--
The reading from two weeks ago was Exodus 1:1-6:1.
Somehow, this summary (especially Chapter 2 and 4) got really long; there is no need to humor the summary in reading it per se, if the actual text is read (it's probably best to right click the above link and open the text separately, and perhaps change the Bible version to your favorite one).
I suppose it may be comparable to reading the "Message" version of the Bible; maybe I could call it the "Massage" version...
So here is my (not so short) Massage/summary:
Chapter 1:
Names in the household of Jacob is listed.
Joseph's generation passes on.
The children of Israel increase and prosper;
the king in Egypt is threatened by them, thus puts them to bondage.
Also, the king commands the Hebrew midwives, two of which that are named Shiphrah and Puah, to kill of the male children.
The women fear God and ignore the king, and God blesses them.
Pharaoh charges the Israelites to cast their sons into the river.
Chapter 2:
A Levite couple has a beautiful son, and he is hid for 3 months.
When he could no longer be hid, the mother puts the baby in an ark in the river;
his sister is there to see what happens.
Pharaoh's daughter finds the baby, the sister of the baby suggests a Hebrew nurse; Pharaoh's daughter agrees, the sister brings the mother.
The mother is now paid to take care of the son, and the child was called Moses.
-
Grown Moses finds an Egyptian beating a Hebrew;
Moses kills the Egyptian, and hides the body in the sand.
The next day, two Hebrew men are arguing;
Moses intervenes, and he finds out they know about the killing of the Egyptian.
Pharaoh hears of what happened, and seeks to slay Moses.
-
Moses flees to Midian, and abides by a well.
The Midian priest's 7 daughters comes to the well to draw water for their flock.
The shepherds bullies the girls from the well, but Moses steps in to their help.
The girls return early; Reuel, their father ask why.
The girls report to him about Moses, and the father tells them to invite him home.
-
Moses lives with the family.
The father gives Zipporah his daughter to Moses as a wife.
They have a son, and name him Gershom, because Moses has been a stranger in a foreign land.
-
The king of Egypt dies.
The children of Israel cries to God because of the bondage.
God, being mindful of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, looks on the children of Israel with respect.
Chapter 3:
Moses sees the burning bush at mount Horeb while
keeping the flock of Jethro his father in law.
Yahweh talks to Moses about delivering his people from
the Egyptians to the promised land.
Moses questions his own significance,
and Yahweh confirms He will be with him.
Moses questions if the people asks the name of God;
Yahweh answers it is 'I AM'.
Yahweh tells Moses what he is to do, and what is about to happen.
Chapter 4:
Moses tells Yahweh the people will not believe Yahweh appeared to him.
Yahweh has Moses' rod to turn into a snake so the people may believe.
Yahweh has Moses put his hand in cloak to turn it leprous that the people may believe.
Yahweh will have Moses take water from the river to turn to blood that the people may believe.
Moses says he is not eloquent.
Yahweh says He will put the words in Moses' mouth.
Moses asks to have another person be sent.
The anger of Yahweh is kindled, and Yahweh allows Aaron be the spokesperson.
-
Moses requests Jethro to live in Egypt; Jethro says go in peace.
Yahweh tells Moses everyone that sought him is dead.
Moses takes his family to Egypt.
Yahweh once again gives Moses directions of what to do in Egypt.
-
On the way to Egypt, Yahweh seeks to kill Moses;
Zipporah intervenes and circumcises their son, and calls Moses her bloody husband because of the circumcision.
-
Yahweh tells Aaron to meet with Moses in the desert.
Aaron finds Moses at the mountain of God.
Moses tells Aaron the words of Yahweh to tell the elders of the children of Israel.
Aaron speaks everything to the elders, and they believe and worship.
Chapter 5:
Moses and Aaron go talk to Pharaoh, Pharaoh has no regard for Yahweh.
They tell Pharaoh the God of the Hebrews told them to go 3 days' journey to sacrifice, lest He befall them with pestilence or with the sword.
The king of Egypt do not want the people to rest from their work and dismisses them.
