January 18- All My Children

January 18, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45;
Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32

Genesis 37:1-38:30


Back in the day before laptop computers, the Internet, Netflix, and dvr's, college kids had to arrange their class schedules and activities in order to catch their favorite television programs on a dorm television.  When I was in college, a large group of students in my dorm would congregate in the first floor lounge every week day at noon to watch a soap opera called All My Children.  It was an extremely  popular soap opera in its day that included lots of souped up drama and over -the-top romance.

We can easily call this portion of Genesis, All My Children.  Jacob has many sons and if you ever wondered what the dynamic might be between brothers from different mothers, this story will give you some insight.

It begins with Joseph, the favored son born from Rachel, wearing a multicolored, beautiful robe given to him by his father, Jacob.  If it weren't enough that as a seventeen year old he is obviously the favorite child, Joseph rubs it in by telling the whole family that he has had two dreams where he becomes the master of them all. 

Joseph is later sent out to report on what his step brothers are up to as they herd the flock. The step brothers decide to take this opportunity to kill "the dreamer."  Reuben, the oldest of the group, comes to his rescue and convinces them to just throw Joseph in a pit.  Reuben plans to come get him later.  Judah, another son of Leah, suggests they sell Joseph to some Ishmaelite traders on their way to Egypt.  Joseph is sold for 20 pieces of silver. I told you this was like a soap opera!

Reuben is anguished when he discovers what they have done.  The brothers decide to deceive their father, dip Joseph's robe in animal blood, and claim that Joseph was killed by a wild animal.

What can we learn from this story?

• Don't have kids from four different women.
• Don't favor one child over another.
• Don't tell your step brothers that you are going to be their master one day.
• Don't model deception to your children.  That may come back to bite you.

But seriously, what is God doing in this story?  Joseph is a type of Christ.  His life is a picture of a future reality about the Messiah.  Here are some parallels:

• Jesus is God's favored Son.
• Jesus is master over his people (the Jews).
• Jesus is handed over to death by the people who are his family.
• Jesus was sent by the Father to monitor his people on earth.
• Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
• Jesus was sent into the world (Egypt represents the world in Scripture).

Lesson:  God allows bad things to happen. We cannot always see His broader purpose as we endure the trials.  Jesus is the central character of history. Somehow, this affects everything.

What hard times have you endured?  Do you trust God even in your trials? Do you realize that you are part of a broader story?

Genesis 38

Next, we have a very strange story that fits in nicely with our soap opera theme.  It appears that if we were ever tempted to elevate the forefathers of the faith to some sort of perfect god-like status, these stories would prevent that error.  Only God is God. 

Judah, the brother who suggested selling Joseph to the traders, ends up later in his life impregnating his daughter-in-law. It is a sordid tale of weaselly behavior.  Tamar, the daughter-in-law, marries Judah's son, Er. Er dies and Judah must provide another son to give Tamar a child to be an heir in the family.  Judah doesn't come through. Tamar decides to disguise herself as a prostitute and get impregnated by Judah. This tells you that Tamar understands Judah's character flaws. 

When he is with her, she requires that in leiu of his payment for her services, he leave his identification cord, his seal, and his walking stick with her.  Upon news of her pregnancy, Judah wants Tamar killed for her immoral behavior.  That is until he sees that she is in possession of his cord, seal, and walking stick.  Judah apologizes for not providing Tamar with a proper man to continue Er's family line.  Tamar, who got pregnant from her encounter with her father-in-law, is blessed with twins.

Tamar went through a very hard time in her life.  But the good news is that God used this man of bad character and this woman's suffering to bring us the Messiah.  In Matthew 1:3, Tamar is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  Jesus descends from these two people.  Our Lord is part of a soap opera!

Lesson:  God takes this messy and broken world and redeems all situations.  He makes something beautiful of our lives.

What messiness in your life can God use for good?

Matthew 12:22-45

Sometimes when I wake up on the morning I feel like I am in a fog until I have that first cup of coffee.  Today the Jewish people are acting like they are coming out of a fog after having had their first cup of coffee.  They are starting to say amongst themselves that maybe Jesus is their prophesied Messiah. Maybe after all these years the Redeemer Child promised to Eve, destined to come through Abraham's line, is finally here.

The Pharisees would prefer that people stay in a fog.  They loudly protest claiming that Jesus is demon-possessed and that is how he is able to cast demons out of people.

Jesus shows the fallacy of their logic by pointing out that a house divided cannot stand. Satan would be defeated if Satan were casting out demons.

Aware of their apostasy, Jesus warns that since he does his miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit, when the Pharisees claim that he is doing it through the power of Satan they are blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  According to Jesus this is an unforgivable sin.  Jesus again refers to the Judgment Day. He says that good words flow from a good heart and evil words flow from an evil heart, and all of our words will be judged one day.

Have you noticed that Jesus is constantly referring to Judgment Day?  It is one of his missions on earth to make sure that we understand that our life on this earth counts. It matters to God and it will be reviewed one day. Yikes.

In their unbelief the religious leaders ask for a miracle from Christ. He tells them that the only miracle they will get will be a Jonah and the fish-type miracle. He is referring to his future death and resurrection. Jonah was a type/shadow of Christ.

Lesson:  Your life matters to God. Make decisions that will hold up in the Judgment. Be careful with your words.

Do your words reflect a good or an evil heart?

Psalm 16:1-11

Notice how Joseph from our earlier reading could easily pray this psalm.  Vs. 2 says, "I said to my Lord, 'You are my Master!'"

Proverbs 3:27-32

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to help them."  Reuben is an example of needing to hear this. We all need to hear this.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton