Well, good evening. Lovely to be with you. We're going to start our series proper, Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors.
This was one of those weeks where I started on Monday, and I didn't really get the passage until Wednesday afternoon,
having spent a lot of time in it, and I hope as we look at it you'll see some of the hard work that's gone into putting this together.
It's called juxtaposition.
This is Zionachana. That's his name.
He is the head of the biggest family in the world.
He's also the head of a polygamous Christian cult known as Chana, after himself.
He has 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law, and 33 grandchildren.
The family live in a 100-room, four-story house in Bekawang village in India.
The family, all 167 of them, are organized with military precision.
A normal evening meal requires 30 chickens, 132 pounds of potatoes, and 220 pounds of rice.
The interview that Zionachana did with the Guardian newspaper.
He was asked, how does your family stay together?
And he said, my family is a harmonious picture of mutual love, care, and respect.
My family is a harmonious picture of mutual love, care, and respect.
Well, as we climb into Genesis chapter 37, and the beginning of the Joseph story proper,
we see Jacob has 35 less wives, 81 less children.
But it is anything but a picture of mutual love, care, and respect.
It is a messy, grisly, sordid, and divided rabble of schemers, murderers, liars, and haters.
It is reading portions of Scripture like the ones we're about to read
that we have caused to doubt whether 2 Timothy 3 verse 16 is true.
We're forced to ask, is this really inspired Scripture?
Is this really breathed out by God?
Is it actually useful to us?
How can it correct us, teach us?
What will it do to train us in righteousness?
Well, my hope is by the time that we all leave tonight,
we'll go, this is a real portion of Scripture.
This isn't just something that Moses inserted to fill up the pages
because he wanted to get 50 chapters as a nice round number.
But for that to happen, we need God's help.
So why don't we pray together?
Paul rejoiced that whilst in Ephesus, he said,
I have proclaimed the whole counsel of God and not shrug back.
So Lord, as we come to this section of your word,
that we would in all honesty prefer to skip over,
would you speak to us through it?
Would you do it for Jesus' sake?
And in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
If you've got a Bible, please turn to Genesis chapter 37.
So we're going to call chapter 37 the white sheep of the family.
The white sheep of the family referring to Joseph,
who seems to be a stellar example of faithfulness
amidst a rabble of black sheep.
First thing I'd love you to do is look at chapter 37 verse 2.
Do you see how that starts?
This is the account of Jacob's family line.
That phrase is what's called a toledoth saying.
And there's 11 of them in Genesis.
The first one's in chapter 2 verse 4,
where it says these are the generations of how the earth came into being.
The second one is chapter 5 verse 1,
where it says these are the generations of Adam.
And then we get all the characters that we mentioned last week
with this toledoth saying.
Chapter 37 verse 2 is the last toledoth saying,
the 11th toledoth saying in Genesis.
And it refers to Jacob and his family.
In fact, Genesis 37 verse 2 is the last toledoth saying
in the whole of the Old Testament.
Because from this moment on,
the entire story will be focused around this genealogy.
The genealogy of Jacob,
whose name is changed to Israel,
and God's dealing with them
throughout the remaining 38 books of the Old Testament.
There's one other toledoth saying in the Bible.
And it comes in Matthew chapter 1 verse 1.
This is the genealogy of Jesus,
the Messiah,
the son of David,
the son of Abraham.
That when God does a new thing
through his son
to create a new Israel,
there's a new toledoth saying.
And a new toledoth saying
that we're all a part of.
As those welcomed as children of God
through the Lord Jesus.
When God starts a new thing
with a new Israel formed in
and through his son.
He says,
I want to mark this.
This is the genealogy
of Jesus,
the Messiah.
And so we move on
and we learn about Joseph.
It's funny that it's Jacob's family,
but the first character
we're introduced to is Joseph.
And actually he's going to be the main character
for the remaining 13 chapters
of the book of Genesis.
He has more ink written about him
in Genesis than anybody else.
He is a big player.
And we're all very familiar with the story.
When I was growing up,
we were one of the posh families
who had a car with a CD player.
And the only CD we actually owned
was Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat.
So by the age of 12,
I could pretty much recite the whole thing by heart.
And I would give you a rendition,
but I am keen that you'll stay
and not depart.
Joseph is the ostracized brother.
And I think as we see
the first 11 verses unfold,
we see just how ostracized he is.
Do you see in the remainder of verse 2,
he's working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah.
That these are the sons
of the two slave women,
Rachel's slave and Leah's slave.
