’s another thing to be near them without the ability to get away. For all of us, there is only one true refuge from it and that is to walk closely with God and to be defined by Him in the moment. It is in these moments that we must be careful to be guided by the conscience given to us by God, understanding that it is, in fact, from God. To ascribe a conscience to anything other than God will eventually lead to a violation of that conscience. For those who know that God holds us accountable, there is the continued source of strength to endure even the most belligerent foes. 

Joseph was such a person. He had his conscience in tune with God and his eyes fixed on Him. Joseph understood that the answer was the Lord Himself. In Romans 13:14 we read, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” This is what Joseph did in order to resist the onslaught of the enemy who desired to wreck the incredible plans the Lord had in mind for His people. I can’t help but wonder, how many times have my poor decisions given the enemy the upper hand in a given situation.

Genesis 39:1-6

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1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. ~ Genesis 39:1-6

Today, we transition into Genesis 39 where the story of Joseph is being unfolded. This man who once had a coat of distinction is now seen in Egypt enslaved by Potiphar the captain of Pharaoh’s army. Since the introduction of Joseph in Genesis 37, we have noted that the thread through his life is the idea of forgiveness. We pointed out that there are three parts to forgiveness: the injury, the debt incurred by the injury, and the cancellation of that debt. Today, we will see the unfolding of this major doctrine which is a must if we are to be reconciled to God.

In v.1 of today’s passage we read, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.”

Joseph had been stripped of his robe, shoved into a pit, and sold into slavery by his brothers. And then, he was taken away from his family and his land to a people of a foreign place where there was no knowledge of the God of the Bible. Joseph would be there for 13 years before he would see his family again. And Joseph kept believing in the God of the Bible and the presence of God was pronounced in his life as a result.

At the young age of 17 Joseph was now alone in a foreign land. But God, who is always in control, even when the events around us seem to show otherwise, was preparing Joseph to do some very cool things that would impact the entire world. Joseph's amazing journey which went from slavery to the second highest position in Egypt, unfolds in today’s passage. When life seems to be going great and setbacks come along, we can rest assured that God has some big things planned in our immediate future. Only when we find ourselves clinging to God will we be positioned to see the great things the Lord has in store for us. Of course, we mustn't let ourselves think that it is only about us because when God blesses us, He always has someone else in mind. It is arrogance that always short circuits God's will both in and through our lives.

In v.2-4 of today’s passage we read, “2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.”

Here, the name YHWH is reintroduced into the continuing narrative of the events of Israel. He’s only been mentioned 6 times in the past 8 chapters and yet He will be mentioned 8 times in this one chapter. His name has been used very little, but in the case of Joseph, it will be used alot due to the relationship Joseph had with Him. Because the Lord is named here, we can know immediately that everything which has and will happen is being directed by Him for the sake of the covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was the God of the Bible who was attending to these events in order to ensure that they unfolded perfectly to fulfill the covenant. As Joseph so diligently walked with God, the Lord used him to picture for us the Lord Jesus Christ. All the while God used the yielded life of this remarkable young man to eventually lead many to faith in the Lord Jesus.

YHWH was with Joseph because Joseph exercised YHWH's presence everyday. The Lord is there everyday in our lives, the question becomes, “Do we exercise His presence every day?” To exercise God’s presence is to be aware of His involvement in our lives daily. It is listening for Him to speak to us through His Word, His Spirit, nature and people. Becoming aware of God in our daily lives requires intentionality. We must be in the practice of looking for Him and expecting Him to speak to us. The litmus test to determining whether it is God's voice or not is whether what He says jives with His Word, the Bible.

Due to the fact that God was with Joseph, he found favor in the eyes of those around him in Egypt. When we read that Potiphar saw that the Lord is with Joseph, it doesn’t mean that Potiphar knew who the Lord was for himself. It means that he saw that Joseph was blessed and that he was a blessing to him and his family. As a result, Potiphar trusted Joseph so much that he allowed him to live in his home. This didn't happen over night which suggests that Joseph was consistent in his walk with the Lord. Saying "no" to the self-life is a must if we are to walk in the Spirit. As a result, Potiphar’s home was blessed and it prospered by the presence of God in the life of Joseph.

