Joseph with one Interruption

The readings today come from Genesis 38, 39, 40.

With the first chapter's interruption, the story has shifted to Joseph in Egypt.

That first interruption is a strange story...Tamar is a daughter-in-law of Judah, one of Israel's sons. He's obviously an older man when he fathers the twin boys that are named. Why does this story get included in the Genesis story? Perhaps because it bears witness to the genealogies, especially the families of tribe that might exist in the land after Moses (who of course wrote this) leads the children of Israel back to. Either way, it reminds me that scripture is a true witness, unvarnished in telling truth.

The next two chapters give us the beginning story of Joseph in Egypt. He is going to spend about 14 years in prison...something he didn't deserve. He didn't deserve being sold into slavery first of all; and he doesn't deserve the punishment inflicted on him because of his character. He is a faithful person regardless of the situation. He tells the first dream to the cupbearer, perhaps with a smile on his face; and then tells the truth about the second dream, even though it is not something to smile about.

Faithfulness is a noble part of our character. Someone once called it: "Who you are in the dark." Who we are when no one is around who can applaud or jeer. Character is that quality of God's character we take on as a child of God, simply because we want to grow up in him.

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