That it seems like
even amongst the legitimate brothers,
the daughters of Rachel and Leah,
and the daughters of the slave women,
he seems to be thrown
towards the slave women.
That he seems to be treated
by his brothers as not the real deal,
not a legitimate son.
And then verse 3,
we read now,
Israel, Jacob loved Joseph
more than any of the others.
Jacob loves Joseph most,
even though he's the 11th born son.
He loves him the most.
Why does he love him the most?
Well, the passage says
because he was born to Jacob
in his old age.
But also he's the first son of Rachel.
Jacob's one true love.
The one that he really wanted to marry.
The one that he worked 14 years
in order that he could be married to her.
Do we love that passage in Genesis?
One of the most romantic bits in the Bible.
That Joseph worked for seven years,
but it seemed like merely days
because his love for Rachel was so great.
And so Joseph,
Rachel's firstborn son,
becomes his favorite.
And isn't it strange
how Jacob repeats the sins
of his father, Isaac?
That what predetermined
Jacob's early life?
Well, it was the fact
that Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob.
And here we are,
the sins of fathers repeated
in their children.
That Jacob loves Joseph most.
And he wants to show this,
he wants to mark this
by giving Joseph
a coat of many colors.
Although to really ruin it for you,
the Hebrew doesn't really suggest
many colors.
It simply says many threads.
And lots of people
are coming around to the idea
that it's not many threads
of many colors,
but many threads.
Because it was a long-sleeved coat
that went down to his ankles.
It was an ornate robe.
And the significance is enormous.
Because you give this coat
to somebody in middle management.
You give this coat to somebody
who's not going to be
scrabbling around
doing the manual labor.
What Joseph is actually doing
in this passage
is he's giving Joseph
a promotion.
He's promoting him
from amongst his brothers
to be an overseer
over his brothers.
And do you see this?
Joseph,
who's already ostracized
by his brothers,
that's been compounded massively.
That's been compounded massively
by somebody being promoted
from among their peers.
And so hatred,
the spark of jealousy
is turned
to an inferno of hatred.
Joseph compounds the issue.
God gives him a dream
of these sheaves
bowing down to Joseph.
Joseph sheaves.
And then there's picture
of the stars
bowing down to Joseph
with the moon
and the sun as well.
So it's compounded.
The gap,
the gulf
that existed
between them
is widening
and widening
and widening.
Do you see
how many times
it says
that they hated him?
Look at verse 4.
They hated him
and could not speak
a kind word
about him.
Verse 5.
They hated him
all the more.
Verse 8.
End of.
And they hated him
all the more
because of his dream
and what he had said.
Verse 11.
His brothers
were jealous of him.
This is absolute hatred
for their brother Joseph.
And so it moves on
in verse 12
that Joseph
now has this
executive role.
So while all his brothers
go to do the heavy
serious shepherding,
Joseph stays at home
to do the paperwork
and play minesweeper
on the PC.
And he's not
until it comes
that Jacob
wants Joseph
to go and do
a sight visit.
Until he says,
I think it's time
you went to check
on the flock
and your brothers
as well.
This is a very serious,
this is a very dangerous
and very distant
mission.
It's dangerous
because of the place.
the place
they're camped
is Shechem.
This has real
significance
because back
in Genesis
chapter 34,
a guy called
Shechem
steals
the brother
sister
Dina.
He abducts her,
he defiles her
and he tries
to make her
his wife.
And Simeon
and Levi
deceive the Shechemites
as they say,
yeah,
you can have our sister
but we insist
that you're all
circumcised.
And so all the
Shechemites are
circumcised
and while they're
still sore,
it says,
after the third
day,
Levi and Simeon
butcher them all.
And then as
they're all dead,
all the other
brothers come
and they plunder
the city.
And now Jacob
is sending
Joseph to this
place
to check up
on those
brothers
who are
shepherding
the flock
there.
It's also
distant
that where
Jacob and
Joseph are
and where
Shechem is
is about
50 miles.
That's a long
journey by foot
to do a
site visit.
And Joseph
in response
says the only
words he says
in the whole
chapter.
He says
as it's put
in the NIV
very well,
the literal
is here I
am.
It's the
word of an
obedient son
carrying out
the will of
their father.
So obediently
Joseph goes
on the long
and dangerous
journey to do
a site
inspection.
And he
gets to
Shechem
and there's
no flocks
and there's
no brothers.
Now if
Joseph was
a legalist
he'd go
home at
that point.
