It seems that things happen that are so out of the ordinary that it brings us to question, “O.K. Lord, what is this a ll about?” The events of Genesis 38 are much like that to this pastor. Here we are at the transition from Jacob to Joseph and we have the parenthesis of this chapter that is completely out of sync with everything else around it. Yet God saw it that important. Perhaps it was to grab our attention; there could literally be a myriad of reasons for why it is in the order it is. But here we are looking into the life of
Judah and Tamar. The dysfunction of the family continues into that of Judah’s sons. The reality is that all of us are infected by the contagion of sin. On some the infection seems more advanced, but make no mistake, it is terminal no matter if the symptoms are seen as mild or severe. What I take from this sad story is the marvelous grace of God at work despite the wickedness, sinfulness and depravity of man. Are you a broken vessel, a useless cracked pot that is marred and of no seeming worth or redeeming quality. So are we all. Yet God sees in us great potential for His kingdom work and purpose if we will but look to Him. So we will suspend our look at the life of Joseph to look at Judah and who he is and will become in God’s purposes.
VERSES of the WEEK
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
(Luke 12:8-9)
At
some point in time in my life, I had inkling about what it was I wanted to do
with my life. I wanted to pursue a
career in medicine. God gave me a
different dream and direction. I then
began to think about the work of a pastor.
I conjured up all kinds of ideas, scenes and scenarios about what I
would do and accomplish as a pastor.
Life has a way of challenging our dreams and goals. Joseph found that out. We begin to look at one of my heroes. But like all heroes, he is not without
weakness or fault. As we look at Joseph
we see a young man who is disciplined and faithful. He has a desire to do what is right before
God and others, and the integrity to stand for the truth regardless the
consequences. Yet he at times came off
as arrogant and too full of himself.
People who are passionate versus flippant about things in life are often
that way. I say that to say this;
without condoning the actions of his brothers, God used the circumstances and
trials to mold the man and prepare him for the great work in his life. Joseph may have thought it would be around
the bend, but it would be years before the dreams became reality. There was a great deal of work needed to
shape him for his ultimate life work.
The same is true of us. We grow
impatient at times to reach the point we believe God would have us to be. But understand that in the journey, God is at
work preparing us and others for the fulfillment of His will and vision.
Verse of the Week
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2 Peter 1:8-9
