Bible Study Online Article

In the last article I pointed out why I felt that it was important for us to be able to track God movements throughout the scriptures.

For I believe, we can learn how God interacts with us in our daily lives through the examples He lays out for us in the Old Testament.

With that said, remember back in the thirty seventh chapter, how the scriptures informs us that Joseph was Jacob's favorite son?

Also, I pointed out how the birthright of the first born could have fallen unto Joseph, although he was the eleventh son born to Jacob.

There are many different viewpoints on why Joseph received this honor over his brothers.

As for me, I'm looking at this account from two different angles. For one, I believe that the strong bond and close relationship that Jacob had with Joseph, came from the fact that he was Rachel's first born.

I'm not going to retell the account here, but in summary - Jacob loved Rachel with all of his heart. She would end up dying while she was giving birth to her second child Benjamin. I believe that Jacob and Joseph relationship grew stronger from that point forward.

Second, when it comes to the birthright, I believe that this was separate from Jacob's favor towards Joseph, for this was God's chosen path for the dream interpreter.

When we look at the type of men that his older brothers had turned out to be, I could see why God had chosen to bestowed the covenant honor unto Joseph.

1) Jacob's first born Reuben had slept with his step mother.

2) Jacob's second and third born sons, Simeon and Levi - had lead the slaughter of the Shechemites, over their sister Dinah.

3) Jacob sons that were born unto him in the fifth through eight spots, which were - Bilhah sons - Dan and Naphtali and Zilpah sons - Gad and Asher, were given a bad report by Joseph, on their behavior while they were out in the fields tending their father's sheep.

Now the only boys that seemed to be doing fine during these times were, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. But all of this would change after they had played their parts in the selling of Joseph.

The only brother at this point that was in the clear of doing no wrong was Benjamin - Joseph's younger brother.

Now the telling of the scriptures takes us into Judah's early household, for he is given this honor in God's Word - simply because Jesus Christ would come from his family lineage.

Let's assume that Judah had left his father's household at an earlier point before the selling of his younger brother Joseph, as the scriptures would suggest. Most would say that Judah had venture off on his own when he was around the age of fourteen

"At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to staywith a man of Adullam named Hirah. There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and lay with her; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah."

Now the telling of the scriptures points out that Judah had married a Canaanite girl and it's assumed that he married her when he was around the age of fifteen. The three sons that he would have with her would also happen before the selling of Joseph.

Next the telling of the scriptures begins the recorded account of his oldest son marriage to Tamar. Now it's believed that this marriage had taken place after the selling of Joseph.

Remember that Joseph was around the age of seventeen when he was sold. Also keep in mind that Judah was only seven to eight years older than Joseph. Judah's son Er, didn't get married until he was around the age of seventeen.

Now I point this out, because Judah had participated in a very wicked plot that caused his younger brother to be sold into slavery. Now we have Judah experiencing a reaping harvest behind his actions.

"Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death."

Now that's interesting. When Joseph was sold at the hands of his brothers, Jacob lost his favorite son. Now we find that Judah has now lost a son of his own.

Being that Er's life was cut short, he didn't have time to produce an heir with Tamar, therefore leaving the continuation of the family name at stake. But Judah had a backup plan:

"Then Judah said to Onan, 'Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother.' But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he laid with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so he put him to death also."

Now as we can see from the scripture we just read, Judah's plan to use his second born son Onan, to carry on the family name wasn't successful.

Now I want to point out something when it comes to this scripture.

Most leaders and teachers would point to different things when it comes to why Onan was wicked for what he did. Some of these point of views ranges from birth control to oral sex. But as for me, I want you to notice the latter part of the text:

"But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he laid with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother."

I believe that Onan had a disdain for his brother, just like his father Judah had towards his brother Joseph. I believe that this was a continuation of the reaping season that Judah had to endure for the selling and the disdain that he had towards Joseph.

It amazes me how people in today's world are quick to cast God as being unfair. It's these types of reasons, why I tried my best to point out the faults that the other brothers had. To show that there was a reason why God chose Joseph, for He knows our hearts better than we do.

The paths that God has chosen are different for each of us, being that we are different from each other. What God has for one, He has a different path for the other.

Instead of trying to go down a path that wasn't designed for us, why don't we learn how to seek out the correct path that God has laid out specifically for us?

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) Judah's Early Household

75) <-CURRENT PAGE->

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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