Old Testament Genesis 37:1-38:30
New Testament Matthew 12:22-45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32
Suffering
Genesis chapter 37 through 50 zooms in on the twelve sons of Jacob, whose name has been changed to Israel. Israel’s sons eventually become the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. The person of interest and focus in the remaining chapters of Genesis is Joseph. Over these final chapters God is working through Jacob’s offspring to bring about His desires and covenantal purposes.
Today’s reading of chapter 37 and 38 layout a comparison between Joseph, who innocently suffers at the hands of his brothers, and Judah who suffers because of his own actions.
Joseph was the favored son of his father. Joseph had two dreams both implying that he would be superior to his brothers. His brothers become irritated and angry with Joseph. Their first desire is to kill him, and then they saw an opportunity for him to be regarded as dead without actually shedding his blood. They sold him to a group of merchant traders who were headed to Egypt. The brothers return to their father and present to him the famed robe of many colors bloody and shredded. Their intention was for their father to assume Joseph met his demise by some fierce animal as he traveled to find them caring for their flocks. The cover up worked, so much for the dreamer. Israel mourned the deeply as the supposed death of Joseph. During this time Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave to a high ranking military officer in Egypt.
It was during these days when Judah, one of Joseph’s older brothers, makes some poor decisions leading to his own suffering. Judah had three sons and two of them behaved so wickedly the Lord put them to death. His first son married Tamar and when he died she became a widow. In ancient times it was customary for the next of kin to marry the widow and raise up an offspring. When Judah’s second son died, Tamar became a widow for the second time. There was a third son, but he was much younger and Judah promised Tamar his third son would fulfil his duty of a kinsman when he became old enough. Time passes and Judah has either lied or forgotten about his pledge to Tamar. Tamar devised a plan to get him back and disguised herself as a prostitute and guess who offers her a price for her services? Judah. He promised her a young goat, but is unable to pay on the spot. She required collateral requesting his signet, cord, and staff. It sounds like he was desperate. Oh, that clear thinking would penetrate times of temptation or desperation. The deed is done and Tamar becomes pregnant.
In a few months word spread that Tamar has been immoral and Judah announces she is to be condemned and will be burned. This is when Tamar drops a bombshell in the community. She displays the signet, cord, and staff of Judah and announces her pregnancy came about from the owner of those things. The result is Judah suffered deep embarrassment, shame, and humiliation among family, friends, and community members. It is hard to understand how significant that type of suffering would have been in those days, but it was much more pronounced than it is in today’s American culture.
These two chapters when viewed side by side contrast the different types of suffering, one at the hand of others and the other by one’s own hand.