I remember
growing up
that my mum
told me to
tidy my
room.
So I did
but I
simply took
all the
mess out
of my
room and
threw it
on the
landing.
And I
said to
my mum
my room
is tidy.
The
landing
that's
your
business.
It
hurt a
lot.
That's
what
legalists
do.
They do
just
enough.
Joseph
gets to
Shechem
there's
no
brothers
he
should
have
gone
home.
But he
chats
to a
man
who
says
they've
gone
to
Dothan.
Dothan's
another
13 miles.
50 plus
13 is a
63 mile
journey.
And his
brothers see
him coming.
A plan
is hatched
and then
they know
by killing
Joseph
they will
end his
delusions
of grandeur.
and will
certainly
make sure
that the
dream of
bowing down
to him
will never
happen.
Reuben
seems to
be like a
good guy
because he
steps in.
He says
let's not
get blood
on our
hands
let's just
throw him
in the
pit
and leave
him to
die.
Although
it seems
from the
reading of
verse 29
that Reuben
wants to
come back
later
and save
Joseph.
Perhaps
to get
back in
Jacob's
good books
having
already
slept
with
Bilhah
Jacob's
wife
in
chapter
35
verse 22.
So Reuben
thinks if he
can bring
Joseph back
unharmed
he'll be
back in
the good
books.
So they
strip him
and they
throw him
in the
pit
and then
they care
so little
that they
have lunch.
They sat
down for
a sandwich
verse 25
and
and then
an Ishmaelite
caravan
arrives
and Judah
sees a way
not just
not to get
blood on his
hands but to
make a pretty
penny as
well.
And so
Joseph is
sold for
20 pieces
of silver
and then
they deceive
Jacob
they kill
a goat
they dip
in his
robe
they take
it back
to their
dad
and they
play the
innocent
we found
this
do you
know
whose
it is
and
Jacob
is
utterly
inconsolable
well that's
the famous
story
but what
do we
make of
it
what sort
of things
are we
supposed to
make of
this
is it
the application
that if
your brothers
are shepherding
in the distance
don't go
is it
try and
drive a
higher price
with the
Ishmaelites
if you're
selling your
brother
what are we
to do
well I think
there's three
things that I
think massively
help us in
this passage
is there to
help us
with and
to teach
us
here's the
first
obedience
doesn't mean
comfort
obedience
doesn't mean
comfort
Moses is
very clear
in this
passage
he gives
nothing about
how Joseph
feels
what Joseph
does
it says
nothing about
whether he's
stirring them
all the time
by playing the
superiority
cards
it says
nothing that
every time he
came into his
brother's presence
he was wearing
the robe and
pretending that he
was on a Milan
catwalk
none of that
all it simply
says
is Joseph
was obedient
Joseph
obeyed
and at every
point Joseph
obeys things
didn't get better
for him
they got worse
he did exactly
what was expected
of him
and at every
point he
paid the
price
same in
our lives
obedience
being obedient
to the
Lord Jesus
is no
guarantee
of a
comfortable
life
in fact
obedience
to Jesus
leads to
more hatred
being
despised
being spoken
against
being ridiculed
being belittled
than if you
just stay
quiet and
fit in
obedience
does not
mean
comfort
comforts
and unless
we know
that
we'll be
surprised
when it
gets tough
we'll be
surprised
when the
road gets
rough and
steep
we'll be
like the
seed that
falls on
the rocky
ground
that will
receive the
word with
joy
but have
no root
so when
tribulation
and persecution
arise on
account of
the gospel
immediately
we'll fall
away
there is a
real cost
to following
Jesus
a tangible
cost
to being
obedient to
him
and unless
we realize
that we
will not
weather the
storm
unless we
see that
obedience to
Jesus is the
most important
thing
that comes
at the
highest price
we'll always
sit down
remain quiet
and blend
in
point number
two
God is
never
mentioned
but
everywhere
present
God is
never
mentioned
but
everywhere
present
I think
what we
see in
this chapter
is that
God is
awesome
in his
providence
though he
is not
mentioned
we see
his hand
in every
sentence
every
act
moving
his pieces
around
the
board
so that
Joseph
will be
in just
the right
place
when the
crunch time
comes
providence
according to
the Westminster
confession
says this
providence
is that
God the
creator of
all things
does uphold
direct
dispose
and govern
all creatures
actions
and things
from the
greatest
even to
the least
by his
most
wise
and holy
care
according
to his
infallible
foreknowledge
and the
free and
immutable
counsel
of his
own
will
to the
praise
of his
