Jan 17, Gen 37-38

Well, the story gets interesting again. We are introduced to Joseph, the favored son. He doesn't have enough sense not to tattle on his brothers and tell them about his dreams in which he rules over them, not once but twice. (Same brothers that slaughtered a whole village- I think I might stay out their way). But, God's fingerprints (as always) are all over the story and serving His purpose. We will be seeing a lot more of Joseph shortly so we'll leave him here and concentrate on the bizzare story of Tamar and Judah.

Because I know that the line of Christ will eventually come from Judah, I was really puzzled about this story. Then I realized that Judah had married a Cananite wife. The resulting offspring were so evil that God killed two of them (glad He doesn't do that now days!!) It does note that Judah 'got a wife for Er' (Tamar). It doesn't say he 'took a wife' which one would presume it would say if he married a 'local' girl and it does not make a point of saying that she was a Cananite like it notes of Judah's wife. In previous generations it seems 'got a wife' indicates that it was 'in the family' not of the locals and that she was indeed a Hebrew. Upon googling this theory, it seems that there are those who agree and they indicate that Tamar is indeed a Hebrew name (later the daughter of David the king). So in the midst of this whole bizzare and even sinful plot, God preserves the family line and accomplishes His purposes.