Josepj - the Scarlet Thread

 

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 38:24–30 ESV).

 

Today’s reading is full of deceit, separation, and immorality. Judah, from whose line Jesus the Messiah would come, was a wicked man at this point in his life. Judah was the one who proposed making money by selling Joseph into slavery. Joseph was now separated from the family against his will. But Judah willingly chose to be separate, living among the Canaanite people. Two of his sons were so wicked that God killed them. Judah promised their widow, Tamar, that his third son would become her husband, but he never made good on the promise. Furious and fearful, Tamar trapped Judah by disguising herself as a prostitute. Unprincipled Judah bought her services, but not before Tamar extracted, as payment, Judah’s own seal, cord, and staff. She became pregnant, and when Judah heard about this embarrassment to his family, he demanded that Tamar be burned to death. In her own defense, Tamar exposed Judah with the evidence of his seal, cord, and staff, so he was caught in his hypocrisy. Sheepish, he had to admit that she was better than he was.

 

Tamar gave birth to twins from this encounter. One of the boys was named Perez, the other Zereh. The name Zerah can mean “scarlet” or “brightness.” He was so named because, when the twins were born, Zerah’s hand emerged first. The midwife tied a red thread around his wrist to establish birth order. But then he withdrew his hand, and his brother Perez was born first. Zerah came out of the womb with the red string on his wrist, thereby earning his name.

 

This Zerah grew up and became the patriarch of the Zerahite clan of Israelites mentioned in Joshua 7:16–18. Zerah’s great-grandson Achan disobeyed the Lord and took some of the spoil from Jericho in direct violation of God command (Joshua 7:20–21). Years later, the Zerahites were among the Israelites who returned to Jerusalem from their seventy years in Babylonian captivity. The returning tribe of Judah, including the children of Zerah, numbered 690 members (cf. 1 Chronicles 9:3–6). Zerah’s twin brother, Perez, was an ancestor of Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 1:3–17).

 

Zerah reminds us that God doesn’t overlook anyone because of their parentage or the circumstances of their birth. Every person holds a unique place in God’s order and plan, and everyone is responsible to God for what he does with what he is given. The whole story of Joseph is one of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. Even the wickedness of Judah toward Joseph could not overturn the purpose of God’s redemptive plan! God would use both of these men in a mighty way to bring that plan to fruition. Knowing this solidifies our faith even more!

Joseph - the Empty Cistern

 

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. (Genesis 37:18–24 ESV).

 

Take particular note of the last verse in our reading today: “The pit [cistern] was empty; there was no water in it” (v. 24). Remember, the hatred of Joseph’s brothers was white hot. They were out for blood. Most of them wanted to kill Joseph immediately and throw his body into a cistern where it likely would never be found.

 

But God had other plans; and, He ensured Joseph’s survival. Using Reuben, an empty cistern, and even Judah’s cruel-heartedness to work out his plans for the family of Jacob. Reuben suggested a way to do away with Joseph that would avoid shedding his blood. They could dump him into an escape-proof pit where they could leave him to die. The others went along with this idea, not knowing Reuben was planning to rescue Joseph later. And the cistern, designed for collecting water in that arid land, happened to be completely dry, sparing Joseph from drowning in water or in deep mud. Further, the callous argument of Judah persuaded his brothers that they could “kill two birds with one stone.” They could make money by selling Joseph to the caravan passing by, and they could be rid of him without having to kill him. Greedy hands sealed the deal, but this was all part of a bigger plan God had in mind.

 

In our own lives we too can sometimes see that God protects us despite the evil intentions of others. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according his purpose” (Romans 8:28). I wonder how many empty cisterns you have been thrown into? Each of those in God’s hands will fulfill the promise of creating good in your life!

 

Joseph - the Hatred Explodes

 

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. (Genesis 37:18–24 ESV).

 

A dormant volcano can look peaceful and calm on the outside, yet deep within its core, hot lava continues to build up pressure. It may take centuries, but the volcano probably will again “blow its top.” Hot lava is rarely contained forever. Hatred can simmer a long time too. It boils deep down in the soul. Sometimes it leaks out a little, but people who long for revenge and satisfaction for their hate will bide their time as it stews within. They wait patiently for just the right time to make their move. As a result, the victims of hatred are often taken by surprise when it erupts. Joseph too was blindsided. He never saw it coming; nor did father Jacob.

 

But as Joseph journeyed toward his brothers at Dothan, they noticed him in the distance and saw their chance. Far away from home and from Jacob’s protection, this would be the perfect time and place to get rid of “that dreamer” once and for all. So, they made their move.

 

Then, after throwing Joseph into the cistern, the brothers sat down to a meal as if nothing unusual had happened. With hatred, people believe that their acts of revenge are justified. Sometimes we nurse our grudges and bitterness in self-righteousness. Make no mistake. While God may seem patient as He delays in making all things right, no act of hatred will go unnoticed or uncorrected. We must guard against our tendency toward hatred or retribution toward others, even when they are in the wrong.

 

Joseph - Sent to Find His Brothers

 

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. (Genesis 37:12–17 ESV).

 

In Theology there is a reference grouping of passages in the Old Testament called “Messianic Types.” Messianic types are Old Testament persons, events, or institutions (types) that prefigure and find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ (the antitype), often categorized as legal, prophetic, or historical. Key types include Adam (as a representative head), Isaac (the son of sacrifice), Joseph (rejected then exalted), Moses (the lawgiver/prophet), and David (the king). There are others as well, however, Joseph is a key figure in pointing to Jesus.

