Homiletics Genesis 37-38

2 April 2013

Contents:            Where?                  Canaan, Egypt                 Who?  Joseph, his brothers, Reuben, Judah, Ishmaelites,  Jacob, Tamar

1	37:1-2	Jacob lived in Canaan and his 17-y.o. son Joseph pastured the flock with his brothers and brought Jacob a bad report about them.
2	37:3-4	Jacob loved Joseph more and made him a colored tunic, his brothers saw and hated him.
3	37:5-8	Joseph had a dream that he & brothers were binding sheaves and theirs bowed to his and they hated him more for thinking he would rule over them.
4	37:9-11	When Joseph shared the dream of the sun and moon and 11 stars bowing to him, his father rebuked him and his brothers were jealous.
5	37:12-17	Brothers pastured flock in Shechem and Israel sent Joseph to see about their welfare and he met a man who said they moved on to Dothan.
6	37:18-24	They plotted to kill him when they saw him but Reuben planned to rescue him so they took his tunic and threw him in a pit.
7	37:25-28	While eating, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites and Judah said they should sell Joseph and they received 20 shekels of silver and he went to Egypt.
8	37:29-36	Reuben returned to find Joseph gone, the brothers covered the tunic in goat’s blood and brought it to Jacob, who mourned and Joseph was sold to Pharaoh’s officer Potiphar.
9	38:1-5	About this time, Judah left and married a Canaanite and had 3 sons (Er, Onan and Shelah).
10	38:6-11	Judah took Tamar as wife for Er but he was evil so the Lord took him, Onan went to fulfill duty as bro-in-law but spilled seed so God took him, Judah suggested she wait for Shelah.
11	38:12-14	After considerable time, Judah’s wife died and Tamar removed widow’s clothes and put on veil because Shelah was grown and she wasn’t given to him.
12	38:15-19	Judah thought she was a harlot and promised a goat to go in to her, leaving pledge of seal, cord and staff, she conceived, left and wore her widow’s clothes.
13	38:20-23	Judah sent goat to friend to receive pledge but she was gone.
14	38:24-26	3 mos. later, Judah said Tamar should be burned for harlotry then learned he’d impregnated her, said she was more righteous than he, and didn’t go in to her again.
15	38:27-30	She gave birth to twins, the midwife tied a thread around the first hand to emerge, but Perez was born first, scarlet-thread brother Zerah born last.

 

Divisions:

1	37:1-17	Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, pastures the flock with his brothers and shares his dreams with his family, causing hatred and jealousy.
Principle:		Favoritism is not part of God’s plan. Some messages that God gives you are meant just for you.
2	37:18-36	The brothers plot to kill Joseph but sell him to a caravan bound for Egypt and their father mourns.
Principle:		A murder plot is not an acceptable way to deal with anger and jealousy. If you have a rescue plan, don’t take your eyes off the prize or it may be sold out from under you. It is easy to deceive with bad news.
3	38:1-11	Judah has a family including a twice-widowed daughter-in-law who he convinces to wait for his 3rd son to marry.
Principle:		One bad decision can affect your entire life. Parents should not abide wickedness in their children. Keep your “promises” to those you are in authority over.
4	38:12-30	Judah’s wife dies and Tamar disguises herself, conceives by him and gives birth to twins.
Principle:		Waiting a considerable time for a “promise” to be fulfilled can lead a righteous person to compromise themselves. If you can’t pay for what you want, that may be an indication that you shouldn’t have that thing. It is best to admit your mistakes and others’ righteousness.

 

Subject Sentence:

Joseph’s brothers sell him and Judah fathers twins with Tamar.

 

Aim (Christian and Non-Christian):

TCMAT see that God uses all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

 

Application:

1	How has favoritism impacted your life? What messages has God given to you that you regretted sharing with others?
2	What are acceptable Christian ways to deal with anger and jealousy? How have you personally dealt with anger and jealousy and what was the outcome? Under what circumstances were you involved in a rescue and what was the outcome? When have you witnessed or been deceived because of vulnerability at a time of grieving? (Don’t ask)
3	In what way has a significant decision from your past affected your present? How has God taken your circumstances and made them beneficial? How can you deal with wickedness in your family in a Christlike way? What affect has someone else (not) keeping their promise to you had on your life and how will you live regarding making promises to others because of it?
4	What is the longest you’ve had to wait for a promise to be fulfilled and how patient were you in waiting? What affect has waiting for promises to be fulfilled had on your character and lifestyle? What is your usual behavior when you see something that you want but you don’t have the means to purchase it with you? How readily do you admit your own sinfulness and boast of the righteousness of others?