[NOTE: For those who are continuing the 1-year Bible reading plan we started on April 1, 2018, just go to the end of this entry and you will find the Day 286-Zechariah 12-14; John 11 summary!]
Today’s readings from Genesis 37-40 show us biblical accounts don’t always flow in a “straight line,” that is Genesis chapters 37 and 39-40 tell us about Joseph, while chapter 38 diverges to an account of Joseph’s brother, Judah, and his encounter with Tamar, who was his daughter-in-law, but ended up becoming his wife! There’s nothing illogical or unreasonable about the insertion of the account of Judah and Tamar in chapter 38, but it does take us away from the flow of the account of Joseph’s life, which dominates most of the rest of the book of Genesis.
The account of Judah and Tamar and its placement shows us that at times the biblical writers included information that seems tangential to the main flow of their book. Some biblical scholars believe this is because the writers were using different source materials and they simply inserted material from a different source at that point. That is possible. Luke tells us in chapter 1 of his Gospel that “many” had undertaken the important matter of writing an account of Jesus’ life. Then he tells us he had reviewed the accounts, and interviewed eyewitnesses to write his account. Thus, Luke used different sources. That does not eliminate the underlying truth that God led each of the biblical writers in their writing through the Holy Spirit. For whatever reason, God wanted us to have the account of Judah and Tamar, so it is included within the account of Joseph.
The account of Judah and Tamar is another reminder God’s people didn’t always act as God would have had them act. The account of Judah’s sexual immorality was not included to show us how to live. Quite the contrary. Throughout the Bible sexual immorality is condemned. The account ultimately shows us how the lineage of the tribe of Judah flows, and that is vital to the overall message of the Bible, because both King David and Jesus were from the tribe of Judah.
In chapters 37, 39-40 we read of Joseph’s “rise and fall,” as it were. As a teenager, Joseph dreamed he would one day rule over his family. The dreams were from God, but Joseph’s method of presenting them to his brothers, and then his parents led them all to be critical of his claim. The dysfunction of Joseph’s family manifested itself in the brothers selling him into slavery. As readers, we think, “Oh, no. God can’t fulfill the dreams now.” If chapter 40 were the end of the story, we would be right, but as Joseph ends up first as a slave in Potiphar’s house, and then in prison, we read the words, “God was with Joseph.”
We might think when God is with someone that person’s life will be blessed. In a manner of speaking, Joseph’s life was blessed in Egypt. He was the chief slave in Potiphar’s house, and had great freedom. Even when he was falsely accused of rape and imprisoned, he quickly became the warden’s right-hand-man, and once again experienced great freedom. This is nothing compared with the blessing Joseph would eventually experience, but the greatest blessing in any situation is to have God’s presence in our lives. Joseph was freer as a slave in Egypt than his brothers were back home in Palestine. We must always remember when God is with us whatever our circumstance, our lives are better than if we were “free” or “rich” and didn’t have God in our lives.
As we turn to Mark 11, we find Jesus triumphantly riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. For a brief moment everyone acknowledged Jesus for who He was: The King of kings. But the moment wouldn’t last. We see Jesus’ authority demonstrated in the cursing of a fig tree that withers, and in His driving the money changers out of the Temple, but even after all this evidence the religious leaders question Jesus’ authority. They want to know what gave Him the right to do the things He did. Jesus didn’t answer them. He changed the subject to the source of John the Baptist’s authority. He asked the religious leaders whether it was from God or man? The religious leaders realized they couldn’t answer without putting themselves in a jam, so they said, “We don’t know.” This gave Jesus the opportunity to respond, “Neither will I tell you, where my authority originates.”
The tension is obvious, and as we’ll see in the remainder of Mark, Palm Sunday led to a week of confrontation and ultimately to Jesus’ crucifixion. Thankfully, just as God was with Joseph during his time of slavery and imprisonment, Jesus being God’s only Son, experienced His Father’s presence through the week leading to the crucifixion. The key in each of our lives is not what happens to us at any given moment, but that we rely on God’s presence in those moments. God will give us the strength to endure whatever we face, when we put Him first in our lives. Joseph and Jesus are two of the best examples of that reality!
Day 286-Zechariah 12-14; John 11
Zechariah 12-14 flows as a more of a unit than some of the other chapters have. The overall tone of the chapters is the restoration of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem in the days ahead. We find references to the future time of Jesus once again, as at one point we’re told, they will “look upon him whom they have pierced.” This could be a reference to Jesus. We also find that in the time that is prophesied, the LORD will live among the people. This is most certainly a reference to the end time. We’re told those who still remain against the LORD’s people will die horrible deaths, but the remnants of the nations will come to Jerusalem and worship the LORD. As is nearly always the case, this prophecy ends with a proclamation of the LORD’s mercy, His goodness, and His ultimate triumph, and the triumph of His people.
As we return to John 11, we read one of the most amazing accounts in Jesus’ life: the raising of Lazarus. We’re introduced to the situation, when someone comes to tell Jesus His friend, Lazarus, is sick. Jesus tells the disciples it will be okay, and that Lazarus has fallen asleep. The disciples think, “If he’s sleeping, he’ll get better.” But Jesus was referring to Lazarus having died. Jesus doesn’t arrive at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha until four days after Lazarus has died. Jesus has two poignant encounters, one with each of the sisters, and ultimately breaks into weeping, before calling Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Can you imagine what it was like? Everyone thought Lazarus was dead and gone. Now, here he stood, alive! We might think when the Pharisees heard about this amazing miracle, their minds would have changed about Jesus, and they would have proclaimed Him as the Messiah. Precisely the opposite happened. They decided that because Jesus had done such a miracle, they needed to get rid of Jesus before the people turned to Him and caused an uprising that Rome would be compelled to squash. Speaking prophetically without knowing it, one of the leaders said, “Better for one to die than for the whole nation to be destroyed. Jesus would, indeed, be the one person who died to save the entire world from our sin!