-
Pharaoh commands the taskmasters to not give
the people straw in making bricks.
The people gather stubble for bricks,
while the taskmasters enforced the same quota.
-
The officers of the children of Israel ask Pharaoh why.
Pharaoh calls them lazy for wanting to go sacrifice to Yahweh.
Moses and Aaron are looked upon with scorn by their people.
-
Moses asks Yahweh why this is happening.
Chapter 6:
Yahweh tells Moses that He will apply His strong hand upon Pharaoh.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
In these passages, there were three things that grabbed my attention:
1. The women that broke the law fearing God
2. The word goodly, used to describe baby Moses
3. The word ark, used to describe the vessel in which baby Moses was placed
Regarding 1:
This seems like an extreme thing for these ladies to do; their lives must have been at stake, and they willingly put their lives on the line to regard God in reverence. This (probably not so simple) act of faith resulted in preserving Moses from being killed. I suppose we could easily go in the direction of the topic of abortion, but perhaps it would be wise to not go into an area in which I have limited interest, hence I will stop now.
The main thing about the above passage on which I wanted to focus was the faith in action; that is all.
Regarding 2:
The Hebrew word used to describe baby Moses was used first in Genesis 1:4 when God created light, and saw that it was good. The same word I intended to use to end all the readings in the previous weeks.
Regarding 3:
The Hebrew word used to describe the vessel ini which Moses was placed is exactly the same word used to describe the vessel in which Noah and his family was preserved; I have heard a pastor used to describe to the believers that Christ Jesus is our ark, in which we are preserved from the judgment of God, because
God is just.
--
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
and he (Jacob) lived...
The reading from two weeks ago was Genesis 47:28-50:26.
Summary:
Chapter 47:
Jacob lives 17 years in Egypt, he lives 147 years in total.
Jacob makes Joseph swear to not bury him in Egypt, Joseph agrees.
Chapter 48:
Joseph is told his father is ill, and brings Manasseh and Ephraim.
Ephraim and Manasseh are adopted as sons of Israel.
Ephraim the younger is blessed over Manasseh, the older.
Joseph is given an extra portion of the land Israel took from the Amorites.
Chapter 49:
Jacob's last words to his sons.
Israel blesses his children and tells them to bury him in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave of Machpelah by Mamre in Canaan, where Abraham and Sarah, as well as Isaac and Rebekah are buried; Israel buried Leah there.
After everthing was said, Jacob gives up his spirit.
Chapter 50:
Joseph weeps for his father, and he commands the body to be embalmed.
40 days pass for the embalming; the Egyptians mourn for 70 days.
Joseph asks the Pharaoh to bury his father; Pharaoh grants permission.
A great number of people go in a procession with Joseph to bury his father.
The Canaanite see them at the threshingfloor of Atad and calls it Abelmizraim.
The brothers fear retaliation by Joseph, but Joseph weeping, tells them God meant it for good.
-
Joseph lives 110 years, and sees Ephraim's children to the third generation, and the children of Machir, Manasseh's son.
Joseph confirms God will bring them back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; then he makes the children of Israel take an oath to take his bones from Egypt. Joseph dies; he is embalmed and placed in a coffin.
-end of Genesis-
This time, my meditations focus on Joseph.
There's a ton of comparisons of Joseph to Jesus, like this site. The items on the list range from the trivial to the interesting.
A few years ago, after I repented from "running with the pigs"(v.14-17), one of the main lessons that was ingrained in me going through Genesis was:
Trust(ing) in God.
The main illustration that comes to my mind about trusting in God is Joseph:
When things seem to be going completely in the wrong way, he still believed in Romans 8:28 (even in the days without the NT), this is especially difficult if we have our natural tendencies in tact where we want to take control of situations in reacting or even retaliating rather than waiting on God.
I heard from one of my favorite bible teachers C.Missler, that each day in some way, God will ask you the question, "do you trust Me?"
It's not always easy to answer "yes" to this question, but my favorite verse/mantra is Mark 9:24.
Can we have faith in God and trust in Him?
