In a Family Way

Jan. 13: Gen 38-40 Taken from the Orthodox Study Bible
(Chapter 38:) One of Joseph's brother's Judah married the Canaanite Shua who conceived three sons Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah took for his son, Er a wife, Tamar. (7)."But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and God killed him. (8). So Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and as her brother-in-law raise up seed to your brother." (9). "But Onan knew the seed would not be his; and it came to pass that whenever he went in to his brother's wife, he emitted his semen on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother."(10). "But the thing he did appeared evil in the sight of the Lord; therefore, He also put him to death." Judah told Tamar to remain a widow in her father's house until Shelah is grown. Shua, Judah's wife died, and he went up to Timnah to shear his sheep. Shelah was grown, but she had not been given to him as a wife. She made herself beautiful, veiled and went out to seek Judah as it was told to her he would be in Timnah. Judah did not recognize her veiled, and thinking her a prostitute, bargained to go in to her. She left with his ring, cord and staff. he did not find her to compensate her with a goat. No one saw the prostitute. Three months later when Judah would have her burned for Adultery, the father was disclosed.(25)."When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man to whom these belong, I am with child." (26)."So Judah acknowledged them and said, "she has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." They had twins.

(Chapter 39) Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. The lord of the house's wife kept after him to lie with her. He refused.(11). But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, she caught him by his garment saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside." The anger was aroused in her husband, who took Joseph and placed him in jail. The Lord was with Joseph and caused him to prosper.

(Chapter 40) The cup bearer and chief baker offended the King of Egypt and are jailed. They are committed to the care of Joseph by the chief jailer. They both had dreams on the same night, and are unable to interpretate them. Joseph knew they were troubled. Because he knew that interpretations belonged to God, asked them to reveal the dreams to him. Joseph tells each of them what is meant. The cup bearer would have mercy shown on him and would be returned to have the cup placed in his hand in three days. The chief baker would be hanged in three days. Joseph asked them to issue a plea for him saying that he was jailed without cause and that he was stolen from the land of the Hebrews. Even though the cup bearer did in fact have the cup placed in his hand on the birthday of the Pharaoh as foretold, Joseph's name was not mentioned. He was not remembered but forgotten.