wisdom
power
justice
goodness
and mercy
let me
just point
out six
examples
of this
number one
Joseph is
in a
dysfunctional
family
that seems
massively
play into
the unfolding
of the
story
the
presentation
of an
ornate
robe
only
widens
the gulf
between
Joseph
and his
brothers
meaning
that when
we get
to crunch
point
they want
to kill
him
or at
least
sell
him
point
three
he gets
to
Shechem
and it
just so
happens
there's a
man in
Shechem
who knows
where his
brothers
are
in
Dothan
number
four
they throw
him in
a cistern
and Moses
is so
clear
the
cistern
was empty
there was
no water
in it
Joseph
wasn't
treading
water
until the
Ishmaelites
arrived
there was
no water
in it
point
five
the
caravan
arrived
at just
the right
time
point
six
last
verse
he ended
up being
sold
to
Potiphar
one of
Pharaoh's
officials
the captain
of the
guard
some people
will say
this is
just
chance
it's
just
happenstance
but I
think Moses
is inviting
us to see
it as
providence
God is
not like
some grand
chess
master
who sees
what's
happening
and then
reacts
but God
knows the
end from
the beginning
he knows
how the
story is
to unfold
yes everyone
does what
they see
fit to
do
but they
only actually
end up doing
what God
has predestined
to happen
an awesome
providence
God's
hand of
providence
moving the
pieces
around the
board for
his glory
and the
ultimate
blessing
of many
many people
and it's
the same
in your
life
God very
seldom
at least
in my
life
miraculously
intervenes
in my
day to
day
that never
happens
really
but he
is
providentially
guiding
each of
our lives
providing
what we
need
bringing
chance
encounters
with people
for whom
we can
influence
for the
Lord
Jesus
providentially
bringing
into our
lives
a church
family
whom we
can walk
through
life with
to encourage
us
and spur
us on
to love
and good
deeds
but we
need eyes
to see
it
or else
we'll miss
it
that God
is doing
infinitely more
behind our
backs than
he is in
front of our
face
and it's
only as we
look back
and see his
kindness
his goodness
his sovereignty
and his
providence in
our lives
that we
really start
to give
him thanks
for all
that he's
been doing
point three
this is a
shadow
story
in Hebrews
it talks
about things
that happened
in the Old
Testament
are like
shadows
of things
to come
this story
about an
obedient son
who goes
on a long
journey out
of obedience
to his
father
who ends
up being
rejected by
his own
and sold
for silver
and suffers
at the hands
of wicked
men
yet ultimately
leads to
saving many
is a shadow
of a better
story
a better
story of
a greater
obedient
son
who goes
on a
greater
journey
from the
glories
of heaven
to the
squalor
of earth
who came
to his
own
and his
own
did not
receive
him
who was
betrayed
for silver
into the
hands of
wicked men
who nailed
him to
a cross
and through
this God
would be
pleased to
save many
even you
and me
now we need
to be very
careful when
we read the
old testament
that we don't
allegorize
that we don't
try and see
Jesus under
every stone
and round
every corner
in every
symbol
but I think
if we read
Acts 7
and Stephen's
speech before
he gets
stoned
this is exactly
what he says
that just as
Joseph was
rejected by
his brothers
so you
rejected the
Lord of
life the
Messiah when
he came
that's exactly
how Stephen
uses the
story
and so
we see that
Joseph is the
white sheep
of the family
and we learn
that obedience
doesn't mean
comfort
that God is
never mentioned
but everywhere
present
and that it's
a shadow
a type
of things
to come
and so
if you thought
that was
grisly
chapter 38
knocks the
socks off
it
well it seems
like a very
strange interlude
doesn't it
like we
had Joseph
who we know
about and he
ends up in
Egypt
and we're
expecting
Potiphar's
wife
but we get
this really
awkward interlude
about Judah
in this rather
sordid
chain of
events
Judah's
debauchery
is put before
the unfolding
of the rest
of the story
yet
it is an
important link
not just
in the
Joseph story
but in the
remainder of
our Bible
and I want
to just take
five minutes
to show you
why
the first
thing we see
is this
that Judah
goes down
it's written
even more
explicit than it
captures it in
the NIV
it says Judah
went down
from his
family
and he
turned aside
to see his
friend
the Adolamite
named
Hira
he went
down and
he turned
aside
and the way
that language
is always
used is
about rebellion
the rest of
the Bible
is the same
word used
of Jonah
who goes
down to
Joppa
and down
into the
ship
it's that
same idea
Judah is
leaving
the covenant
family
and the
covenant
land
saying
I want
nothing
to do
with any
of you
now
he's
turned
aside
and then
we see
his lust
he saw
he took
he went
into her
it's that
explicit
he sees
Shua
he took
Shua
he went
in
to Shua
and Shua
is a
Canaanite
the very
people
who
are not
to marry
God's
chosen
people
we see
the length
that Abraham
goes to
to get
a wife
for Isaac
who's not
from the
surrounding
region
do you know
that great
story where
the servant
goes
and he hangs
out on the
side of town
and this
girl comes
along
and she
waters
his camels
so he
thinks
she must
be the
one
because
Isaac
is to
marry
one of
God's
covenant
people
and here
we see
Judah
going
completely
the other
way
it's a
rapid
decline
Judah
isolates
himself
and we
see so
quickly
he gets
into all
sorts of
trouble
see that
in our
church
don't we
that people
isolate
themselves
and they
wander away
and all too
quickly the
decline is
rapid
I wonder
if God
would place
on our
hearts
those that
we used
to see
a lot
and now
not so
much
and I
wonder
if he
would send
us
to reach
out to
them and
bring them
back before
they get
into deep
and desperate
difficulty
he takes
Shua as
a wife
and they
have three
sons
and it
seems when
it comes
to registering
the birth
Judah's
lost for
word so
he calls
the first
one
Ah
he calls
the second
one
Onan
and then
he calls
his third
son
Sheila
which doesn't
sound like
a very
masculine
name for
a boy
either
and then
he sets
about getting
them all
married
and so
Ur marries
Tamar
there's only
one problem
though
verse 7
Ur
Judah's
firstborn
was wicked
in the
Lord's
sight
so the
Lord
put him
to death
he's
judged
in real
time
and in
this
sight
they have
Leverite
marriage
although
Leverite
marriage
isn't going
to be
written down
until
Leviticus
25
where that
if your
elder brother
dies
your responsibility
is to
marry
his wife
and to
bring her
into the
family home
and provide
heirs
most famous
example of
that is
Ruth and
Boaz
and so
Tamar
marries
Onan
the only
problem is
is that
Onan
is also
evil
and he
is killed
he wants
to not
produce an
heir for
Ur
and the
Lord judges
him
verse 10
so the
Lord put
him to
death
also
so it
seems that
Tamar's
last hope
of a
husband
and having
offspring
for Ur
is Sheila
but
Judah's
afraid
that
Tamar
is a
witch
and so
in verse
11 he
deceives
Tamar
Judah
then said
to his
daughter-in-law
Tamar
live as
a widow
in your
father's
household
until my
son
Sheila
grows up
but as
an excuse
for he
thought
he might
die too
just like
his brothers
so Tamar
rather than
live in the
house
to which
he had
come
is sent
back
to where
she had
come
from
Judah
has no
intention
of Tamar
marrying
Sheila
so what's
going to
happen to
Tamar
well it
seems that
a long
period
unfolds
and
Shua
Judah's
wife dies
and after
Judah had
recovered from
his grief
he went up
to Timna
to the
men who
were shearing
his sheep
and his
friend
Hiru the
Adolamite
went with
him
and Tamar
gets word
of Judah's
travel plans
and she
disguises
herself as
a prostitute
lures
her father-in-law
is going
to be
paid a
goat
gets left
his signet
ring
his cord
and his
staff
as a
down
payment
a guarantee
and so
Judah goes
home
sends a
servant
with the
goat
can't
find this
temple
prostitute
and so
the goat
remains
it's very
interesting as
I look this
week
the goat
seemed to
play a
pretty big
part in
this
family
line
if you
remember
when
Jacob
deceived
Isaac
that he
was Esau
what did
he do
he put
goat's
fur on
his arms
to make
him look
hairy
back in
chapter 37
when it
seemed that
Joseph
had been
killed
by wild
animals
what did
they do
they dipped
his coat
in goat's
blood
and here
we find a
goat at
the centre
of a
deception
as well
I don't
think
I don't
know if
that's
significant
I'll
just
put it
out there
as a
freebie
the truth
is found
out
that
somebody
says to
Judah
your
daughter
in law
is guilty
of
prostitution
and as
a result
she is
now
pregnant
Judah
said
bring her
out
and let
her be
burned
to death
seems so
one-sided
doesn't it
I mean
Judah
was hardly
a man
of restraint
when he
was going
up to
shear
his
cattle
the minute
he gets
wind of
it
he goes
we need
a bonfire
but you
see
Tamar's
ahead of
the game
she sent
a message
I am
pregnant
to the
man who
owns these
