Day 025- The Bible Recap

There is no shortage of lies, deceit and hypocrisy in chapter 38. Judah had three sons, two of which the Lord deemed as "wicked in the sight of the Lord", so He put them to death. 38:7, 10 Tamar was married to the first son Er and deceived by the second son Onan in 38:9

I'm curious if Judah ever intended for Shelah to marry Tamar because in 38:11 it said "for he feared he would die, like his brothers". As if Tamar was a curse killing them all.

Tired of waiting to be given to Shelah, Tamar hatched a plan to sleep with her father-in-law. Disguised she waited outside where she knew he would be and her inclinations about him were accurate, and he slept with her resulting in her pregnancy. After their encounter Tamar requested a collateral for a guarantee of future payment but probably more so proof of who she was with...Judah's signet, cord and staff. 

When it was brought to Judah's attention that his daughter-in-law was "pregnant by immorality", he didn't hesitate to "bring her out and let her be burned." The hypocrisy...he's the one she was immoral with! When she called him out with proof of his items he declared her more righteous than himself. 38:26

I've noticed a pattern of bystanders recognizing the Lord's favor in the life of His people and attributing their successes to the Lord and in turn because of that they are blessed as well...Abimelech, Laban, Potiphar and eventually the keeper of the prison. Our testimony to those around us is impactful whether we see immediate results or not!

When Potiphar's wife suggested Joseph sleep with her, he didn't just share his concern of upsetting Potiphar but also said, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" 39:9 When I sin do I think about how it grieves the Lord? Potiphar's wife ended up lying and Joseph was put in prison. But this is all still part of God's plan!

In 40:8 Joseph acknowledged that interpretation of dreams come from God thus attributing the credit to God, not himself. He told them their interpretations, one of which was death, both of which proved true. Joseph asked to be remembered (let out of prison) as an exchange for the interpretation but the cupbearer did not remember Joseph. 40:23