…I was born in a family that would eventually have 4 sons.  That means I have three brothers.  My brothers

  are very different from each other.  Two are red heads, one is blond, and I have the dark hair.  That is just the

  beginning of our differences….it is amazing how children can grow up in the very same house, with the very same

  parents and turn out so differently!   I am sure that each of us could say similar things.

…Such is the situation with Joseph and his older brother Judah.  When you read the account, the contrast between

  these two  brothers is enormous.   It is helpful for us to note the differences, and to see God’s gracious hand of

  providence moving to bring about good through Joseph.

TWO VERY DIFFERENT BROTHERS REVEALING TO US THE NEED FOR GOD TO SEND ONE INTO EGYPT…marvel at the ways and grace of God!!!!

I.      God’s Man, Joseph, Is Sent To Egypt Because God Was Preserving His People.

              (v. 37:36) Joseph through his tears could not see it, yet he completely trusted his God. 

                A.            Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Midianites and sold again as a slave to Potiphar.

                                …Potiphar was the captain of the King’s executioners, a very high position in the government.

                                …We see in this seemingly random selection, the very hand of God.  Watch the details of life…

                B.             Egypt was the greatest country of the world at this time.  The Egyptians excelled in

                                mathematics, building, and medicine.   They were the “bread basket” of the world…Nile River.

                                …Joseph had never been there before.  Their language and culture were unknown to him.

                C.             Egypt was also very godless and pagan.  Joseph had never seen such a thing.  The people were

                                debased and wicked.  As far as its religion went, it was the most ignorant and polytheistic nation

                                of the ancient world.  (Romans 1:20-23)  “man exchanged the glory of God for images…”

                D.            Yet, Joseph was “God’s man in godless Egypt.”   He retained two great things in Egypt:

                                1.             His character.  He would not “let go and live it up.”  Or, “when in Rome do as…”

                                2.             His awareness of God’s presence.  This kept him on track when surrounded by a

                                                godless culture.  When you read Joseph’s words in the text, you will see that they are

                                                filled with references to God.  (39:9), (41:16,25), (45:5,67-8), (48:9), (50:19-20)

II.     Man’s Man, Judah, Remains In Canaan, Immersing Himself In Great Evil. (38)

                …Judah’s life warns us not to assimulate into the sins of our culture.  He did and almost lost everything.

                …Judah is guilty of three sins in this chapter and they are progressive; each worse than the prior.

                A.            After Joseph is sold, Judah decides to move to a pagan city, marry an unbelieving wife, and has

                                3 sons.  This chapter takes place during the 22 years till Joseph brings his family to Egypt. 

                                …He, like us, knew that it was not God’s will to marry and unbeliever.  (2 Cor 6:14) 

                                …”What about dating?”  Very dangerous!!  Remember: friendship is the prelude to dating, and

                                dating is the prelude to marriage.” 

                B.             Judah was unfaithful in keeping his solemn commitments.   Here: the “levirate marriage.” 

                                1.             This custom seems bizarre to our ears.  Yet, parts of it were built into the law, to

                                                maintain the family lines.  (Deut 25:5-10)

                                2.             It appears that Judah’s sons were influenced for evil by his godless wife, so knowing

                                                that God’s seed would flow through him, he secures a wife for his son.  Tamar…

                                3.             Er does not participate in his marriage, so God takes his life.  Now, his next oldest

                                                brother, Onan, is to take Tamar as his wife and have children by her.  But, he uses her

                                                for his sexual pleasure, but withholds his “seed” from her.  He is selfish, and so

                                                dishonors his brother’s name, so God takes his life as well.  (v. 10)

                                4.             Judah refuses to give his last son, Shelah, to Tamar.  The longer Judah remained in

                                                Canaan, the more he became like the pagan people there.  In fact, he was worse.

                C.             Judah, now recently widowed, visits a prostitute with such ease, only to be tricked by Tamar.               

                                1.             Tamar’s plan to seduce her father-in-law had a 1 in 100 chance, but God intervened.

                                2.             Judah shows us how one sin leads to another, and how most sins are found out.  Also,

                                                do not think if you sin, that you will escape sin’s consequences.  You won’t!!!

                                                …Judah’s son, Perez, born to Tamar, is part of the family lineage of Jesus.  GRACE!!!

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES: