The sovereignty of God is wonderfully displayed in the saga of Joseph. Joseph put it so perfectly in these words: “What you have meant for evil, God had meant for good.” God used the evil circumstances wrought by willful acts of man in order to work out his plans and purposes. God is always in control.
Another beautiful truth is displayed in our study today: God uses messed-up, broken and sinful creatures to fulfill his plans in order to manifest his enduring mercy and unmerited favor. This is clearly evident in Judah’s life—yes, the Judah in this episode, who fornicates with his daughter-in-law thinking she was a prostitute; the same Judah who in past episodes, we learned, suggested his brother Joseph be sold as a slave, and lied to his father Jacob about Joseph’s death has become the Judah who put himself on the line interceding for the life of his father Jacob and the freedom of his brother Benjamin.
It is not the line of Joseph—who will bring about the Messiah, but the seemingly unworthy line of Judah. Christ came from a shady, if not scandalously sinful stock to demonstrate his humility and his mercy to unworthy sinners like you and I.
The heart of God is so clearly & beautifully displayed in this episode. It is the same God who engineered the master plan to rescue mankind from the fall back in the garden, the One who has the heart of a Father for the prodigal, the same heart that willed for His own beloved Son to die on the cross. We saw how Joseph is a startling picture of Jesus Christ in his trials and triumphs.
May the Holy Spirit reveal these amazing & mind-blowing truths to you as you seek Him prayerfully in your study today.