Here are a couple of “scenes” that occurred while reading through Genesis again. Jacob’s family is filled with interesting characters, so let’s take a peek. (Note: These are imaginary.) We begin with Jacob’s fourth son, Judah. Judah will ultimately be the ancestor of the Messiah so this story is critical in the narrative.
The incident plays out in Genesis 38. Judah’s two sons were pretty squirreley. That means that they skirted the rules, much like Grampa Jacob did. Well, long story short, the first, Er, married and behaved poorly and the Lord took his life. This is not an insignificant event, one would think. So the second, Onan, was recruited to perform “levirate” marriage. That means the surviving brother marries his deceased brother’s wife and raises kids to preserve the brother’s line.
Onan objected, literally, so refused to have children. Strike son number two. Judah had a third son, too young now, but later, when he was of age, Judah decided to avoid “strike three” so he gave the youngest to another wife.
Meanwhile the two-time widow is wondering what will happen to her. So she tricks Judah into sleeping with her and inevitably she becomes pregnant. Judah is incensed and demands that she be put to death for violating the 7th commandment. (Note that he did not commit adultery, in his own mind, because he was a widower. He was following the letter of the law and ignored the intent.)
The penalty for adultery was death, so he hauled her out to be executed. Then she showed the ring, staff, and cords of authority. They belonged to the father, and Judah was “hoist on his own petard” so to speak.
Did you ever notice that those who become most incensed at “deviations” by other people are often those with the “log in their own eye?” Judah had the humility to recognize his hypocrisy. Next story.
Now we move to Genesis 39 and 41. Scene opens with Mrs. Potiphar passing the main course to Mr. Potiphar at dinner. He casually asks, “Honey, do you remember that Hebrew slave that we had a few years ago?”
Shudder, (ed. note: looks like a fake.) “Yes, Dear, I do, why do you ask?”
“Well, Pharaoh just named him Prime Minister of Egypt!"
Cough, choke, cough. (Not faked.) “Poti, dearest, can we move to Canada? You know I have always wanted to live in Canada.” (Fade to black.)
Chapter 42 finds Joseph’s brothers before him in Egypt. He has accused them of being spies and they complain to each other that this is punishment for their treatment of Joseph about 20 years ago. Reuben, the oldest pipes up:
22 Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”
This may be the first recorded, “I tol’ ya so!” To his credit, Reuben had intended to liberate Joseph and seemingly was not present when Joseph was sold to the Midianite camel jockeys. Judah, by the way was a prime instigator of this indignity. He still seems to favor the aberrant.
Now, with Joseph listening to their bickering, they are beginning to realize that you reap what you sow. Good lesson for all of us.
Is there a unifying theme there? They all are rooted in someone misbehaving, and usually, badly. Does every misdeed get punished? Probably not. But are they ever dismissed? Judah found out pretty quickly that he had not “gotten away with it.”
Mrs. Potiphar had a few years to mull over her deception and hope that it was dead and buried. As our theological guru, Gomer would spout, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”
And the gang of 10 were complacently ignoring their transgression for over 20 years. It is just like posting something on the internet. It will never go away. God’s “servers” are never erased. A wise man lives like his deeds will be exposed in the morning. Jesus said something like that.
Like 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Our last imaginary scene occurs in Joseph’s home. In Genesis 43 he “supped” with them and in Genesis 45, after setting up Benjamin as a thief, he revealed himself to them. (We have previously considered why he did this, so we will look at the aftermath here.)
Background: The 10 should have been somewhat suspicious of this guy. He was obviously no third level bureaucrat in charge distributing provisions to the aliens who made their way to Egypt. His house was pretty grand for that. And the intense interest in the family, particularly their younger brother, Benjamin, should also have been a tell-tale. Why would some random Egyptian care about that?
The previous glimpse into their consciences leads to this scene when Joseph said, “I am Joseph.” Eyeballs the size of half dollars all around. Even Benjamin was probably astounded. Whoda thunk it?
Fear and trepidation comes next. ‘Scuse me. Dismay (verse 3) comes next. That is probably a large combination of fear and trepidation. “Would you like angst with that?” The rest of chapter 45 is Joseph’s explanation and doctrinal exposition of what had happened. He sounds like a Dallas or Gordon-Conwell grad. And not a word from the boys.
That reminds me of another revelation. Check Romans 3:19.
19 ...so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;
When the unbelieving world stands before the Great White Throne, no one will protest, “Yabbut....” Their guilt will be as evident as Joseph’s brothers’. The difference is not that Joseph was more magnanimous than Christ. The difference is the nature of the judgment and confrontation. The GWT is the final, ultimate judgment for all eternity. Joseph was merely a picture and a warning of what was to come.
As far as we know, them boys straightened up and flew right. Good choice and example for us. Their repentance was real and demonstrable.
A little song we used to sing in Sunday School went, “Be careful little eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet.... The Father up above is looking down in love.” And we do not want to disappoint Him, or face Him in an unrepentant state.
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