Genesis 38:1-30
A hard passage today and, once again, a storyline full of sinful behavior. Even so, I do like how the Bible doesn't sugar coat things. It's real about what's taking place and why. This very candid story reminded me that God can and does use whomever He pleases to accomplish His purposes. The list of sinful and wrong behaviors coupled with bad decisions here in Genesis 38 was plenty long, yet God wasn't fazed at all.
So did this passage change your perspective or show you anything about how God operates? About how He uses people? Tami W.
This passage and so many of my own personal short comings show me how his grace and mercy and power can cover a multitude of sins but I don't believe I could ever wrap my mind around it.
I have always wondered about this chapter of the Bible, especially why it seems to be placed right in the middle of another story line. Hearing you and Mr. Kroll
speak about it today was a blessing! His explanation concerning the bloodline of the Messiah resolved much of my confusion about this passage. I praise God for how He makes sense of the worst parts of our lives, even glorious sense! And Tammy, you asked the question I've always had about this seemingly out of place chapter- why here, in the middle of Joseph's story? I was blessed again by Mr. Kroll's response. I plan to listen to today's message again!! God bless all of you there at BttB!
WOW I don't think I read this passage in depth the way I did today. It certainly shows Gods mercy and Grace and also just how judgemental Gods children can be. Including me. So ow can God use such sin to show His goodness? Exactly the way He does throughout scripture. This is why its important for believers to cont to pray for those caught in sin and not be so judgemental. I have struggled with this until God used my own sin to show His grace and mercy.
What man intended for evil, God used for good. It is interesting to see that 2 brothers (the oldest?) did try to protect Joseph in some way. Judah determined to rescue him later, and Reuben suggested selling him instead of killing him. But Joseph had his God given dreams to hold on to. I think that no matter what we go through, God gives us some nugget of truth to hang on to as encouragement for us to keep on going. I believe that God uses the tough times to prepare us for something better down the road.
It seems that the sins of our generations are always with us. Adam and Eve, Cain, Jacob and Esau, Jacob's son Judah and many more. But what I love about God is He uses sinful people to show what Jesus' mission was and is. He did not come into the world to save the righteous but sinners. Since we are all sinners and since He died so that we can have salvation and our sins forgiven, we should show our respect and love for Him by confessing our sins. He will forgive us because He says He will and He has not changed. He is still faithful to this day.
Did anyone see in the news or read the article on the miraculous survival of a Haitian young man who was buried for over 4 weeks? The young man was found emaciated and under-nourished and he told the doctors that "someone in a white coat kept bringing him water while he was pinned down". One of the doctors said that he had no food but for him to live he had to have water but does not know how he could have gotten this water. The told CNN that the man sounded confused. The only person who could have given this water was Jesus or one of His angels and it is a miracle and I think we should give God thanks and praise. People's hearts are still hardened just as when Jesus lived on earth. For me, Jesus lives!
God bless you all.
Boy, this really reminded me that God operates in absolutes (yea/nay) and that He surely lives up to His promises. The challenge is that we ought to be like Him. Its so easy to say "sure I can/will do that for you" but then we forget so easily; like Judah. He probably did not think it was a big deal that he had promised his son to Tamar, but she remembered. And look at the price that was paid because of this! Yes, I do believe that God can and does use whomever He pleases to accomplish His purposes; he used a harlot to remind Judah of his unrighteousness. Sometimes the very people we seem to be trying to convert are the ones used to show us the error of our ways.
I appreciate the fact that God shows us real people, right where they are in the midst of their struggles. Tamar, in the middle of her culture and dependancies on others, did what was right and waited. BUT when all the cards were played, she felt she had to take care of business on her own (maybe not the wisest choice), but living in the US, I don't think we can understand how desperate she was. Tamar is SO me. I'm guilty of taking the situation in hand and making something happen rather than wait on the Lord.
I would like to think that Tamar believed in the promises God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... believed and wanted to be a part of them. But, like me, acted on what made sense to her way of thinking instead of relying on God.
I listened to the program yesterday and didn't have a chance to respond to the P4 question.
I never looked at or thought about why this information was smack dab in the middle of Joseph's story. When I have read it, I didn't think about it being "out of place".
After thinking about Joseph being sold, put in jail and becoming Chief over the king's goods and looking back, I started to wonder where did that have importance.
Thank you! Judah was so harsh to Joseph because of jealousy, but then came back to protect Benjamin years later. It seemed that his heart may have changed. God uses us to get us where He wants us and when He wants us. We just have to be willing vessels.
Tamar believed God would provide and He did. Without her there would be no Savior, no peace and no grace. God will guide us when we let go and let God!