Read: Gen. 37-39; 1 Chon. 2:3-8
Today we begin reading about Joseph’s life. It is one of my favorite stories. Joseph’s life is a type of Christ. Joseph had signs that he would one day rule the nations. Jesus had signs and prophesies to tell him the same. Joseph was hated by his own brothers and Jesus was hated by his brothers, the Jews. Joseph was misunderstood and refused to sin against his master. Jesus was sinless and chose to follow God’s plan. Joseph in the pit was a picture of Jesus’s death on the cross. Joseph was taken to a distant land to prepare salvation for his family. Jesus has gone to a distant land and he is preparing a place for us.
In the middle of the story of Joseph we have the story of Tamar. Tamar means “a palm tree”. A palm tree is a flexible tree that can weather huge wind storms because it can bend almost to the ground and then pop back up. It’s fruit is safe at the top of the tree. Tamar was like that. Her first husband was so wicked, the Lord slew him; her second husband refused to get her pregnant and Shelah, the man that was to be her third husband was kept from her. They thought she was the curse. She wasn’t. She had to use trickery to get her inheritance that was due her. She had two sons by Judah whose names meant “breaking out” and “scarlet; brightness”. So what is this story doing in the Bible? Jesus came from this line. Shelah went on to have two sons, but God chose Tamar’s line to bring Jesus into the world. It seems like the ones who have to fight the most for their inheritance are the ones that God uses the most. This life is a struggle, but we are part of the eternal book of God that many after us will read and be grateful of our sacrifice.
Lord, help us to see the bigger picture and not be discouraged in our setbacks and struggles.
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