The Book of Genesis
Part 79
Chapter 38:1-30
Our studies closed last month with a consideration of God’s dealings with Judah. Some thought was expended upon the guilt of this brother of Joseph and upon God’s governmental severity upon his sin and that of his sons.
There are cases in which God implemented suddenly this severity in His governmental dealings with men, and there are times when He exercised patience with the guilty, “The Lord … is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
Grace
The New Testament opens with a reference to this very chapter in Genesis, to the act of Judah with Tamar, and to one of the sons born to them, Phares (Matt. 1:3). These references are all a part of the geneology of the Lord Jesus. As is known, there are some important personages omitted from this long list of names, but these, in spite of their sin, through grace find a place in this honour roll.
What lessons may we learn from this? Are we “to continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid” (Rom. 6:1). Surely the lesson is this, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:21).
One may wonder why this account of gross sin appears in the centre of the biography of such a person as Joseph. Several answers may occur to one, but of this we are certain, the pure life of Joseph scintillates against the impure behaviour of Judah and his family.
Joseph Imprisoned - (39:17-23)
It has been questioned whether or not Potiphar believed his wife’s story. A woman with such marked immoral tendencies could have manifested them on former occasions. Since she had made such an outcry, for the sake of appearances her husband had to put Joseph in prison. It seems reasonable that Potiphar believed in the innocence of Joseph and in the guilt of his wife, but contrary to justice, because of his position allowed Joseph to suffer.
The silence of Joseph here is admirable. He could have laid a counter charge against this woman. Instead he remained quiet; when reviled, he reviled not. In this he provides us with an extraordinary illustration of the statements of Peter: “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
One might ask whether there are any compensations for the endurance of injustice. In the case of Joseph there was. Let us place the two statements over against each other, “And he was in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” The Lord favoured him with His divine presence and with the kind considerations of the jailor. Truly, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with Him” (Prov. 16:7).