A band of brothers jealous.
A family with a legacy of deception.
A brother sold into slavery, stripped of his identity, moved across borders.
One brother angry about the decision.
A father in grief inconsolable.
The oldest brother moves away, physically and relationally, from his family. In time, he too is overwhelmed by grief and fear when two of his three sons die. And then his wife dies as well.
A widow denied justice.
A widower known to be enticed by prostitutes.
A daughter-in-law pregnant and ordered to be burned to death.
What a colossal mess!
Forty-nine verses describing in part the treachery, dysfunction, wailing grief, and deep injustice within Jacob and Judah’s families.
What’s to follow is more of the same in Joseph’s human-trafficking story.
But it’s as if the narrator can sense we’re sliding into despair. Is there to be no end to the disaster? we ask.
And then it comes. Two tiny rays of hope inserted.
Judah repents. The very one who hatched the plan to sell off Joseph, left his family origin, raised wicked sons, and avoided justice for a vulnerable woman, actually changes his ways.
And Tamar gives birth to twins. A son is born in the line of Judah. His name, Perez, means “breaking out.”
The weary reader rejoices. God’s promises are never entirely thwarted by humanity’s dysfunctional natures. He is always breaking out in unanticipated ways, breaking into the chaotic darkness, and breaking through the cosmos to reach us.
Fast-forward 1,000 years.
A king jealous.
A firstborn son given to a people in slavery, stripped of His royal identity, moving across borders.
A betrothed man accepting a scandalous decision not by sight, but by faith.
An angel undeceiving, speaking only truth.
A Father knowing grief impending.
A Creator moving, physically and relationally, towards His creation. In the fullness of time, He is overwhelmed with compassion, mercy, and love.
Humanity desperately in need. Is there to be no end to our disaster? we ask.
Send us a Judge who renders justice for widows, orphans, foreigners, and the oppressed.
A Redeemer who buys back all the prostitutes, wayward sons and daughters, and sinners.
Drop a colossal miracle into our world of treachery, dysfunction, wailing grief, and deep injustice.
And then it comes.
A God faithful in all His ways.
A daughter of the Most High highly favored and pregnant.
A child born in the line of Judah. The very great grandson of Perez breaking all barriers. His name, Jesus, meaning “the LORD saves.”
For unto us is a Savior breaking us out of slavery.
A Light breaking into our darkness.
A Hope breaking through the cosmos to reach us.
A weary world rejoices.
Lord, come back quickly.
