Joseph, Judah, and Jesus

Genesis 37-50

Joseph’s slavery and Judah’s sin (chapter 37)

Joseph is sold into slavery

It is a wicked conspiracy by his older brothers

It is full of hatred, murderous intent, greed, selfishness, and pride

Much of this situation came from sin that was not dealt with

Sin has grave consequences, personal, familial, and generational

Judah is the specific name singled out by Moses

Judah is the leader of the conspiracy to sell Joseph (v.26)

His name did not have to be mentioned by Moses

Moses mentions him because he would have us to see something: the mysterious and wonderful work of God

Joseph’s purity and Judah’s perversion (chapters 38-39)

Judah’s perversion

They have three children together

Er, Onan, and Shelah

Er marries Tamar, but he is wicked, so God puts him to death

Tamar is left without children

Onan was expected to provide children for Tamar so that she would have posterity for Er’s family line

But every time that he engages in the sexual act, he wastes the semen on the ground so as not to give her children, because he knew it would be considered Er’s child

This was evil, so the Lord put him to death

Judah promises to give Shelah to Tamar when he becomes of age, but Judah fails to do so

Tamar devises a plan to conceive a child

She disguises herself as a prostitute along the way that Judah would be travelling

Judah goes into her and gets her pregnant

Judah is humbled

Judah is told that Tamar is pregnant

She is brought out to be put to death for sexual immorality

She presents his signet, cord, and staff to show that it was he who came into her

He realizes his sin against her

Joseph’s purity

Joseph is tempted by Potiphar’s wife

Joseph spurns all of her advances

Joseph is cornered, so he flees from her so as not to give in

The contrast is clear and intentional

Joseph is a man of purity, godliness, and uprightness

Judah is a man of impurity and selfishness

Joseph’s testing and Judah’s transformation (chapters 42-44)

Joseph tests his brothers

He demands that they bring Benjamin back with them to Egypt if they return

He knows what this will mean for his brothers- the impossible task of convincing Jacob to let him go with them

Judah is a different man

Reuben offers his children as a bargaining chip

He says that Jacob can kill his two children if he does not return with Benjamin

Judah willingly offers his own life as collateral for Benjamin’s life

If Benjamin does not return, then he will willingly forfeit his life

But will he?

Joseph crafily places his gold cup into Benjamin’s bag and sends his servant to search their bags

The servant ultimately determines that the one who has the cup in his sack will return to Egypt as Joseph's slave

They find the cup in Benjamin’s sack, so they all return to Joseph

Judah boldly steps forward to intercede for Benjamin and begs Joseph to take him as a slave rather than Benjamin, so that Jacob will not be struck with grief

He has proved his changed heart

The man who once sold his brother into slavery is now the one who offers his life in place of his brother’s life out of compassion

Judah is about to play a special role in God’s redemptive plan

We will return to how this happens in just a moment, but first…

Does He not work in our lives this way?

He redeems us from our sin-sick and rebellious lives, and He transforms us

Then He is pleased to use us for His redemptive purposes

He works for our eternal good

He uses us as His instruments for the eternal good of others

We are ambassadors of Christ, agents of the Kingdom, messengers of the King, and instruments for His glory

In this way, His promise to Abraham that he will have as many offspring as the stars will be fulfilled

Will you be a part of God’s work?

Joseph’s bewilderment and Judah’s blessing (chapters 48-49)

Ephraim is blessed over Manasseh

Manasseh is the oldest, so he would be the expected recipient

But, but God’s guiding hand, Jacob blessed Ephraim rather than Manasseh

This blessing comes to fruition, as Ephraim becomes the foremost of the 10 tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel

Joseph is blessed with a special blessing

He is the favored one, the godly one, and the instrument of God’s preservation

1 Chronicles 5:1-2- The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),

Judah is blessed above all the other brothers

A lion- strength

An eternal sceptre- kingship

Obedience of the peoples will come to him- dominion

Bind his donkey to the vine/ wash garments in wine- prosperity

Dark eyes and white teeth- beauty

Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Numbers 24:17- I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Psalm 2:7-9- I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Micah 5:2- But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Matthew 1:1-3a- The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar

Matthew 27:27-31- And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Revelation 5- Bible