Sat.’s Devo - God Always Finds a Way

Read: Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32
Today we begin the story of Joseph who was a type of Jesus. He, like Jesus, had to learn obedience through the things he suffered. He got on his brother’s wrong side when he tattled about what they were doing wrong. (Notice that it was the son’s of Jacob’s concubines who were tattled on.)
Joseph was also their father’s favorite from his favorite wife. Jacob had a beautiful coat made for Joseph to show his favor. But, the thing that topped it off for the brothers was Joseph’s dreams. This showed them that even God favored Joseph over them.
They understood how important dreams were and did everything they could to kill Joseph and his dreams. They thought they had found a way to make some money and get rid of him too, but little did they know it fell right into God’s plan. Reuben, who had planned to save Joseph, wasn’t around when they sold Joseph. They came home with Joseph’s coat they had covered in blood to leave Jacob to his own conclusions. Jacob was left distressed and Joseph became a slave.
In the middle of Joseph’s tale we have the story of Judah and Tamar. Judah left the home of his father and went to live in the city of Adullam and married a woman there. They had three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah found a wife for Er named Tamar. Er was so wicked that God killed him! By Mosaic law, Tamar would be married to Onan and their first son would carry on Er’s line. Onan didn’t want to carry on his brother’s line so he refused to impregnate Tamar. God saw his wickedness and killed him also. Judah told Tamar to wait until Shelah grew up and she would be give to him. It is important to remember that having babies and carrying on posterity was most important then.
When Shelah grew up, he was not given to Tamar so Tamar took matters into her own hand. She disguised herself as a shrine prostitute and waited for Jacob to walk down her road. His wife had died by then and he took the bait. He left his staff, seal and its cord in lieu of payment.
God blessed Tamar and she became pregnant. When Jacob found out she was pregnant, he wanted to have her burned to death until he realized she was carrying his offspring. She bore twins and was paid back for both of Jacob’s sons who never gave her children. When birthing them. an arm came out first so they tied a scarlet thread around it. But when the first baby came out it didn’t have the thread on it. It had broken through to be first. This is a constant theme throughout the Bible. The first born stands for our natural sin-natured self. The second born stands for our born-again nature of God. It is the one that has been washed in the blood.
In Matthew, we have a dividing line drawn. The Pharisees had been following Jesus to see if he was the Messiah like all the people were saying. They had their own litmus test for the Messiah. He had to cleanse a Jewish leper, heal a man born blind and and open the mouth of a dumb man. He just did the third one and the Pharisees had to make a statement about whether he was the Messiah or not. Their jealousy would not let them pronounce Jesus as the Messiah so they said he got his power from Satan. This was the final blow to the religious order. Jesus cursed them with spiritual blindness which will remain on their people till the time of the Gentile’s is over. Many Jews have come to know Jesus as their Messiah, but as a nation, they are still blind. One day their eyes will be opened.
Lord, help us to walk with eyes that see and ears that hear you. Thank you that you always find a way!