The biggest sign that we are walking with the Lord is that we increasingly are becoming servants. As the grace of God increased in the life of Joseph, he experienced more favor from Potiphar. The increase of Potiphar’s favor was in direct proportion to Joseph choosing to be the servant of the Lord. Joseph had been faithful to the Lord his God and now the blessing of His God was upon him to the point that he was made the overseer of the house of Potiphar. The word for “overseer” comes from the Hebrew word which means "to superintend." This honorary position had been granted to Joseph for his diligence and faithfulness over a great period of time. In this capacity, Joseph was granted complete authority and free-will to exercise that authority over all matters related to Potiphar.

In v.5-6 of today’s passage we read, “5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” 

In the middle of such great blessing suddenly out of no where, an entirely new thought and direction comes into play at the very end of today's passage. This is the wrench thrown into the mechanism of it all, the pesky fly in the ointment. And, if we look at it as such, we will miss entirely God and His culture that He so desires to inculcate into us. The break is so sudden and obvious that one has to step back and wonder why the verse wasn’t divided before this sentence was even constructed. But, God who oversees His word determined it to be this way. 

The words, “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance” slap us directly in the face. These were the very same set of words given to describe Joseph's mother, Rachel, all the way back in Genesis 29:17. It reads, “Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.” 

This seemingly innocuous statement set up a course of events which led to seven years for Jacob as he worked off his payment for his desired wife, Rachel. But he didn't get Rachel, he got her sister, Leah. Then, another seven years of trial and grief working off payment for a second wife. All because of the deception of his father in law. In a similar way, through the deception of another person, this same set of words will lead to some years of grief for Joseph followed by his exaltation to become the second highest in the land of Egypt. And when he is in that position, there will be seven years of abundance and then seven years of famine. Thus the connection between Rachel and Joseph is one of astonishing symmetry and beauty.

Today’s passage highlights for us the sovereignty of God even in the unwanted moments of our lives. This is why we must never allow the "victim's mentality" to take hold in our lives because it is through these unwanted moments that the real star of the narrative arrives, the Lord Jesus who was, in essence, sold by His brothers to the Gentiles. Like Joseph, when they rejected the Lord Jesus, His message was carried to the nations. The Ishmaelites, the people whom God heard, carried the truth to the world. In the same way that the Lord was with Joseph, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the Lord Jesus. Similar also to Joseph, the Lord Jesus according to 1 Peter 2:25 is “the Overseer of our souls.”

Once after Charles Spurgeon spoke to a large crowd in England while in the vestibule a man was asked what he thought of Spurgeon. Not knowing that Spurgeon was standing nearby listening, the man asked what his friend thought of the service, and he replied, “What a preacher!” Spurgeon began to weep. Someone asked him what was wrong and Spurgeon said, “I wish he had said, ‘What a Savior!’”

Genesis 38:20-30

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20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said. 22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.” 24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” 26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. 27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah. ~ Genesis 38:20-30

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 38 which provides a contrast to the life of faith that God has called us to in this fallen world. In our last study we learned that after Judah lost his wife he sought the services of a prostitute, thinking that somehow his sorrows could be swept away by an exciting tryst with someone to whom he didn't have to be committed. Boy, did he discover that it does not serve to feed the flesh. The truth is when we live for a fleeting moment of pleasure by feeding the flesh we reap death and destruction.

In v.20-23 of today’s passage we read, "20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said. 22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her."

Having received the services of a prostitute, Judah sent the promised goat with his friend Hirah the Adullamite to be delivered to the unidentified woman. As Hirah went about asking about the whereabouts of the harlot, we learn that he used a different word for “harlot” which was the word used for a temple prostitute. Temple harlots had sex for religious purposes, not specifically for money. With his search being completed, Hiram did not find the woman. 

In this true story we learn that Judah's real problem was he lacked a conscience before God. This is what being defined by sin does to us, it weakens our heart for God. And, it is at that point that we lack the heart to be obedient to God. But, what we fail to see is that when we do not obey God, He loses nothing. In fact, when we choose not to be defined by God, we loose as we will see in this unfolding story.

This chapter began with “Judah departed.” Judah, which means “thank you,” went to visit Hirah the Adullamite. Hirah means “nobility.” Adullam means “the righteousness of the people.” The hidden message given in these names is: our pursuit of righteousness and nobility is of no value before God. Judah named his firstborn son Er which means “watcher.” Judah’s wife named their second-born son Onan which means “strong.” And then she named their third-born son Shelah which means “prosperity.” And, Shelah was named while Judah was in Chezib, which means “false.” Being sons of Judah, they should have been defined by God by being faithful to His covenant, but it is clear that they were not defind by God and thus they did not walk in the ways of God.