Head knowledge says, "of course."
It's just a little more difficult when we are experiencing it, but by reading about Joseph and waiting on God, we say with confidence that
God is good.
--
Summary:
Chapter 47:
Jacob lives 17 years in Egypt, he lives 147 years in total.
Jacob makes Joseph swear to not bury him in Egypt, Joseph agrees.
Chapter 48:
Joseph is told his father is ill, and brings Manasseh and Ephraim.
Ephraim and Manasseh are adopted as sons of Israel.
Ephraim the younger is blessed over Manasseh, the older.
Joseph is given an extra portion of the land Israel took from the Amorites.
Chapter 49:
Jacob's last words to his sons.
Israel blesses his children and tells them to bury him in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave of Machpelah by Mamre in Canaan, where Abraham and Sarah, as well as Isaac and Rebekah are buried; Israel buried Leah there.
After everthing was said, Jacob gives up his spirit.
Chapter 50:
Joseph weeps for his father, and he commands the body to be embalmed.
40 days pass for the embalming; the Egyptians mourn for 70 days.
Joseph asks the Pharaoh to bury his father; Pharaoh grants permission.
A great number of people go in a procession with Joseph to bury his father.
The Canaanite see them at the threshingfloor of Atad and calls it Abelmizraim.
The brothers fear retaliation by Joseph, but Joseph weeping, tells them God meant it for good.
-
Joseph lives 110 years, and sees Ephraim's children to the third generation, and the children of Machir, Manasseh's son.
Joseph confirms God will bring them back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; then he makes the children of Israel take an oath to take his bones from Egypt. Joseph dies; he is embalmed and placed in a coffin.
-end of Genesis-
This time, my meditations focus on Joseph.
There's a ton of comparisons of Joseph to Jesus, like this site. The items on the list range from the trivial to the interesting.
A few years ago, after I repented from "running with the pigs"(v.14-17), one of the main lessons that was ingrained in me going through Genesis was:
Trust(ing) in God.
The main illustration that comes to my mind about trusting in God is Joseph:
When things seem to be going completely in the wrong way, he still believed in Romans 8:28 (even in the days without the NT), this is especially difficult if we have our natural tendencies in tact where we want to take control of situations in reacting or even retaliating rather than waiting on God.
I heard from one of my favorite bible teachers C.Missler, that each day in some way, God will ask you the question, "do you trust Me?"
It's not always easy to answer "yes" to this question, but my favorite verse/mantra is Mark 9:24.
Can we have faith in God and trust in Him?
Head knowledge says, "of course."
It's just a little more difficult when we are experiencing it, but by reading about Joseph and waiting on God, we say with confidence that
God is good.
--
Saturday, January 17, 2009
then he (Judah) drew near...
The reading from two weeks ago was Genesis 44:18-47:27.
Here's my summary:
Chapter 44:
Judah makes the plea of his life, starting from how they were required to bring Benjamin, to how their father is in anguish because of his sons, and how he will be the substitute for Benjamin.
Chapter 45:
Joseph finally reveals himself, tells his brothers how God was sovereignly over everything, and to bring the whole family; the brothers weep in reunion.
Pharaoh hears about Joseph's family, and gives them gifts.
-
The brothers report to their father, Jacob faints and does not believe.
The brothers show them the gifts, Jacob's spirit revives, and Israel believes and takes his household to Egypt.
Chapter 46:
On the way to Egypt, Israel stops at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God of his father Isaac.
In a vision at night, God gives Israel words of comfort.
Jacob and company goes from Beersheba to Egypt.
The children of Israel going to Egypt is listed.
There are 66 people with Jacob going to Egypt.
Total number of house of Jacob in Egypt is 70.
-
Judah is sent to notifty Joseph.
Joseph arrives with his chariot to greet Israel in Goshen.
Joseph preps his family about what to say to Pharaoh.
Chapter 47:
Joseph introduces 5 of his brothers to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh grants the family the land of Goshen.
Joseph brings Jacob before Pharaoh, Jacob blesses Pharaoh.
