Genesis Part 3 Week 2

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 38:12-14 

¹² Some years later Judah’s wife died. After the time of mourning was over, Judah and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to supervise the shearing of his sheep. ¹³ Someone told Tamar, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” ¹⁴ Tamar was aware that Shelah had grown up, but no arrangements had been made for her to come and marry him. So she changed out of her widow’s clothing and covered herself with a veil to disguise herself. Then she sat beside the road at the entrance to the village of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. 

Judah was supposed to be the spiritual one, but he did not keep his word to his daughter-in-law. She now thought of a way to trap him. The story seems to get worse as one reads on. This is a reminder that decisions have consequences. 

REFLECT 

Have you learned by experience that some of your decisions had undesirable consequences? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 38:12-19. This reveals that Judah’s daughter-in-law was successful in laying a trap for him. What would Judah think when he realized the truth? 

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 38:20-22 

²⁰ Later Judah asked his friend Hirah the Adullamite to take the young goat to the woman and to pick up the things he had given her as his guarantee. But Hirah couldn’t find her. ²¹ So he asked the men who lived there, “Where can I find the shrine prostitute who was sitting beside the road at the entrance to Enaim?” “We’ve never had a shrine prostitute here,” they replied. ²² So Hirah returned to Judah and told him, “I couldn’t find her anywhere, and the men of the village claim they’ve never had a shrine prostitute there.” 

Judah did not keep his promise to his daughter-in-law to give her a promised son, but he wanted to keep his promise to this one he thought was a prostitute. As so many others, he was hypocritical in his thinking. What do you think Judah will do after his friend returned and reported there was no evidence a prostitute was where he thought she was? 

REFLECT 

Ask the Lord to help you be consistent in your thinking so you are not hypocritical in the decisions you make.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 38:20-30. This tells the end of the story. It also shows how adamant at first Jacob was when he learned his daughter-in-law was expecting a child. He wanted her to be killed by burning. When he learned the truth, however, he changed his mind and admitted she was more righteous than he was. Twins were born to Judah’s daughter-in-law, Tamar, and their birth reminds one of what Jacob and Esau’s births were like in Genesis 25:24-26. 

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 39:1 

¹ When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. 

The story now returns to Joseph. He was sold to the “captain of the guard for Pharaoh.” ("Pharaoh" is a title as is "President." There were several different Pharaohs.) This reveals how close Joseph was to the highest authority in the land of Egypt. It is sad to see that Joseph was going from one buyer to another but all of this was working out the plan of God.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes thought that circumstances have been difficult, but that God was working out His plan in your life? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 39:1-5. This reveals the setting of Joseph in Potiphar’s house and the responsibility he had.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 39:6-9 

⁶ So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, ⁷ and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 

⁸ But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. ⁹ No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 

The reference to food reveals the Egyptians despised the Hebrews and refused to eat with them (see Genesis 43:32). Joseph was many miles from home and likely did not expect to return there. No one would know, he might have thought, if he committed an immoral act. Notice, however, his being aware about God seeing all he would do and that it would be a great sin against Him.  

REFLECT 

Think of the many today who do not think God sees all they do. Someday every person will give account to God.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 39:6-18. Potiphar’s wife tells a lie to cover up her own lust for Joseph. He had been doing all he could to keep away from her but his duties would cause him to be around her. As he ran from the house, he left his cloak in her hand. She used it to accuse him of something he had not done. What would Potiphar think of Joseph now? 

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 39:19-20 

¹⁹ Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. ²⁰ So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. 

Potiphar believed his wife’s lie and had Joseph thrown into prison. Apparently the king had many who had offended and were also kept there. There was no trial for Joseph; only the word of the wife of the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. That gave Potiphar the authority to throw anyone in prison he chose to.  

REFLECT 

Have you had some undesirable thing occur to you even though you were innocent? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 39:19-23. Notice that although circumstances seemed to get worse for Joseph, he kept rising to the top in his responsibilities.