The last son born to Judah was Benjamin, which means "Son of my right hand." Benjamin was a picture of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 9:30-32 we read, “30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”

What the Jews sought, they did not attain, and what the Gentiles didn’t pursue, they did attain. But this was so that God can have mercy on us all, Jew and Gentile alike. The answer is never found in the self life. The answer is always found in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v.24-26 of today’s passage we read, "24 About three months later Judah was told, 'Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.' Judah said, 'Bring her out and have her burned to death!' 25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. 'I am pregnant by the man who owns these,' she said. And she added, 'See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.' 26 Judah recognized them and said, 'She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.' And he did not sleep with her again."

It had been a bit more than three months and Tamar was obviously showing the signs of her pregnancy. To this news Judah requested death to Tamar by fire which was the custom of the people in that area at that time. In one of the most ironic twists of the Bible, Tamar, on her way to being burned to death, sent Judah’s signet ring, cord, and staff back to him, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” Judah’s statement that, “She was more righteous than I” was her vindication before her accusers. And then the reason was given. Judah knowingly withheld from her the promised child, his third son, Shelah. This is how we know that she understood her right to the Messianic line. If it was to come through Judah, and Shelah was not to be given to her, then her act with Judah would bring about the child leading to Christ.

In v.27-30 of today’s passage we read, "27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, 'This one came out first.' 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, 'So this is how you have broken out!' And he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah."

Twins were born to Judah and Tamar. During childbirth, one brother’s hand emerged first, and a scarlet thread was tied around his wrist to confirm that he was to be the heir. But when he withdrew his hand, his brother barged past and was born first. The line-jumper was named Perez, which means break through. The one with the scarlet thread is called Zerah, which means the rising of the light. In those two names is found the heart of the gospel. This is the point of the Bible which constantly points us to that which the scarlet thread points us. Consistent throughout the Bible is the message: "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." This is so due to the fact that it is only life that can overcome death. This is the message of the cross that the rising of the light of God on the soul that willingly invites Him in dispels all darkness. 

Genesis 38:12-19

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12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. 16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.” ~ Genesis 38:12-19

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 38 which chronicles the family tree of Jacob’s fourth born son to Leah, Judah. This chapter underscores the utter importance of being defined by God. When it is not God who defines us, we tend to do really dumb stuff thinking it is good.

The tribe of Judah settled in the region south of Jerusalem and in time became the most powerful and most important tribe. Not only did it produce the great kings David and Solomon but also, it was prophesied, the Messiah would come through Judah. Judah's role as the de-facto leader among his brothers came about due to the moral failings of his brothers Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. Judah’s sense of authority over his brothers was moral and it continued even beyond Judah’s later indiscretions. 

Judah means “thank you” which is a key characteristic involved in the development of a deepening walk with God. In Romans 1 we learn that when we turn away from the Lord, that turn away begins with a lack of gratitude in our hearts for the Lord. Often, the more we get, leads to the more we want. Materialism leads to the “give-me” attitude where stuff fills the void of our heart. This is why it is most important that we are defined by God because without His value system being inculcated into our souls we will fall for foolishness.

In v.12 of today’s passage we read, “Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.”

The friends and family of Judah were obviously concerned for him after his wife died. The death of his wife preceded Judah going to Timnah where Judah’s sheep shearers were located. After a period of time of mourning, Judah was invited to the parties and festivities that were known to be a part of the festive shearing of the sheep at Timnah. Judah took along with him his friend Hirah the Adullamite to enjoy the festivities that would distract Judah from his pain.

In v.13-14 of today’s passage we read, “13 And it was told Tamar, saying, ‘Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.’ 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.”

In that culture a woman's identity was so wrapped up in the children that she was able to birth. From the beginning God had emphasized the importance of having children, but as was the case, Tamar allowed this very important thing to become more important than it should have been. Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah was so desperate for a son that she posed as a prostitute in the pathway of Judah her father in law. 

The clothes that Tamar wore while living in her father’s house distinguished her as a widow. She had remained faithful to her trust not only by not marrying, but also by showing those around her that she was a widow and living as a widow. If nothing else, the righteousness of her actions are testified to in the Bible. However, because of the length of time mentioned in the previous verse, Tamar had figured out that Judah had no intention of giving his third son to her as a husband. This was her right and if she knew of the Messianic blessing, then even more so. And so she devised a plan, maybe without knowing its outcome, to get him to see the error of his ways. She put on a veil and wrapped herself in a manner that would identify her as a prostitute. 