 

In this short segment of the story we see a caring father sending his son to see about the welfare of his other sons and the family flocks. This is a mission to ensure that all is well. Joseph makes the journey to Shechem, and he puts his heart into it. Unable to find his brothers at first, he doesn’t abandon his mission but keeps on searching. A local resident notices him, and he’s curious about this stranger who is “wandering around.” The man asks Joseph who he’s looking for, learns the facts, and points him toward Dothan. So, Joseph heads that way, adding more distance to his journey.

 

This picture of a father sending, and a son obeying and persevering—all to ensure the well-being of others in the family— reminds us of Jesus’ mission. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent into the world by the Father to call out to us, his “sheep,” to find us, and to ensure our eternal well-being (cf. John 6:38-40; 10:27-30). As we know, he was rejected by the religious leadership, ultimately being crucified. The Apostle John says, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).

 

It is another way of showing us that God’s plan was to call out to His people to forgive and restore them. Often I think we make the mistake in thinking that we need to search for Him, when all the while He has already searched and found us, The question then become how we will respond to Him… How have you responded to the grace of God?

 

Joseph - the Hard Journey Begins

 

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. (Genesis 37:1–4 ESV).

 

Redemption comes hard when people who do evil believe they have done nothing wrong. The greatest evils are often committed in the name of a cause or ideal. Today, suicide bombers give up their lives to attack “the Great Satan.” During World War II, millions of Jews died in the name of Aryan supremacy. In the Middle Ages, inquisitions hunted down heretics who seemed to threaten the “purity” of the Roman church, and many people were tortured and killed. In Bible times, rebellious kings and priests tried to gain power and keep control by killing God’s prophets—including Jesus.

 

This is the beginning of Joseph’s story. It is the story of redemption. Though we don’t know what Joseph tattled about his brothers, it soon becomes clear that they don’t like him. Seeing their father’s favoritism for Joseph, they begin to hate him. They hate him even more when he describes a dream in which his brothers bow down to him. Even his father rebukes Joseph when he describes another dream in which it seems that his parents and his brothers will bow down to him.

 

Though Joseph may be mostly innocent in all this, it’s not long before his brothers are seething with hatred for him. And hatred, once enraged, is blind to all considerations but its own. Even in this, however, God has sifted the experience about to happen in Joseph’s life to produce good in him and the nation of Israel. Ultimately, this same good will stretch out to all peoples of all races.

 

This is the irrevocable promise of God. Even when you cannot see the future clearly and everything appears dire, God has purpose for every circumstance of life. He is redeeming us and producing the greatest good we could imagine in our lives. Trust Him in all of the parts of your journey!  

Joseph - a Story of Redemption

 

So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:22–26 ESV).

 

I thought it might be inspirational as well as encouraging to do some study in the life of Joseph. Part of the reason for this is that our church, Gospel City Church in Arlington, has begun a Sunday morning study surrounding the life of Joseph. [BTW… that study begins at 10:45 am each Sunday and if you are in the area, you would be welcome to attend. Kyle is one of the teachers of this study. It is thorough and instructional.] The other reason for going in this direction is my own personal study in recent weeks. I’ve enjoyed the study and discovered some “new” things along the way.

 

One of those “new” things is found in our reading today. Notice Joseph’s instruction to his brothers: “Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’” (v. 25). I have written an extensive essay that uses both a studied of the original language as well as some background to show Joseph’s intent in having his remains taken back to Israel upon his death (If you are interested in receiving this please leave a comment or message me with your email and I’ll send it to you. It is a bit too long to post here.)

 

The whole story of Joseph (cf. Genesis 37-50) is a powerful narrative of providence, transforming betrayal into blessing. He was sold into slavery by jealous brothers, endured unjust imprisonment in Egypt before rising to become Vizier. By forgiving his brothers, he turned their evil acts into a means of salvation, ultimately saving his family and surrounding nations from famine. It points us to the incredible redemptive work of Jesus. However, it also points us to a key point of encouragement and hope. When he instructs them to “carry up his bones from here” (v. 25), he is looking for the ultimate deliverance from bondage.

 

Joseph was well aware of the covenant God made with Abraham concerning the Promised Land. He would have known, even with his rank and privilege in Egypt, that was not his destiny, nor his home. Home is the place God has promised to all His children. We simply call it heaven. I find that full of hope in these days. We are sojourners in this place until Jesus takes us to where He is for eternity! That gets me through every challenge and difficulty! This is the story we will explore in the life of Joseph.

A Gentle Spirit

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. (Proverbs 15:1–5 ESV).

 

Think about a time when someone made you angry. May­be, they cut you off in traffic; or, perhaps they made a rude comment on social media. Or maybe someone made you feel stupid, and you were embarrassed in front of your peers. In any of these situations, it’s easy to fire back a defensive response.

 

But if we act out in anger, we will only make the situation worse. Our sinful nature wants to get back at the person who has offended us, but that is not the peaceful approach Scripture calls us to.

 

Our proverb for today points us to the way of Jesus, who told his disciples, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). This is one of the few times Jesus actually listed attributes of himself. He is gentle and humble in heart.

 

As Jesus also showed, there is a place for anger in situations where God is being mocked or injustice is being allowed (cf. Mark 11:15-17), but those moments are few and far between. And as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:26, “In your ­anger do not sin”. That’s the way Jesus operates.

 

The next time someone makes you angry, practice a gentle spirit.