Beginnings: God Makes Nobodies into Somebodies

Psalm 113

Psalm 113 NIV

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.

Judges 1:1-10

Judges 1:1–10 NIV

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them. When Judah attacked, the Lord gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites. Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Then Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem also and took it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire. After that, Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills. They advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.

Matthew 1:1–16 NIV

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

God Makes Nobodies into Somebodies

Introduction:

10,000 Sermon Illustrations God’s Nobodies

God’s Nobodies

I doubt very much whether you have heard of Frank Wimproy, He was one of God’s “nobodies.” But God did a great work through him. Frank Wimproy was one of the workers at the Radnor Street Mission, Shoreditch, London.

One Sunday in 1912, Wimproy felt led to speak to a young lad in the Sunday School, a thirteen-year-old boy. “Now, Will,” he said, “would you like to be a Christian? Have you given your heart to Christ?” “No,” said Will. “Do you want to?” Wimproy asked. “Yes, I think I do,” came the reply. Wimproy took the lad by the hand, led him into the prayer room, prayed with him, and pointed him to the Saviour. Young Will handed the reins of his life over to the Saviour and became a Christian. Will’s full name as an adult was Dr. W. E. Sangster—a man God used to reach many thousands of people with the Gospel of Christ.

Morning Glory, Sept.-Oct. 1997, p. 14

There are many things in this world that can make us feel insignificant. Things like disabilities, lack of obvious talent, meekness, lack of job skill sets, etc… The list can go on and on. Counselors of identified one they call the “middle child syndrome.” They say that far more attention is given the first child and the baby of the family than to the middle children, making them feel over looked and insignificant.

Judah had many reasons to feel insignificant. He was the fourth child of twelve. To make matters worse, his mother was not appreciated by his father since he was tricked into marrying her. He and his brothers were then treated like they didn’t count.

Another thing that can make a person feel insignificant is if they have a sibling that has an obvious talent. Here again, Judah somewhat was paled by his younger brother Joseph, the favored son of the father.

It is really easy to overlook Judah’s life story by the dramatic and glamorous events of Joseph’s life. However, it was Judah’s bloodline that God chose to produce the great kings of Israel and even later, the King of Kings who redeemed us all.

Today, I want to step back and look again at some details we have already discussed some. I want us to ponder and meditate on the life of Judah and what it can speak to us about our own lives.

Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. I am reading from Genesis 49:8-12

Genesis 49:8–12 NIV

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

Pray

I. Minor Player; Major Outcome

If you think it is tough to be a middle child, try being child 4 of 12. There is a lot of buzz with the first child. First child…First grandchild…Perhaps first niece or nephew. The child gets everyone’s attention. In today’s world, there are usually more pictures taken of the first child than any other child in the family. With each succeeding child, less pictures are taken, less is written in each succeeding baby book. Everything is sterilized and scrubbed with the first, but even this practice deteriorates with each new addition to the family.

My friends and I used to laugh about this. We said that when the baby’s pacifier/bippee fell out of the mouth of the first child, it was set aside and not used until it had been boiled. With the second child, it was rinsed off and by the third child it was brushed off and shoved back in the baby’s mouth. Now, of course I am exaggerating a little bit, but you get the picture. I am sure you can relate in one way or another.

Well, growing up, I doubt that Judah felt he had any chance of any form of significance in his family. Not only was he son 4, but his father was tricked into marrying his mother. He resented her and he did not view her children as his true children of choice. Oh, Jacob would never refuse a son. More sons, more laborers for the fields. But Jacob acknowledged son number 11 as the first son since he was the son of Jacob’s wife by choice.

Judah may have began as a minor player, but his life demonstrates a major outcome.

Now, let me pause here to say that, “no life is insignificant!” Just because our emotions and inner voices may make us feel such, the Bible tells us something different.

Psalm 139:13–14 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

God doesn’t make mistakes. God has purpose in everything He creates and everything He does. He has created you! He has a purpose for you if you will only look to Him to find it.

However, feelings of insignificance hinder us because...

A. Feelings of Insignificance Lead to Resentment (Genesis 37:25-27)

Resentment is a blister that festers on every choice we make in life. It causes some to redraw and never try very hard. For others, they become judgmental and their negative attitudes spill out every time some one does something they don’t like. It breeds unhappiness of the soul. It becomes a roadblock for God because the resentful person either blames God, or they feel they are insignificant to God. In either case, it is like a brick wall separating them from God.

The Bible has many words to say on the subject of resentment and hatred. Look at these samples.

James 3:14–15 NIV

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Proverbs 10:12 NIV

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Psalm 37:8 NIV

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Judah was resentful of Joseph and Jacob’s attitude toward Joseph. There is nothing worse than to have a young sibling elevated to a position of authority above you.

I was the oldest in my family but the next child in our family was a boy only 14 months younger than me. When we were alone on the farm, I am telling you it got pretty tense. I felt I should be in charge as the oldest and he felt he should because he was a boy and not much younger than me.

Now Joseph was at least 7, but most likely more than that, years younger than Judah. For Reuben, the oldest, it was more like 13+ years, yet Joseph is being groomed to run the farm. and family.

You know the rest of the story. The brothers burned with hatred. They were prepared to kill Joseph, but instead they sold Joseph into slavery. Whose smart idea to sell Joseph? Judah! And in this moment we discover that Judah has a significant talent. The truth is...

B. Everyone Has a God-given Talent (Genesis 37:26-27)

Whether you know it or not, they are there. The Bible assures that we all have talents and need to discover them so we can use them.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 12:6–8 NIV

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Now if you are wondering if I added this to advertise my upcoming Sunday School class on Your Divine Design, I did not. However, based on the convenient subject matter of my sermon, I will insert advertising here! Your Divine Design beginning Sunday, November 21 @ 9 a.m. :-)

So, look with me at the hint we find on Judah’s talent, even if it is being used for wrong purposes in this moment.

Genesis 37:26–27 NIV

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

It is really easy to blow by these verses without giving thought beyond how sad that brothers could be so cold about their decision to do away with a young brother. But these verses reveal something about Judah. First, Judah was an opportunist. In other words, he was a thinker. He looked at the world around him and analyzed things to find an advantage. In this case, “Oh, we get nothing for killing Joseph, however, we could make this a financial gain for ourselves.” This ability to think and analyze is not bad in and of itself. It is actually a trait of a good leader if it is used in the proper way. Most talents can be used for both bad or good. It is just how one chooses to use it. What ethics or morals govern their use of the talent.

Second, we see Judah as a leader here. He is a younger brother, yet his brothers take time to listen to him and respond. Think about it a moment. There are 9 brothers here in this moment. Groups usually converse in packs of 2, 4, and so forth. Odd numbers often leave someone out. He is the middle child of them all, but think of it this way. The 4 oldest are Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. They all have the same mother and father. Reuben is not with them in this moment, plus as the oldest, he is seen as an authority which typically leaves a bit of a gap in relationships. Next you have Simeon and Levi. They would be close both by age and commonality. Remember, it was Simeon and Levi that did all the killing in Shechemville. This murderous rampage together, even as wicked as it was, would create a bond of sorts between them. The odds are that they are tight. Then you have Judah, Dan and Naphtali. Dan and Naphtali have a different mother and she isn’t even a wife. She is a concubine. So you can probably figure that they were tight. The next two brothers were the second concubines boys and the last two have both the same parents as Judah, but they are a lot younger. As the youngest two from their mom, they are probably tight. Yet in this band of brothers, with Judah being the odd brother out, he is able to be listened to and take charge with “how to solve the problem about Joseph!”

I say all of this to say, that Judah had leadership skills even though he was the middle child.

The truth is, that no matter what in our lives makes us feel insignificant, we all have talents. They are not always obvious like someone who can sing, play an instrument, or play sports. However, under the right circumstances, the talent will present itself.