The word for “veil” is used only three times in the Bible. The first was when Rebekah covered herself as she approached her husband-to-be, Isaac. The other two are both in this story. Tamar was unknown to Judah because of the veil. It had been long enough for the third born son of Judah named Shelah to grow up to the point that she should have been given to him as a wife, but it hadn’t happened. Now, in order to be justified as she should have been by Judah, she turned the tables on him.

In v.15 of today’s passage we read, “When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.”

Since Tamar had dressed as a harlot in a harlotry kind of place, and her face was covered to disguise her identity, Judah had no way of knowing she was his daughter-in-law Tamar. This explains how he could inquire of her services. Since Judah was in such pain after the death of his wife, he justified soliciting the services of a prostitute. Again, this is why it is so important to be defined by God. God is clear in His word that there is to be one man for one woman and vice versa.

In v.16-19 of today's passage we read, "16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, 'Please let me come in to you;' for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, 'What will you give me, that you may come in to me?' 17 And he said, 'I will send a young goat from the flock.' So she said, 'Will you give me a pledge till you send it?' 18 Then he said, 'What pledge shall I give you?' So she said, 'Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.' Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood." 

Judah, seeing this woman by the wayside, being unmarried, and being completely unsuspecting of who she really was, made an offer for sex. Judah knew what he was doing when he asked to have sex with this prostitute. He knew that having sex with her was a part of the Canaanite religion and that the Canaanites would consider that he was doing this as an act of worship to one of their gods or goddesses. 

Judah, thinking that having sex with a prostitute would ease pain and comfort him, asked for sex and Tamar asked what he was willing to pay for her services. Judah offered her a kid goat for her services. Having agreed upon the price, Tamar then asked for a pledge or a deposit. At the point when the goat was received, it would be then that the deposit would be returned. The deposit was three things; Judah's signet ring, cord, and staff.

Again, this story was given to us to give us a contrast between being defined by God or being defined by our unfettered desires. It does not take long for us to realize that the wages of feeding the flesh are destructive. God desires not to restrict our freedom by He knows that left to ourselves we run a muck of our lives. 

The Holy Spirit is symbolized by the dove throughout the Bible. A dove has 9 main feathers on each wing, empowering its’ flight. In the New Testament we are informed that there are 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit and 9 fruits of the Spirit. These gifts and fruits are given to the yielded believer in order to enable us for our godly journey. The dove is unique from other birds in that instead of its wings pointing downward (toward its tail); the wings curl upward toward its head. The Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself, but points all to Christ. Life lived in the flesh even under the law produces the works of the flesh. Life lived in the Spirit realizes the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit. God gave us these qualities through the Holy Spirit because we cannot produce His life in us. And, when we grow in our fellowship with the Father and the Lord Jesus, we will realize the expression of these gifts and fruits in our lives. It will be at that point that we will recognize the utter foolishness of a life defined by the flesh.

Genesis 38:1-11

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1 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. 2 There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her; 3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. 4 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. 5 She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him. 6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also. 11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household. ~ Genesis 38:1-11

Today, we begin our study of Genesis 38 which upon first glance seems to be random and unnecessary. But, as we are learning, every word of the Bible is important because it is God’s word. As we are told elsewhere in the Bible it is a treasure which isn’t easily understood without being searched out. It is living and active and ready to transform us as we lay our souls bare to it. When we read the Bible, we can read it as a textbook or we can read it as a treasure book. The approach makes all the difference in the world because when we come to the Word of God as a treasure to be discovered we will be granted the abundant life that it promises. And oh, the horizons await!

This chapter was meant to be understood along with the previous account of Joseph’s life in the previous chapter. At this point in time Joseph was enduring an intense trial which would last for many years and is recorded to show how the Israelites ended up in Egypt. At the same time, the story of Judah and his family is given to show us about the main line which led to the Messiah. The Lord Jesus, the eventual Lion of Judah, came through Judah. Because of this, the story here bears directly on His ancestry.

In v.1 of today’s passage we read, “It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.”

Judah, like his brothers, was a shepherd and so he would take his flocks and head out for green pastures. For whatever reason, he decided to go out on his own, leaving his brothers, and to visit someone he met named Hirah whose name means “nobility.” He’s noted as an Adullamite. Adullam was a town to the south and west of Jerusalem in the lowlands. Adullam means “righteousness.”

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her."