and Judah's
mortified
truth is
found out
that the
deception's
unveiled
and Judah
is undone
so what
do we
make of
this
how do
we apply
this to
our lives
I think
three things
again
firstly I
think Moses
has done
something really
clever in
his editorial
work
that he's
juxtaposed
Judah's
unrestraint
Judah's
debauchery
and what
are we going
to learn
next
we're going
to learn
about
Joseph's
restraint
and his
celibacy
that again
he's showing
Joseph's
unusual
obedience
his unusual
character
over and
or against
the mire
and the
pit
that he
comes from
that his
faithfulness
shines out
all the more
against the
backdrop
of the
family that
he comes
from
first one
juxtaposition
Judah's
debauchery
set aside
set against
Joseph's
celibacy
secondly I
think this is
a real turning
point in
Judah's
life
we saw in
chapter 37
that Judah
was quite keen
on making a
quick buck
from his
brother
that he has
ten brothers
in the field
he's thinking
two pieces of
silver that's a
great day's work
we see him
here he's not
exactly a knight
in shining
armour he's a
rat bag but
we see in
chapter 28
verse 26 a
real turning
point
Judah recognised
them and said
she is more
righteous than I
since I wouldn't
give her to my
son Shailah
she is more
righteous than I
this is an
omission of
guilt on
Judah's
part
his omission
of sin
you could say
that this is
repentance
and actually we're
going to see that
this is a defining
moment in Judah's
life
before chapter 38
verse 26 he is
a rapper
the next time we're
going to see him
he is
Jacob's chief
carer
he's going to be
the one who
says no I'll
take Benjamin's
place
and we're going
to see that
this confession of
guilt is the
hinge on which
that transformation
happens
repentance
is always the
hinge on which
transformation
happens
that when we
come to God
and say do you
know what I've
messed up
I'm guilty and
deserve nothing
and yet there's
Jesus
that's when
transformation
happens
repentance is
key in
Judah's life
lastly and with
this we're done
Judah is a key
inclusion
as we looked at
last week it is
through Judah that
the promised seed
would come
Ruth chapter 4
verse 18 will
take this son
who seems to
just pip his
brother to the
post to be born
is in Ruth
chapter 4 verse
18 and it's
from Peres
we go down and
we get to Obed
and Obed is the
father of David
we see back in
Matthew chapter 1
that Tamar is
included in the
genealogy of the
Lord Jesus
so significant
because Tamar's a
Gentile and an
outsider and yet
we see that the
promise to Abraham
that through his
seed all the
nations of the
earth will be
blessed happens
three generations
later
it's almost as
though Jesus is
choosing his
ancestors to show
the kind of people
whom his death
would mean
salvation for
to show the
depth and breadth
of his
exhaustible grace
because there's
four women in
Jesus's genealogy
Tamar a
Gentile who
pretends to be a
prostitute
Rahab a
Gentile who
is actually a
prostitute
Ruth who
is an outsider
not a
prostitute but a
Moabite who's a
descendant of an
incestuous relationship
between Lot and his
daughter and
Bathsheba who's an
adulterer
do you think
that Jesus
chooses his
ancestors to show
the inexhaustible
grace that his
death will mean for
all who will come to
him in repentance
and faith
you look at that
genealogy and you
see that there is no
limit to God's
grace that he
pours it out
he makes
outsiders
insiders
he makes the
unclean
clean
and he makes
those without
hope and without
God in the world
children of the
living God
who will inherit
eternal life
by grace
through faith
in Christ
where do I
pray
God
Father God we do
pray that your
word would
resonate with us
as we go on
from this
place
Father that what
is your truth
seared on our
hearts would
continue to
reverberate in
our lives
Father that we
would live in the
light of grace
that it would
shape everything
about us
it would mean
obedience
Father it would
mean counting
the cost
it would mean
giving up
comfort
in order to be
dangerous for the
Lord Jesus
Father may you
use us this week
to make outsiders
insiders
may you use us
to make
creatures of wrath
into children of
the living God
and Father will
you do it all
for your glory
by the power
of your spirit
in order that
your grace
would have
effect
in the lives
of people
in our life
Father do this
for the glory
of your son
we pray
in his mighty
name
Amen