Day 14. 14th January Bible Commentary And Summary With Dr. Toyin Taken From Genesis Chapter 37, 38, And 39.
STRIPPED❗️
GENESIS CHAPTERS 371-36, 381-30 and 391-23.
THE SUN, THE MOON AND ELEVEN STARS. Chapters 379.
What is this dream❓
Joseph was only 17 years old but he was responsible. He was loved; as a favourite child (of Jacob his father). And this invokes jealousy and sibling rivalry as clearly seen in this case.
JOSEPH THE DREAMER
v.5-8. His dream made the anonymity his brothers felt towards him worse.
1st Dream; which he drew the attention of his brothers to as he told them; “ we were binding sheaves in the field and lo my sheaf arose and also stood upright and behold your shaves stood roundabout and made obeisance (bowed down) to my sheaf”
His brothers answered “shall thou indeed reign over us”
v.9-11. His second dream he told his father also and in fact, his father rebuked him! Although he rebuked him, he kept the dream to heart and I think that is very important.
2nd Dream:
“The sun and moon and the 11 stars made obeisance to me”
His father asked “ what is this dream? shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers in the field, but they had gone further than his father knew, and Joseph went as far. (v.12-17)
3718-20. Here comes the dreamer! let’s kill him and see what comes of his dream.
BUT FOR REUBEN AND JUDAH:-
v.21-22. Reuben’s objection: intercepting their thoughts, with a personal secret rescue plan said ‘Let’s not take his life don’t shed any blood throw him into this cistern’ .
They stripped him of his rope of many colours and threw him into the empty Pit.
v.26. The enterprising Judah said what profit is it if we kill our brother he is our flesh and blood let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and that was agreed.
I note that the Ishmaelites who were rejected (Genesis 219-10) are living life now as Merchants. That shows that if you ARE ALIVE, work and remain focused you can turn the tide!
As we go further in our studies the Ishmaelites would buy Joseph.
They paid twenty shekels of silver and took him away to Egypt (v.28). And that marked ‘the raising of the sheaf!’
v.29-33. THE COVER-UP!
Together they tore his rope, killed a goat, dipped his coat in its blood, and gave it to their father to confirm if it is Joseph‘s coat and their father Jacob said it is my son’s Joseph; an evil beast has devoured and torn him to pieces (v.33). He wept, and he refused to be comforted and these were his words “ I will go down into the grave onto my son mourning” (v.35).
THE BEGINNING OF THE RAISING OF A SLAVE❗️
v.36. The midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar the captain of the guards.
CHAPTER 38
JUDAH’S LIFE. THE GOD OF PRESENCE AND TAMAR.
v.1-30. Judah left his brothers and lived with another family a man of Adullam. He married a Canaanite’s daughter Who had 3 sons (ER, ONAN, and SHELAH) for him.
(38:7). His firstborn ER married Tamar but he was wicked in the sight of the Lord and the Lord put him to death (what he did was not stated in the bible). At this time Tamar the widow was childless and was then given to Er’s brother (Onan) to marry because it was the custom at the time to raise seeds (descendants) for the deceased.
A Widow, Deceived, Deprived, and Misused.
v.9-10. Howbeit he acted deceitfully too - During coitus he would spill on the ground instead, and this was displeasing to the Lord and he took his life.
v.11. Afraid that his last son would die Judah sent her back to her father’s, saying remain a widow until when my son SHELAH grows up.
v.12-14. After Judah’s wife’s death, Judah went up to Timnah to shear his sheep. Tamar his daughter-in-law learned of his journey and covering herself with a veil, disguised as a harlot; she took off her widow's attire. She sat in an open space by his way (at this time his last son Shelah had grown up but she was not given to him. v.14b). Judah went up to her and asked to have sex with her. She asked him what he would give her to sleep with him and he promised her a young goat and she said give me YOUR SEAL, CORD, and STAFF for a pledge, he did and had sex with her and she became pregnant. When Judah heard that she was pregnant, he would have her killed (v.25).
- But she was back on her feet, and went to back.
A WOMAN'S WORTH
Women, girls, do you know your worth? It’s in proverbs 3110-31. Let me highlight v.23 "Her husband is known, honoured, respected at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land".
As we continue let me do a little analysis: Tamar found herself in an unfortunate situation. She remained vulnerable, unloved, and put aside. But in all of this she seemed to know her worth; asking for his honour: his SEAL, CORD AND STAFF was significant. That is her worth! It’s like when you graduate from a University you get a pin which you could pin to your suit or your badge or certificate of graduation and endorsement or perhaps your ranking on your brooch / badge as an army. She stripped him of those.
Genesis 38:20-23!
SHE BECAME PREGNANT, and the news got to her father-in-law who had taken her back home (abandoned). His judgment was against her, he stated that she should be burnt to death by fire! v.24
v.25-26. Then just before they carried out Judah’s wicked judgment against her SHE EXPOSED HIM, by presenting the pledge, and she was vindicated. “She is more righteous than me he said” v.26.
Tamar had two twins the incidents at their birth was interesting; please read this 3827-30. The first of the twin to eventually come out was named PEREZ (breaking out) and the second Zerah (scarlet or brightness). And they were named among Judah’s descendants. (1Chronicles 23-6).
Chapter 39
THE RAISING OF A STAR!
Sold to Potiphar, 381. The Lord was with Joseph; Potiphar saw this and commits all his (Household and Field) into his hands. 39:2-6a.
Joseph was well built and handsome (v.6b) and his master’s wife lusting after him make sexual advances at him, but he outrightly refused (v.7-10). She became fierce, on an occasion grabbed his coat, he fled leaving his coat in her hands; he said I am well favoured and trusted by Potiphar my master how could I do this wicked thing and SIN AGAINST GOD. v.11.
She lied to her husband saying “That Hebrew slave of yours came in to rape me’ v.16-18, and Joseph was thrown into the prison, where the king’s prisoners are confined: v.19-20.
v.21. TWIST.
A divine twist: Even in the prison the Lord was with him and the prison warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in prison. As in Potiphar’s house, he had success in the prison too.
How do you act in the " 'prisons' of life" ?.
When temptation attempts to grab you, do you flee?
Many widows suffer just like Tamar did. The stigmatization of widowhood is not a tale in Africa. Let's play our part in our families and societies at large to end such.
May the Lord be with us as he was with Joseph - amen.
NIGHT: REFLECT AND BELIEVE.
Like Joseph there is a rising for you! There is a supernatural hand that lifts you up and directs all paths! Perhaps you are like a Tamar you have been dealt the hard blows of life; as her life is a proof of Divine Presence – Tamar’s unique story demonstrates that power and Presence like no other.
There is a rising for you! You are created for more!
“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light” Lk 1133
© 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Dr. Oluwatoyin Emiola Ojo.
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Dr. Toyin
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