While visiting Hirah in Adullam, Judah married a daughter of Shua, who is identified as a Canaanite. Shua means “wealth.” This verse is one which should tell us about the importance of names that God records in the Bible. Since the name of Judah’s friend is given, the people his friend belongs to is given, and the name of his father’s wife is given. But the wife’s name isn’t. The one person you’d expect to be named isn’t named at all. This tells us to pay attention when names are given. There is a story within the story to be discovered here. Later, in Genesis 46:12 we learn Judah’s family went to Egypt some time after this. This is some important information as we will see later.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, “3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.”

Er means “watching.” And, with no other commentary about the times and life of Judah, the story jumps straight to the next son to be born, Onan, which means “strong.” But instead of Judah naming him, it says Shua named him.

In v.5 of today’s passage we read, “And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.”

And yet again, a third son is recorded by name. His name is Shelah which means “prosperity.” Again the wife names the son and then it notes the he, Judah, was at Chezib when she bore him. Chezib means “false.”

In v.6 of today’s passage we read, “Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.”

Judah got married at a young age and now he finds a wife for his firstborn at a young age as well. The wife he chose was named Tamar, meaning “Palm Tree.” In the Bible, the palm tree has several connotations. It is a symbol of prosperity, the element of an oasis, and it also is a picture of a faithful and righteous person.

In v.7 of todays passage we read, “But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.”

We are told in Romans 6 that the wages of sin is death. Sin cannot abide in the presence of God, it must be atoned for. Since Er was evil before the Lord it makes sense that before the Lord in his sin death resulted. In an interesting play on “Er” and “wickedness” bear the same letters in the Hebrew for both words. God described Er as completely wicked; it being his very nature. Er’s wickedness was great like the people before the Flood of Noah and the people of Sodom. 

In v.8 of today’s passage we read, “And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”

Because Er was dead and he left no children, Judah tells his second son Onan, to take Tamar as his wife and raise up an heir for Er. The word used for this marriage is a special word used just for this purpose. It is where a person acts as a husband for the widow of a brother who died without children.
This is something that will actually be mandated under the Law of Moses, but it was a custom which was obviously known at this time. It is also known to have been practiced in many cultures of the mid-east and Africa. It is a way of honoring the name of the dead so that their name doesn’t die out. It will also ensure that the inheritance of the firstborn remains alive.

In v.9 of today’s passage we read, “But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.”

Due to the custom of the land and Judah’s direction to him, the first child of Onan wouldn’t be recorded as his. It would be listed under Er. And the inheritance for Er would go to this son rather than to his own. This didn’t sit well with Onan and so instead of refusing to have Tamar at all, he committed a worse act. He took her as his wife, but he wouldn’t provide a child for her in the process. The Hebrew word literally says he “destroyed to the ground.” So he treated her shamefully, disgraced the name of his brother, and violated the custom handed down to him by his father.

In v.10 of today’s passage we read, “And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.”

Without the operative grace of God, the deaths of Er and Onan would have been the norm. The name "Lord" or "YHWH" is mentioned three times in this chapter and only in the two verses about Er and Onan. What they had done was a violation of the covenant God gave to Abraham and which was passed down to Isaac, then Jacob, and then to the sons of Israel. As Judah is the son in the line of the Messiah, these sons had willfully disgraced the covenant.

In v.11 of today’s passage we read, “Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, ‘Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.’”

Tamar had seen two husbands die without bearing children. Judah knew that Shelah was too young to perform his duties by giving her a child in place of those two brothers. And so he says to her to remain a widow in her father’s house until Shelah is old enough to fill the role. 

The point of all of this that seems most random is clearly before us. Even though Joseph was a slave in Egypt, Judah and his posterity were in bondage far more than Joseph. The freedom the Lord Jesus offers us is not a political revolution. His freedom is not about changing our outward circumstances. This is a significant concept because it reveals the Lord Jesus can free us wherever we are. Paul was on the road to Damascus persecuting Christians. The prodigal was in a pig pen. Peter was in a boat fishing. One woman was drawing water from a well. Another woman found freedom when caught in adultery. A thief was on a cross of execution when the Lord Jesus set his soul free! Spiritual freedom is not dependent upon physical circumstances that may have led or contributed to our bondage. The Lord Jesus can set us free when we are overdrawn in our checkbook without making a deposit. He can set us free from past or current failures without having to load a U-haul truck. It is only when we are being defined by the truth that we will know true freedom. And true freedom is bondage to our Creator.