Pharaoh asks Jacob's age; Jacob is 130 years old.
Jacob blesses Pharaoh, and goes out.
Joseph places his family in Ramses.
-
Because of the famine, Joseph gathers all the money in Egypt.
The money fails, and Joseph gathers all the cattle.
Then Joseph buys out the properties in Egypt except the priests'.
Joseph gives the people seeds to grow crops,
and decrees a fifth to be given to Pharaoh.
-
Israel lived in Egypt, at Goshen, and their possessions grew exceedingly.
This reading essentially concludes the story of Joseph.
Rather than focusing on Joseph, I was reflecting on Jacob/Israel:
*How he was given life by his parents, Isaac -the promised son of Abraham, and Rebekah -the girl willing to water camel after camel at the well in Haran.
*The struggle of being the heel-catcher and conniving the birthright from his brother Esau.
*Running away to Haran, and falling madly in love with Rachel.
*Being deceived by his uncle/father-in-law Laban.
*Having children after children with his wives and their maids.
*Losing Rachel with Benjamin.
*Losing Joseph, his beloved son.
*Hearing of Joseph being alive and moving to Egypt.
There is a lot about Jacob with which I can closely identify myself,
especially of his behaviors before he knew God, and even after
knowing and walking with God.
Through the struggles he had with people and with God, God has shaped Jacob/Israel to be an effective and essential part of His plan. This shaping process is not always fun or exciting, but we know that this is a good thing,
as we know that
God is good.
--
Here's my summary:
Chapter 44:
Judah makes the plea of his life, starting from how they were required to bring Benjamin, to how their father is in anguish because of his sons, and how he will be the substitute for Benjamin.
Chapter 45:
Joseph finally reveals himself, tells his brothers how God was sovereignly over everything, and to bring the whole family; the brothers weep in reunion.
Pharaoh hears about Joseph's family, and gives them gifts.
-
The brothers report to their father, Jacob faints and does not believe.
The brothers show them the gifts, Jacob's spirit revives, and Israel believes and takes his household to Egypt.
Chapter 46:
On the way to Egypt, Israel stops at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God of his father Isaac.
In a vision at night, God gives Israel words of comfort.
Jacob and company goes from Beersheba to Egypt.
The children of Israel going to Egypt is listed.
There are 66 people with Jacob going to Egypt.
Total number of house of Jacob in Egypt is 70.
-
Judah is sent to notifty Joseph.
Joseph arrives with his chariot to greet Israel in Goshen.
Joseph preps his family about what to say to Pharaoh.
Chapter 47:
Joseph introduces 5 of his brothers to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh grants the family the land of Goshen.
Joseph brings Jacob before Pharaoh, Jacob blesses Pharaoh.
Pharaoh asks Jacob's age; Jacob is 130 years old.
Jacob blesses Pharaoh, and goes out.
Joseph places his family in Ramses.
-
Because of the famine, Joseph gathers all the money in Egypt.
The money fails, and Joseph gathers all the cattle.
Then Joseph buys out the properties in Egypt except the priests'.
Joseph gives the people seeds to grow crops,
and decrees a fifth to be given to Pharaoh.
-
Israel lived in Egypt, at Goshen, and their possessions grew exceedingly.
This reading essentially concludes the story of Joseph.
Rather than focusing on Joseph, I was reflecting on Jacob/Israel:
*How he was given life by his parents, Isaac -the promised son of Abraham, and Rebekah -the girl willing to water camel after camel at the well in Haran.
*The struggle of being the heel-catcher and conniving the birthright from his brother Esau.
*Running away to Haran, and falling madly in love with Rachel.
*Being deceived by his uncle/father-in-law Laban.
*Having children after children with his wives and their maids.
*Losing Rachel with Benjamin.
*Losing Joseph, his beloved son.
*Hearing of Joseph being alive and moving to Egypt.
There is a lot about Jacob with which I can closely identify myself,
especially of his behaviors before he knew God, and even after
knowing and walking with God.
Through the struggles he had with people and with God, God has shaped Jacob/Israel to be an effective and essential part of His plan. This shaping process is not always fun or exciting, but we know that this is a good thing,
as we know that
God is good.
--
Sunday, January 11, 2009
at the end (of 2 years)...
The reading three weeks ago (I really gotta get on the ball here)
was Genesis 41:1-44:17.
Here is a summary:
Chapter 41:
After two years, Pharaoh has his dreams.
Pharaoh calls the people, the butler remebers Joseph.
Joseph attributes the interpretation to God, interprets the dream, and makes suggestions.
-
Pharaoh makes Joseph overseer of Egypt, names him Zaphnathpaaneah, gives him a wife, Asenath, Joseph is 30years old.
Joseph has two sons before the famine, Manasseh and Ephraim.
The famine starts, and the all countries go to Egypt to see Joseph to buy corn.
Chapter 42:
Jacob directs 10 sons to go get food, Benjamin is kept at home for safety.
Joseph recognizes them, and he accuses them of being spies.
The brothers reveal their family structure, but Joseph puts them in a ward for 3 days regardless.
Joseph holds Simeon captive until they bring their youngest to Egypt.
The brothers sense all this is because of their treatment of Joseph.
-
Joseph has the money put back in their bags.
The brothers find the money at an inn on their way back, they freak.
The brothers report to Jacob, Jacob mourns for his sons Joseph and Simeon, and insists that Benjamin not go.
Chapter 43:
After the food is gone, Israel is torn in sending out Benjamin.
Judah vouches for Benjamin's safety, and Israel surrenders to what must happen and he expresses his dependence on God.
-
The brothers arrive in Egypt, Joseph sees Benjamin, and has a feast prepared.
Simeon is released, they are fed, ordered in their birthright.
Benjamin is blessed by Joseph, and his portion is 5 times more than the others.
They all drank and were merry.
Chapter 44:
Joseph has his silver cup placed in Benjamin's bag, along with each one's money back in their bags.
The brothers are sent back, and a messenger intercepts them with accusation of the silver cup.
They deny any wrong doing, and proclaim the one that has the cup to die.
Benjamin has the cup, and they are beside themselves.
Judah insists he be taken in place of Benjamin, but Joseph refuses.
After years of being in oblivion, Joseph is finally restored from prison, and the dream he had years ago is starting to be fulfilled.
All through this reading, Jacob/Israel the father is going through anguish. I have heard from several Bible teachers that when Jacob is walking in faith, he is mentioned as Israel. The different usages of the names in these passages are very prominent, and I think it would be a worthwhile investment in time to meditate on the various places they are mentioned here.
As for Joseph, the passages end in a cliff hanger, and we'll see soon of how it ends, and how
God is good.
--
was Genesis 41:1-44:17.
Here is a summary:
Chapter 41:
After two years, Pharaoh has his dreams.
Pharaoh calls the people, the butler remebers Joseph.
Joseph attributes the interpretation to God, interprets the dream, and makes suggestions.
-
Pharaoh makes Joseph overseer of Egypt, names him Zaphnathpaaneah, gives him a wife, Asenath, Joseph is 30years old.
Joseph has two sons before the famine, Manasseh and Ephraim.
The famine starts, and the all countries go to Egypt to see Joseph to buy corn.
Chapter 42:
Jacob directs 10 sons to go get food, Benjamin is kept at home for safety.
Joseph recognizes them, and he accuses them of being spies.
The brothers reveal their family structure, but Joseph puts them in a ward for 3 days regardless.
Joseph holds Simeon captive until they bring their youngest to Egypt.
The brothers sense all this is because of their treatment of Joseph.
-
Joseph has the money put back in their bags.
The brothers find the money at an inn on their way back, they freak.
The brothers report to Jacob, Jacob mourns for his sons Joseph and Simeon, and insists that Benjamin not go.
Chapter 43:
After the food is gone, Israel is torn in sending out Benjamin.
Judah vouches for Benjamin's safety, and Israel surrenders to what must happen and he expresses his dependence on God.
