Last week we looked at how Joseph’s life foreshadowed, or gave us a picture of Jesus. There are so many places in the Old Testament where we find this type of foreshadowing, giving insight to who Jesus would be and what He would do as the promised Messiah. This promise originated in Genesis chapter three, after the fall, when God told the serpent that he (Satan) would attempt to crush the “seed of the woman,” but in fact this seed (Jesus) would crush his head.
We see this promise continue to unfold throughout the Old Testament in Covenants, such as the one given to Abraham, and it also plays out in the foreshadowings of Jesus through the lives of people like Isaac, Joseph, and Moses. We also see many times where Satan attempts to crush the seed line, but is always foiled. In fact this week’s study will show us how Judah, one of the sons of Jacob and the Patriarch of the tribe of Judah, will also give us this picture.
Judah is chosen by God to be the genealogy that Jesus would come through, and it is this lineage that God promises will stand forever. Jacob’s prophecy, as he blesses each of his sons at the end of Genesis, foreshadows this for Judah. Look for some of the things you know about Jesus in this blessing by Jacob:
“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are dull from wine, and his teeth white from milk.” Genesis 49:8-12
Bible Study Focus Points:
This is my attempt at retelling the story in my own words based on my own study. I am encouraging everyone to do the same by letting the text speak for itself and by using the hermeneutical method we have presented in previous posts. If you can summarize each book by chapter (and even verse by verse) then you are following what we are called to do and that is to become a student of the Bible which equips us to share it with others. What better way to do that then to be able to tell the story…
Read Genesis chapters 38-47
Chapter 38: The Story of Judah and Tamar, and the attempt to stop the “righteous seed”
This chapter departs from the main story, yet it happens at the same time Joseph’s story develops in Egypt. Here Judah leaves his brothers and goes to a town southwest of his family, marries a Canaanite women and has three sons. Tamar is Judah’s daughter-in-law who marries his first son who dies, and then marries his second son who also dies. Both of these deaths are attributed to their “wickedness in the sight of the LORD.” Judah then ‘lies’ to Tamar and says he will give his youngest son to her when he get older, but he never does. Upon realizing that Judah was not going to fulfill his promise she disguises herself as a prostitute and tricks Judah into sleeping with her and she gets pregnant. Judah almost has her killed until he realizes that he is the father and confesses that “she is more righteous than I.”
Judah has done several things wrong here:
- He intermarries with the Canaanites—this is the first time a member of the “promised seed line” marries outside the family.
- The Canaanites were cursed by God through Noah; Abraham and Isaac knew this as well and did not want to intermarry with them.
- He left his family thus departing from God’s blessing.
- He did not honor the family line he chose with Tamar (levirate marriage) and the righteous seed is stopped, or so Satan thinks, but Tamar is the one who rescues the plan (probably unknowingly, guided by God).
Result/consequences of this sin:
- Judah restored Tamar to his home but denies both her and himself the opportunity for future relations
- He couldn’t give her to his third son since that would create an incestuous relationship now that Judah had fathered a child with her
- Judah paid a price (suffered the consequences) for his sin, as did Tamar, yet God was able to create good things out of this episode: Judah repented (38:26), Tamar was saved from unjust death, and Judah’s line would now continue
Note: Perez is now born to Judah and Tamar, the firstborn of twins (he fought to be that), and he will continue on the lineage of Jesus.
Chapter 39: Joseph is betrayed by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison
Joseph’s story here is simultaneous to Judah’s in Chapter 38 and we find Joseph in slavery to Potiphar, who’s wife is infatuated with him. She does everything to get Joseph to sleep with her, but he refuses, choosing to honor God with his life. She then falsely accuses him of attempted rape, and Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison. (Note: Potiphar could have had him killed, but he probably knew his wife was lying and opted to throw him in prison instead).
Notice how Joseph’s main concern was honoring God (v. 9), and God honored him in his circumstances by having him find favor in the prison with everyone including the “warden” who put him in charge of everything: v. 23b “the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
Chapter 40: Joseph’s interpretation of dreams; the Cupbearer and the Baker
God gives Joseph the gift of interpreting the dreams of two people, the Cupbearer and the Baker (Note: Near East beliefs held dreams and their interpretations at a very high level and people sought out interpretations, however, if a wrong interpretation was given the interpreter often faced death). Joseph interpreted correctly for these two people and the Cupbearer was restored to his position while the Baker was executed. Joseph asked the Cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh, but he forgot about him for two years. (Notice how Joseph always gives the glory and honor to God, and always waits patiently for God to act – God’s timing, not ours, is the key)
Chapter 41: Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream; Joseph’s rise in Egypt; the famine
Joseph finally receives full blessing from God, and through the gift of interpreting dreams Joseph is remembered by the Cupbearer who recommends him to Pharaoh who has been plagued by dreams that no one can interpret. Joseph gives an interpretation and a plan of action to Pharaoh who believes him and puts him in charge of all the land, second to only to himself.
In this chapter Joseph also marries an official’s daughter and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim who will both be patriarchs of these tribes of Israel.
***Notice Joseph is 30 years old when he enters the service of Pharaoh, same age as Jesus!
Chapter 42: Joseph is reunited with his family; Simeon is held in Joseph’s custody (prison)
Now the famine that Joseph predicted has become so severe that it is affecting Jacob and his family. Jacob sends his sons (but not Benjamin) to go to Egypt to buy grain. Little did they know that Joseph would be the one selling them the grain because he was in charge of anyone coming into Egypt to buy. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him (20 some years had gone by and he was now a clean shaven Egyptian man). Joseph decided to test his brothers and treat them harshly by accusing them of being spies. By doing this Joseph got them to confess that they had another brother and that their father was still alive. In order to prove themselves Joseph required them to go get their brother as proof and he kept Simeon there in jail. (Note: Many scholars believe this was because Simeon was second oldest and the one responsible for selling Joseph into slavery, because Reuben, the oldest, was away when it happened).
It would take a while until Jacob would relent and let the brothers take Benjamin to Egypt the second time…
Chapters 43-44: Judah’s change of heart; Judah foreshadows Jesus sacrificial heart
These next two chapters are Judah’s chapters because this is where Judah has a change of heart (probably beginning with the realization of what he did with Tamar and his choice of life outside of God’s will that he is now suffering the consequences for). Judah makes this profound statement to his father Jacob concerning his brother Benjamin when he vows in 43:9 “I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before forever.” Judah now becomes a foreshadow of “Christ” in the sacrificial offering of himself.
As the chapter progresses they return to Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph can no longer keep his composure after seeing his younger brother, and breaks down in private. Joseph then sets up a banquet and places the brothers in order from oldest to youngest, giving Benjamin a helping 5 times as much as the others.
Joseph is still testing the brothers to see if they had really changed, and if they were willing to give themselves up for their brother, unlike they did with him. So Joseph hid his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack, and when they had just gotten out of town, he sent his steward after them to confront them, and of course Benjamin was now in trouble.
Judah now becomes the main spokesman for the brothers and recounts the entire story to Joseph as to what took place with their father Jacob and what he has thought about Joseph all these years (still not knowing it was Joseph he was talking to). Then Judah says this: “For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers.” Judah has now repented completely in his heart and taken full responsibility for everything.
Chapter 45: Joseph deals kindly with his brothers
Joseph could no longer control himself at this point and when he made himself known the brothers are in shock, and fear. When Pharaoh hears this news he is happy for Joseph and graciously offers the land of Goshen for his family to come and live. Note: This is all in God’s plan because now the Nation of Israel would have the chance to grow in number and in tribal purity because Egyptians would not, for the most part, socialize or mix with “Hebrew Shepherds” (although later on in Moses’ time there will be a few mixed families, referred to as the mixed multitude, and they will be a catalyst in a lot of the grumblings and mutinies against Moses and God).
Chapters 46 and 47: Israel moves the family to Egypt at Joseph’s request; Israel settles in the Land of Goshen
God speaks to Jacob in a vision and tells him to move Israel to Egypt. God promises to be with him and bring him back to the Promised Land, and that Joseph would close his eyes. So Jacob moves their entire household, 70 in all, to the Land of Goshen. They did not know that they would be there for 400 years while the family grows to 2 million in number by the time of Moses. Jacob will live in Goshen for 17 years and will be 147 when he dies.
Bible Study Review:
- Why is the story of Judah and Tamar important? (Gen. 38)
- Summarize what happened to Joseph in Potiphar’s house and why he was he was thrown in to prison. (39:1-23) How did the Jailor treat Joseph in prison and why? (39:21-23)
- Summarize what happened to Joseph because of his ability to interpret dreams. (39:1-40:37) How long did he have to wait between the jail interpretations and Pharaoh’s?
- Joseph is made second in command of Egypt, only to Pharaoh. What was he in charge of and how did that lead his brothers to meet him? (41:38-42:8) After recognizing his brothers Joseph decided to test them. What did he say and do to them? (42:8-28)
- Summarize the story of the brothers’ return to Egypt, include these elements in your summary: Jacob’s response when they returned without Simeon; Joseph’s treatment of Benjamin and the brothers at dinner; Benjamin’s framing; Joseph’s breakdown and confession of his identity; Jacob’s reaction when he learned about Joseph. (43:1-45:28)
- Judah foreshadows a model of Jesus’ sacrificial love. How did Judah show a turn of character? (44:16-34)
- What did Joseph say to his brothers after he revealed himself? (45:5-11) Cross-reference, and copy down, what Joseph also said to them in Genesis 50:20.
- What did God say to Jacob about moving to Egypt? (46:2-4) Where did Israel settle in Egypt and why? (47:1-12)
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament” with a focus on the transition between Genesis and Exodus!
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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