My brother is a phenomenal musician. He can pick up any instrument and pretty much play them without lessons. He is what some would call a protege. As a child growing up, watching him with this skill, I began to think that I did not have any talent. When I spoke to my mom about it, she said that she had seen a talent in me that was not so obvious as playing an instrument. She said she noticed that people, even adults, gravitated to me and shared their struggles and that I always seemed to be able to discern the root issue of their problems. Talents come in many forms. Some are easy to spot and get lots of recognition, while others are more subtle and need to be discovered in order to harvest them.

Now the story takes a real bazaar twist at this point. The end of chapter 37 finds a grieving father and the son being grieved over is being sold at auction than to none other than Pharaoh’s Captain of the Guard. Enters chapter 38. We are expecting to follow Joseph’s adventure (or misadventure if you will), but the story takes off not with Jacob or Joseph but with what feels like a totally unrelated story about Judah. Why? Because whether we know it or not...

C. God is Always at Work in Our Lives to Promote Growth and Spiritual Maturity (Genesis 38)

The story takes a deviation here because insignificant Judah will become extremely significant. However, his significance cannot be discovered until his soul is healed. The events of chapter 38 end with an “aha!” moment for Judah. Judah departs from his father’s household for a time to stay with a man in Adullam. Adullam was about 10 1/2 miles NW of Hebron. We are not told why he left, but it is easy to jump to the conclusion that it was to escape the hysteronics of his grief-stricken father at home. That had to be a guilt-builder to all the brothers. And it appears to be driven by rebellion as well since he marries a Canaanite woman. I call this an act of rebellion as they were all directed not to marry Canaanite women. Between his guilt and his father’s partiality to Joseph, he turns to do the one thing he knows will provoke his father. He marries a Canaanite woman.

If you haven’t already done so, I recommend your reading this story. I shared it some before and will share briefer now. She gives Judah three sons. Judah finds the oldest, Er, a wife (Tamar is her name) but Er is wicked (he is after all Canaanite), and God kills him before his wife bears a child. By custom, Judah gives to her his next son (Onan) to produce a child, however, he takes advantage of Tamar yet takes precautions to do so without producing children. God kills Onan for this wickedness. Now Judah has one more son that by cultural obligation he owes to Tamar to produce a son for the sake of her future. Judah declares his son Shelah too young but promises when he is older he can be Tamar’s husband. However, Judah has no intention of doing so, probably fearing for Shelah’s life. In time, Tamar realizes that Judah has no intention of fulfilling his promise. When Judah’s wife dies, Tamar knowing Judah for the lustful man he is, dresses like a prostitute and sets up shop on a path she knows he will be traveling. She has figured Judah correctly because when he sees the veiled prostitute (not realizing it is Tamar), he works a deal with her. He has no money but secures her services with important personal credentials until he returns with money. However, when he returns, he finds her gone. He cannot make inquiries because to do so would shame him. He forgets the matter, accepting the loss of his personal credentials. Then the day comes and he hears his daughter -in-law is pregnant. Even though she is widowed, this is still considered infidelity. So, Judah demands her execution at which time she produces his credentials. Talk about “egg on the face.”

Now, here is where this event takes on an important significance. Look at Judah’s “Aha moment.”

Genesis 38:26 NIV

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again.

In this moment, Judah was humbled and confronted with his own unrighteousness. He admitted that Tamar (a Canaanite no less) was more righteous then he.

Philippians 2:13 NIV

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

God was definitely at work in Judah’s life. Now, in this moment of Judah’s life, we may not see the significance of this moment, but the next time we see Judah, we meet a much different man. A righteous man and we find...

D. Righteous People Act Responsibly (Genesis 43:1-10; 44:16-34;46:28)

You should know the story well by now. They are starving in Canaan. They go to Egypt for grain where unbeknownst to them, they are addressing their brother Joseph. They get grain and return to Canaan leaving Simeon in prison in Egypt. Joseph has told them that unless they return with their youngest brother Benjamin, they shall not see his face. In time, they are near starvation rations again and they need to return but dear dad will not allow Benjamin to go. Reuben, true to form, that being a poor example of righteousness, leadership or any form thereof, offers to sacrifice his sons if something happens to Benjamin. How grand of Reuben to offer his sons’ lives instead of his own. His father has no respect for him or his ingenuous offer and declines, but things get desperate and then Judah steps in.

