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INRTO
Please open your Bibles to this morning.
As you are turning there I want to ask you, have you ever read a section of Scripture and thought to yourself I wonder why this is even here at all?
Today may be one of those days for you.
The good news is that God Himself has a reason and a purpose for everything He says and does and in this chapter of scripture it is no different.
Please open your Bibles to this morning.
As you are turning there I want to ask you, have you ever read a section of Scripture and thought to yourself I wonder why this is even here at all?
Today may be one of those days for you.
The good news is that God Himself has a reason and a purpose for everything He says and does and in this chapter of scripture it is no different.
I hope you have found the text we are going to use for today.
Before we engage God’s Word let us pray to Him, please join me.
PRAYER
Please follow along with me as I read from .
TEXT
SERMON BODY
So that is kind-of a strange text right!
There sure is a lot going on in these 30 verses.
I think this is one of those sections in scripture that we don’t often hear much about simply because of its content but I think that the context and content of this chapter really expose why God has given it to us.
So lets get to it shall we.
Why do we switch gears like this here, why are we hearing about Judah?
We have just started talking about Joseph and for most of the rest of the book Joseph will be the focal point.
Joseph has 11 other brothers we could talk about also so why Judah and again why now?
One reason we are talking about Judah is he is next in line of succession of the brothers of Joseph.
Think about it with me, we have heard of the activities and character of Simeon and Levi when they sleighed their foes out of wrath claiming justice.
We have heard as Israel did of the exploits of Reuben and how he stepped outside his bounds and acted sinfully with one of his fathers wives.
An act that says that even the pagans do not tolerate!
So naturally here we have Judah who seems to be following close to the heals of his other brothers.
Remember it was last chapter when Judah had the bright Idea to make a profit from Joseph rather then just slay him.
No problem with either choice it seems for him yet at least he could make a buck this way.
Now it seems that soon after as tells us Judah leaves his brothers and turns aside toward the Canaanite people.
As we just read from Judah’s track record is less then stellar.
He leaves his family to pursue the things of the neighboring pagans.
He falls in love with and marries an unbelieving woman.
He raises some ungodly children.
He does not uphold his word, in fact he seeks to actively deceive others.
Behind closed doors, when he thinks no-one will know he engages in immoral sexual acts.
Lastly, he then has the false sense of self-righteousness to judge others hypocritically, showing no mercy or grace.
Just a side note, is it not ironic that Judah the man who considers killing his brother goes to be with the people
Is there any hope for the sons of Israel?
But before we judge Judah to harshly let me ask you also...
Have you ever left what you know to be right to pursue what you know to be wrong simply because it brings you pleasure?
Have you ever sought to deceive others to save face, to look better, to protect from loss, or simply out of pride?
Have you ever cast judgement on an individual or situation without knowing all the facts, thinking of yourself as more righteous then they?
Have you ever played the hypocrite?
The question is not just is their any hope for Israel or his sons; the question is, is there any hope for us?
Please turn to with me...
This is at the end of Jacobs life, he is about to die in Egypt and he is pronouncing his blessing on all of his children much like the other patriarchs did prior to him.
Start in 1 and read with me...
Given the track record of those three we would expect something similar with Judah because of his issues also.
But look what he says about Judah...
Gen 49:8-12
Perhaps you are familiar with this section in Genesis and perhaps you are not.
Even if you are do you not marvel at Jacob’s words here?
The only other blessing that is comparable to this one that Jacob gives to his sons is the one he pronounces on Joseph.
Remember our first question...
Why do we switch gears like this here, why are we hearing about Judah?
This passage in brings me to our second question that will help us answer the first, which is,
Remember what Judah’s life was like?
Turn back to with me...
Remember what Judah’s life was like?
Turn back to with me...
Judah was a selfish, prideful man who feared social humiliation more then God’s righteous judgments; but he does not stay that way! Judah lied, cinived and schemed until the day that he was confronted with his sin.
Reuben, at least according to the text, never repented from his sin against Jacob.
Simeon and Levi never repented from their sin against the people they destroyed.
But read with me Judah’s response in .
Gen 38:25-
This seems to be the turning point for Judah.
Look how his character has changed as we encounter him later in , turn with me there now.
Joseph, being reconnected with his brothers sends them home to return with his youngest brother Benjamin.
Judah is the one leading the men, Judah is the one who pledges the boys security.
Observe as it says...
As they are returning Joseph sets them up, he frames his brother Benjamin with theft, this means that Benjamin will be killed for his crime or at best enslaved never to return home again.
Turn now and observe .
There it is!
Do you see it!?
Do you see the heart change of this man?
Do you see his humility?
His repentance?
His confession?
His sacrifice?
His leadership?
Is it any wonder Joseph responds the way he does in the next chapter ...
God does bless us when our hearts are softened to Him, when we live a life characterized by repentance and humility we will be exalted in His timing.
Judah had a heart change!
Judah repented!
This answers our second question which if you remember was...
Why does Judah ever receive this blessing?
Judah receives this blessing because of his heart change, yes but it is even bigger then that!
Judah receives this blessing because of his heart change, yes, but it is even bigger then that!
Judah receives this blessing simply because of God’s grace!
Not by his righteousness but simply by the grace of God
With question 2 answered we can now answer question 1 which was
Why do we switch gears like this here, why are we hearing about Judah?
The answer to this question is because the story is bigger than Joseph.
We take a sidetrack out of the story following Joseph to hear about Judah, because the overall story of scripture is bigger than both of them.
Ultimately this story of Joseph is not about Joseph it’s about Jesus.
Ultimately this chapter on Judah is not about Judah it’s about Jesus.
Turn back now to and observe with me...
Genesis 38:
We take the time out from Joseph to read of the birth of these two boys.
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