Bible Study Online Article

Now we will begin this article by taking a closer look at the time-line when it comes to the events that had taken place during the recording of Judah's early household.

Remember in the last article I pointed out, that you could easily miss this interesting bit of information if you're not careful.

I believe that knowing that this record starts before the selling of Joseph is crucial.

Not only does this helps with our Biblical studies, but it also helps us to see another great example on how God interacts with us in our natural lives.

This is important, for I feel that if we are able to see how God reacts when we do certain things in our lives - it will help us to see the things that God is doing in our lives.

With God being a God of example, the Old Testament lays out plenty of examples on how God interacts with the human race in the natural and not just the spiritual.

There's a lot I could say on this subject and I will, but first I have to keep my promise by moving a little farther when it comes to the account of Judah's early household.

First let's do a quick summary of the events that takes place when it comes to Judah's earlier events before his infamous encounter with Tamar.

1. Judah get's married to a Canaanite girl
2. They have three sons - Er, Onan, and Shelah
3. Er gets married to a girl named - Tamar
4. Er is judged for his wickedness (no details) - incurred a death sentence
5. Onan is ordered by his father (Judah) to marry Tamar - to preserve his brother's name
6. Onan is judged for his wickedness - incurred a death sentence
7. Shelah is promised to Tamar once he reaches an appropriate marring age
8. This promise would in fact be a lie that's told by Judah. Tamar finds out and decides to take matters into her own hands.

If we were to count the years from the time that Joseph was sold, by assuming that these events had taken place right after he was sold.

Starting from the time from when Judah had gotten marriedto Tamar who would eventually give birth to twin boys, whowere named - Pharez and Zarah.

Now if we also throw in the births of Hezron and Hamul who were born to Tamar's son Pharez. This would cover a time period of about twenty-three years, which wouldn't be enough time for all these events to have taken place.

This makes us believe that Judah was already married and his three sons were already born before the selling of Joseph.

It's probable that Judah had married when he was around the age of fifteen or sixteen. Also remember, that Judah was born fourth unto Jacob and Joseph was born twelfth when you count all the siblings.

For we must not forget that Jacob's daughter Dinah was born eleventh, right before Joseph. Looking at this birth order along would give us another seven to ten years to work with when it comes to the recording of Judah's early household.

Okay now, why is all of this important - the time-line in which things occurred? After all Judah did pay a heavy price and reaped for his actions when it came to the part that he played in the selling of Joseph.

Yes this is true, but we must move beyond when it comes to just knowing what the scriptures say. We should also keep in mind that God is the same today, yesterday and forevermore.

We must also understand that God is a God of examples and that the Old Testament is filled with them. Its these examples that shows us how God interacts with the natural world through the concept of cause and effect.

Now what I'm saying can become a problem for most, because they would quickly add:

"You mean to suggest that God will kill me because of my sin or that I could lose my salvation? Were not under the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament anymore, we are saved under the blood of the eternal lamb - Jesus Christ"

This is not what I'm implying, for I believe that if you truly believe that Jesus is the lone Saviour and Redeemer of humanity and you repent and turn away from the ways of the world - then of course you will inherit the Eternal Kingdom.

What I'm saying, is that we must learn how to be accountable for our actions and not lean on the excuse that nobody's perfect. We must stop thinking that life is some type of suffering sentence that has been declared on us - because it's not.

To be able to experience life in God's awesome creation is one of the ultimate gifts that we could ever have. To be able to have a chance to have free will, choice and the power of creativity, is something no other creature can claim.

To be an individual and unique like no other, to have so much value poured into us by being made in the likeness and image of our Heavenly Father - is the highest honor, from within God's awesome creation that can be bestowed on a creature.

Oh, what an honor and privilege to be able to hold such a position in God's magnificent creation. The Old Testament helps us to see and track how God moves in our lives when it comes to the decisions that we make.

It helps us to see if were making the right decisions or if were going down the wrong path.

God doesn't want to see us suffer; he wants us to be radiant in this dark, cold and corrupt world.

So yes we have the gifts of mercy, grace and eternal salvation. But we also have individual gifts as well that makes us unique in our natural lives, when it comes to the power of creativity and our talents and skills.

We must not make the mistake of just settling on the idea of just barely making it into the Eternal Kingdom. Instead we should strive to make the most of this fantastic opportunity called life, while we dance and celebrate our way into the arms of our Heavenly Father.

The Introduction of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

67) The Descendants of Esau

68) Joseph the Favorite Son

69) Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams

70) Joseph & The Murder Plot

71) Joseph & The Pit of Darkness

72) Jacob the Father of Sorrow

73) The Importance of Judah's History

74) <-CURRENT PAGE->

75) Judah's Reaping Season

76) Tamar's Revenge

77) Tamar's Vindication

78) Joseph the Servant of Favor

79) Potiphar's Wife Pursues Joseph

80) Joseph Goes to Prison

81) Joseph the Promoted

82) The Dreaming Cupbearer & Baker

83) Pharaoh's Dark Dreams

84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation

85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

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