Esau is still blessed. We also see the continued fruit of having favourites within families with Jacob, Joseph and his coat. The wrath of his jealous brothers would cause grief for many years – though the Lord is over it all.
We see the difference between a family member who trust’s in God and one who doesn’t today in our reading. We begin with the one who doesn’t.
Genesis 38: Judah and Tamar
1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her,
3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.
4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.
5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.
8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."
9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother.
10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.
11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up"---for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father's house.
12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And when Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,"
14 she took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, "Come, let me come in to you," for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"
17 He answered, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." And she said, "If you give me a pledge, until you send it---"
18 He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" She replied, "Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her.
21 And he asked the men of the place, "Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?" And they said, "No cult prostitute has been here."
22 So he returned to Judah and said, "I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, 'No cult prostitute has been here.'"
23 And Judah replied, "Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her."
24 About three months later Judah was told, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality." And Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burned."
25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, "By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant." And she said, "Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff."
26 Then Judah identified them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not know her again.
27 When the time of her labour came, there were twins in her womb.
28 And when she was in labour, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."
29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" Therefore his name was called Perez.
30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
Genesis 39: Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
4 So Joseph found favour in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.
6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me."
8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.
9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"
10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house,
12 she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house,
14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.
15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house."
16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,
17 and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me.
18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house."
19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.
23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
Things to think about…
1. Judah like Esau took a wife from the Canaanites, Gen 38:1-3. It showed he had little regard for the promises given to his father, grandfather or great-grand father. This woman bore two sons who followed after the ways of the Canaanites and were both killed, Gen 38:3-10. Our words, actions and belief systems are all witnessed by our children. Which of these are being expressed in you because of your parents? What traits are being expressed in your children? May we exhibit the characteristics of our heavenly Father and his Son Jesus.
2. Tamar takes things into her own hands and the Lord blesses her with twins, Gen 38:26-30. Judah never lies with her again, but she is guaranteed that an inheritance and a name is left for her first husband. We don’t understand this in our culture, but we do know what it is like when certain members are written out of the family will. This was Tamar’s way of remaining in the will. Jesus chose to be identified with Judah and Tamar’s line, His genealogy includes Perez, Mt 1:3.
3. Meanwhile in Egypt Joseph is being blessed until Potiphar’s wife falls in lust with him, Gen 39:7. Her wickedness is evident with the fact that if she cannot have him, he will not remain free. People who want something from you at your expense have no regard for you and feel justified in perpetuating harm on you if you will not comply with their wishes. Have you been wronged by someone taking from you what was never theirs to take? May the Lord add the increase to you and bless you and give you even more than was taken. In some cases this is only possible in eternity, hence our need to follow and trust our Saviour with His promises.
4. Even in the prison, Joseph was trusted and blessed, Gen 39:21-23. Often it is at the lowest points in our lives that we learn can still know the hand of the Lord and His presence with us. Often it is just before the Lord opens His abundance and promises. Such was the case with Joseph and the eventual fulfilment of the dreams he had many years before.
Vision Point
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Questions for Cell groups
Sunday’s sermon, “God blessed anyway” came from Gen 27 by Ps Jay.
1. Discuss the character differences between Jacob and Esau as they are displayed in Gen 27. Do you see any moral differences between them, that the Lord would bless Jacob over Esau?
2. Clearly there was little to no trust between Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau. There was also little display of faith and trust in the Lord either. However the Scriptures exalt the character of Isaac and Jacob, Hebrews 11:20, 21; but they are not kind to Esau, Heb 12:16, 17. Discuss.
3. Jay spoke about the outworking of the blessing’s that were given by Isaac to his two sons in Gen 27. How have they been fulfilled?
4. The greatest blessing through the line of Jacob is the birth of the Messiah – Jesus. Consider how Jesus fits into the blessing Isaac gave to Jacob in Gen 27:28, 29.
5. Pray for your cell group and prayer/praise points. Pray for our “Blessing Beirut” appeal as we endeavour to help these ‘sons of Abraham’.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for Lebanon and the people of Beirut with this accidental blast from the storage of ammonium nitrate. 157 confirmed dead. 5000 wounded, 300, 000 left homeless. $10 - $15 billion to rebuild.
2. Pray for those who heard the gospel on Sunday. Pray for Christ to grant them salvation.
3. Pray for Victoria that this virus departs and they would return to the freedoms we have here in Qld.
4. Pray for our church services would reach out into our community and beyond every Sunday.
5. Continue to pray for our government for wisdom and economic management.
6. Sunday’s messages and for Kids church. The message this week – “You shall be called Israel” Gen 35 – Ps Jay.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. New visitors. Please pray that they receive Christ as their Saviour. Pray they keep coming back to CBC.
2. Wonderful spirit of joy in our church. Thankyou Jesus.
3. Finances being maintained and donations to Café roof. Thankyou!
1. We have established a “Blessing Beirut” fund. Pray we can find a gospel centered ministry to bless the people of Beirut as they rebuild.
2. One service at 9:30am Every Sunday morning. This service will also be live streamed. No kisses, hand-shakes or hugs are allowed. Hand sanitizer is to be used, tables will be wiped and chairs arranged for appropriate distancing. Families can of course sit together. CBC is allowed up to 50 people inside, then we will have an overflow in the house and Kids church will be in the crèche in the cafe.
3. Cell groups – Ask for details as to how and what is required.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Kids Church will be run in the house when the message starts.
Q. 15. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? A. That God would pardon our sins for Christ's sake, and enable us to forgive those who have wronged us.