-
The brothers arrive in Egypt, Joseph sees Benjamin, and has a feast prepared.
Simeon is released, they are fed, ordered in their birthright.
Benjamin is blessed by Joseph, and his portion is 5 times more than the others.
They all drank and were merry.
Chapter 44:
Joseph has his silver cup placed in Benjamin's bag, along with each one's money back in their bags.
The brothers are sent back, and a messenger intercepts them with accusation of the silver cup.
They deny any wrong doing, and proclaim the one that has the cup to die.
Benjamin has the cup, and they are beside themselves.
Judah insists he be taken in place of Benjamin, but Joseph refuses.
After years of being in oblivion, Joseph is finally restored from prison, and the dream he had years ago is starting to be fulfilled.
All through this reading, Jacob/Israel the father is going through anguish. I have heard from several Bible teachers that when Jacob is walking in faith, he is mentioned as Israel. The different usages of the names in these passages are very prominent, and I think it would be a worthwhile investment in time to meditate on the various places they are mentioned here.
As for Joseph, the passages end in a cliff hanger, and we'll see soon of how it ends, and how
God is good.
--
Saturday, January 3, 2009
and he (Jacob) dwelt...
The reading two weeks ago was Genesis 37:1-40:23.
Here is a summary:
Chapter 37:
Tattletale Joseph has dreams that he will be exalted above his family.
Israel sends out Joseph to his brothers, they lynch and sell Joseph to Ishmeelites for 20 pieces of silver.
-
The father mourns the loss of his son, seeing the coat soaked in goat blood.
Midianites sell Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard.
Chapter 38:
Judah lives in a home of Hirah, an Adullamite; he has children Er, Onan, and Shelah with a Canaanite daughter of Shuah in Chezib.
Judah takes a wife for Er, Tamar, but Yahweh slays wicked Er.
Judah has Onan be with Tamar, but Yahweh slays wicked Onan.
Judah fears for Shelah, and has Tamar wait with her parents.
-
Judah's wife dies, and he goes to Timnah with Hirah.
Tamar goes veiled to Timnah, Judah propositions her, and leaves his belonging as collateral with her; Tamar conceives as a result.
-
3 months later, Judah is told by a third party Tamar is pregnant by some man.
Indignant, Judah pronounces her to be burned.
-
Tamar reveals the father's belonging, and Judah pronounces Tamar more righteous than he for keeping Shelah.
-
Tamar has twins.
Pharez, who is the younger, comes out first then the older, Zarah.
Chapter 39:
Joseph in Egypt prospered in Potiphar's house because Yahweh blesses him, and as a result becomes the overseer of the house.
-
Day after day, the wife lusted after Joseph, but Joseph refused in fear of God.
One day Joseph was alone, and she grabbed Joseph by the coat; Joseph flees, leaving his coat.
-
She accuses Joseph of rape with the coat, and Joseph is put in prison.
Joseph becomes the overseer of the prison because Yahweh blesses him.
Chapter 40:
The chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh are put in prison.
They both have disturbing dreams.
The butler's interpretation is good.
Joseph asks him to remember him when he is free.
The baker dies in 3 days.
The butler forgets about Joseph.
Very similar to the last reading, there is a chapter/story that seems artifically (or rather divinely) inserted in the middle of a narrative:
The last one was with Dinah, which was right in the middle of Jacob/Israel's journey.
This one with Tamar, a daughter-in-law of Judah, right in the middle of Joseph's life.
I'm not quite sure why, but here are some thoughts...
Comparison:
Both of the parentheses involve in their foci a woman. Both are referred to as a harlot, although they really are not. Both involved a party giving a seemingly honest pledge, and both had a party doing some kind of deceiving/scheming.
Contrast:
Dinah played a very passive role, but Tamar was more active in her role. The deceiving party was Jacob's sons with Dinah, Tamar deceived Jacob's son Judah. Tamar is in the line of the Messiah, Dinah has no recorded children.
I've checked a couple of commentaries, but they seem to focus on each passage, and not so much on such things as this.
