January 15

Scripture and Observation:

Genesis 37-38

Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son and does not hide it.  The other brothers are jealous and can’t even speak to Joseph with civility, they hate him so much.  Joseph shares two dreams that signify the family will bow to him, the second-to-youngest son which doesn’t help matters.   The older brothers go to pasture the sheep in Shechem (the place where they wiped out an entire people in vindication of their sister Dinah!).  Jacob sends Joseph to check on them and the boys see him coming.  They plot to kill him, but Rueben (who had slept with his father’s servant) persuades them to just drop him in a dry well.  They do this, and sit down for lunch.  While eating, they see some Ishmaelites (cousins) approaching.  Judah suggests selling Joseph is better than killing him because this way they can actually profit!    That is what they do, keeping the robe Jacob gave Joseph and covered with goat’s blood and show it to Jacob.  He is inconsolable.

Chapter 38 interrupts this story momentarily to tell about some drama in the family of Judah.  He has three sons.  The first marries Tamar and dies before conceiving a baby.  According to custom, the second son needs to give Tamar a son, but he refuses and dies as well.  Instead of giving son number three to Tamar, he sends her back to her family, fearing the loss of his last son.  Judah’s wife dies; later he travels from home.  Tamar hears where Judah is going, and dresses herself as a temple prostitute.  He approaches her, and she asks for his signet ring, cord and staff as promise that he will come.  She conceives and leaves with his things early in the morning.  Judah tries to send her a goat in payment for her services (and to retrieve his own possessions), but she cannot be found.  He drops the whole thing, a little embarrassed to pursue the matter too publicly.  Three months later, the report comes in that Tamar is pregnant.  Judah orders her execution.  She pulls out his things and declares that the owner is the father of the baby.  He remembers his duty to her and spares her life.

Psalm 4

This is a prayer to God by David.  He asks to be answered in gracious mercy.  He speaks to men and tells the to be good, be honest and seek God.  He ends by praising the Lord in peace.

Luke 15

The Pharisees scorn Jesus for being with tax collectors and prostitutes.  Jesus replies with three analogies: the 1 lost sheep out of 100, the woman who loses her coin and the prodigal son.

 

Application and Prayer:

From when I first began teaching the Bible to my kids I told them there is nothing that destroys more quickly or more thoroughly than jealousy.  We witness the destruction of jealousy in Genesis time and again, and the selling of a brother is no exception.  I pray that I may be saved from my own self-seeking.  Help me to be genuinely happy for others in their endeavors and successes, in the paths they take. 

Judgmentalism seeps into the hearts of those who are supposed to be guiding and protecting the hearts and lives of God’s people.  They hate the loving acceptance Jesus offers the lost.  They condemn Him in their hearts long before He is hung on a cross.  Here he has gathered to his company tax collectors and prostitutes.  Jesus asserts that it is the recovery of the lost for which we must both celebrate and strive.  If a shepherd loses one sheep and finds it, he will celebrate this recovered sheep over the steadfast 99 who did not stray.  The story of the prodigal son shows a boy who goes to live for himself—he lives for pleasure.  And he has friends who will join in the squandering of his inheritance.  But friends disappear with the money and the wayward son finds himself envying pigs. 

We, too, can become so desolate in spirit that we envy swine.  It is when we are so low that we can allow ourselves to be humble enough to approach our Lord as Master.  The Glory of Him, though is that when we call Him Master, he calls us sons and daughters.  Praise Him!