Suggested Bible Reading: Genesis 38-40
Devotional Thought:
The definition I like most regarding integrity I heard many years ago from a preacher. “Integrity is complete obedience no matter who is watching, the severity of the temptation, or the intensity of the pressure.” One of the major purposes of Genesis is to record the origin and development of the family of Jacob, the founder of the twelve tribes of Israel. Warren Wiersbe states, “the Israelites went down to Egypt a large family, and four centuries later they came out of Egypt a large nation. Since the tribe of Judah is the royal tribe from which the Messiah would come (49:10), anything related to Judah is vital to the story in Genesis. Without this chapter, you’d wonder at finding Tamar and Perez in our Lord’s genealogy (Matt. 1:3). Perez was an ancestor of King David (Ruth 4:18-22) and therefore an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1).” This is a story of the grace of God as He sovereignly takes the decisions of man and weaves them into a perfect plan of grace. Though the sin in this chapter are grievous, we find God’s justice and His grace on display. How hard it must have been for Judah to watch the judgment of God placed upon his disobedient sons. How convicting it must have been regarding his own lack of character. Here is what we learn regarding Judah. First, Judah failed morally. (vs. 1-18) Judah did not train his sons to follow in the ways of God, because he, himself, lacked the character in his own life. Judah was in the wrong place, followed a worldly practice, and fulfilled a wrenched picture. Secondly, Judah failed martially. (vs. 19-30) Judah did what so many Christians do today when they choose sin over pleasing the Savior. Judah fathers an improper child, fractured his important character, and failed an immutable Christ. The rest of the story of Judah reminds us of the grace of God and His sovereignty in human life. Certainly the men and women of the Bible weren’t perfect, and some of them were deliberately disobedient; and yet the Lord, by his grace, used them to accomplish His purposes. This doesn’t mean that God approves of our sins, because our sins bear consequences. But it does mean that God can take the weaknesses of our flesh and the worthlessness of this world and accomplish His purposes (1 Cor. 1:26-31).
Prayer Requests:
• Lord, please help me to understand the importance of rearing my sons to love you and desire to please you. Help me demonstrate the character that is necessary for them to follow after righteousness.
• Lord, thank you for the example of your sovereignty and grace. I fail you so often and yet you are so gracious to forgive and show mercy when I am so weak.
• Lord, thank you for being a God who delights in bringing beauty out of ashes.