So after some prayer and seeking God, this is a conclusion:
(remember Acts 17:11; i.e. don't believe what I say, but do your own homework...)
Usually, when two things are contrasted, they represent death or life; for example, from chapter 40, the butler, who represented the wine from the communion which is the Spirit, was to live, as opposed to the baker who represented the bread, which is the flesh, was to die.
Perhaps Dinah, who had no children, which was in the middle of the narrative of Jacob/Israel, who had questionable character represents death, and Tamar, whose descendant is Jesus, which was in the middle of the narrative of Joseph, who had impeccable character represents life.
As believers, in life or in death, we know that
God is good.
--
Here is a summary:
Chapter 37:
Tattletale Joseph has dreams that he will be exalted above his family.
Israel sends out Joseph to his brothers, they lynch and sell Joseph to Ishmeelites for 20 pieces of silver.
-
The father mourns the loss of his son, seeing the coat soaked in goat blood.
Midianites sell Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard.
Chapter 38:
Judah lives in a home of Hirah, an Adullamite; he has children Er, Onan, and Shelah with a Canaanite daughter of Shuah in Chezib.
Judah takes a wife for Er, Tamar, but Yahweh slays wicked Er.
Judah has Onan be with Tamar, but Yahweh slays wicked Onan.
Judah fears for Shelah, and has Tamar wait with her parents.
-
Judah's wife dies, and he goes to Timnah with Hirah.
Tamar goes veiled to Timnah, Judah propositions her, and leaves his belonging as collateral with her; Tamar conceives as a result.
-
3 months later, Judah is told by a third party Tamar is pregnant by some man.
Indignant, Judah pronounces her to be burned.
-
Tamar reveals the father's belonging, and Judah pronounces Tamar more righteous than he for keeping Shelah.
-
Tamar has twins.
Pharez, who is the younger, comes out first then the older, Zarah.
Chapter 39:
Joseph in Egypt prospered in Potiphar's house because Yahweh blesses him, and as a result becomes the overseer of the house.
-
Day after day, the wife lusted after Joseph, but Joseph refused in fear of God.
One day Joseph was alone, and she grabbed Joseph by the coat; Joseph flees, leaving his coat.
-
She accuses Joseph of rape with the coat, and Joseph is put in prison.
Joseph becomes the overseer of the prison because Yahweh blesses him.
Chapter 40:
The chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh are put in prison.
They both have disturbing dreams.
The butler's interpretation is good.
Joseph asks him to remember him when he is free.
The baker dies in 3 days.
The butler forgets about Joseph.
Very similar to the last reading, there is a chapter/story that seems artifically (or rather divinely) inserted in the middle of a narrative:
The last one was with Dinah, which was right in the middle of Jacob/Israel's journey.
This one with Tamar, a daughter-in-law of Judah, right in the middle of Joseph's life.
I'm not quite sure why, but here are some thoughts...
Comparison:
Both of the parentheses involve in their foci a woman. Both are referred to as a harlot, although they really are not. Both involved a party giving a seemingly honest pledge, and both had a party doing some kind of deceiving/scheming.
Contrast:
Dinah played a very passive role, but Tamar was more active in her role. The deceiving party was Jacob's sons with Dinah, Tamar deceived Jacob's son Judah. Tamar is in the line of the Messiah, Dinah has no recorded children.
I've checked a couple of commentaries, but they seem to focus on each passage, and not so much on such things as this.
So after some prayer and seeking God, this is a conclusion:
(remember Acts 17:11; i.e. don't believe what I say, but do your own homework...)
Usually, when two things are contrasted, they represent death or life; for example, from chapter 40, the butler, who represented the wine from the communion which is the Spirit, was to live, as opposed to the baker who represented the bread, which is the flesh, was to die.
Perhaps Dinah, who had no children, which was in the middle of the narrative of Jacob/Israel, who had questionable character represents death, and Tamar, whose descendant is Jesus, which was in the middle of the narrative of Joseph, who had impeccable character represents life.
As believers, in life or in death, we know that
God is good.
--
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