Here we see a new Judah. A humble and responsible Judah step up in the role of leader.

Genesis 43:3–5 NIV

But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ”

Here is the practical man, the leader man, Judah. He stands up to his father with tact, confidence and wisdom. “Dad, be reasonable! We will be wasting our time going without Benjamin. However, Judah isn’t finished. He offers a genuine solution and it is one of personal sacrifice.

Genesis 43:8–10 NIV

Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”

Again, we see the practical side of Judah as he declares they could have gone and returned twice on all this time of delay arguing over the situation.

And you know the rest from last week. Judah is the brother who stands before Joseph declaring their guilt and taking the punishment on himself. This is the new and improved Judah. If Judah had not been so profoundly transformed by the incident with Tamar, these brothers may never have passed the test Joseph put them through. It was Judah’s final impassioned plea that won the moment.

Jacob recognized a profound change in Judah and turned to him as a leader of the family. Jacob places him as the family guide back to Egypt and even sends Judah on to Joseph ahead of the family.

Genesis 46:28 NIV

Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen,

However, the story isn’t over yet because we see that...

E. God Can Do Mighty Things Turning Insignificant Nobodies into Significant Somebodies. (Genesis 49:8-12)

As Jacob lies on his deathbed, he calls his brothers to him. He follows the tradition of giving each a blessing (or not so blessing as was the case with some). But the most profound was the blessing he gave to Judah. Jacob saw a changed man in Judah and he recognized that God had a great blessing in store of him.

Genesis 49:8–12 NIV

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.

Now, get this picture in your head. The brothers are gathered around dad’s bed. He is nearing death. He begins his blessing oration. Reuben and Reuben’s past blemishes are brought up once again in a scathing manner. Not what you want to hear from your dad on his deathbed. Oh dad, why bring that up again!

Then Simeon and Levi. They are addressed together and another put down for the events of Shechem.

You can just picture Judah cringing fearful of what dad will say. Will he bring up the sale of Joseph? Or the embarrassing situation with Tamar? I wonder how long it took for him to think, “What?” “What is this you say?” “My brothers will praise me? Oh, he must be mixing me up with Joseph. You know how parents get mixed up on the names. Judah, oh, I mean Joseph...”. But he continues and does not change it.

Judah will replace Joseph as the head of the family. He will be the family line that will be bowed down to. Why? Because from his family line will come the might Kings of Israel. David… Solomon…Abijah…Jehoshaphat…Jotham…Hezekiah…Josiah...

Judah will be a mighty warrior and so the tribe of Judah was. In the wilderness census, the Tribe of Judah was the largest of all the tribes and they were known as mighty warriors. They expelled the majority of Canaanites and Perizzites from Canaan as the children of Israel came to claim their God-given land.

But greatest of all is described in the last two verses. The he who tethered his donkey to a vine in garments of wine and robes in the blood of grapes is no other than Jesus Christ. The final king of Judah, of Israel, of all mankind.

Conclusion:

When you feel insignificant, remember Judah.

When you feel like a failure, remember Judah.

When you feel like your sin is too great for God to forgive, remember Judah. In fact, take a close look at the names in Jesus Genealogy. Among them you find many interesting people of various backgrounds and sins of various proportions.

Judah’s life story in Genesis seems minor in light of Joseph’s life story in Genesis, however, Judah’s life story has a major outcome that touches our life even today.

As we close today, what is in your life that makes you feel insignificant? Has it caused you to feel resentful? Has it prevented you from doing things and using your talents as God would have you to do? If so, in the quiet of this sanctuary before we close, offer it to God and ask Him to resurrect in you the spirit of Judah that you can go forth and be the man or woman of God that God has created you to be.

Quiet moment

Psalm 115:13 NIV

he will bless those who fear the Lord— small and great alike.

Sing: Potter’s Hand/Change My Heart O God

Pray and dismiss.