(Genesis) Genesis 38:27-30
The sermon explores the story of Judah and Tamar, the genealogy of Jesus, and the story of Joseph in Egypt, highlighting the importance of faith and understanding our place in God's plan.
In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up in Egypt, where he becomes a prominent official in the military. The preacher highlights the significance of Joseph's lineage, as he is a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ. The sermon also briefly mentions the birth of twins, Phares and Zira, and connects their names to the genealogy mentioned in the New Testament.
Full Transcript
Now we are told, verse 27, It came to pass in the time of her travail that, behold, twins were in her womb. It came to pass when she travail and the one put out his hand, the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. It came to pass as he drew back his hand that, behold, his brother came out, and she said, How hast thou broken forth? This breach is upon thee.
Therefore his name was called Phares. And afterward came out his brother that had the scarlet thread upon his hand, and his name was called Zerah. Now here are these names that we've looked at, and I'd like for you now to go with me over to the first book of the New Testament, and let's read here.
The first chapter, second verse, Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren, and Judas begat Phares, and Zerah of Tamar, and Phares begat Ezram, and Ezram begat Aram, and on down, Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab, and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David the king, and if you just follow it right on through, why, you find out here, and Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus, who's called Christ. This is the line into which the Lord Jesus came, by the way, and this is an evidence of the fact that God must now get His people down into the land of Egypt. All right, we'll return then to the story of Joseph, because he's already down there.
He didn't go down willingly, but he's down there. He was taken down, and we saw at the conclusion of chapter 37, the 36th verse, the Midianites sold him, that is, Joseph, into Egypt under Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's and captain of the guard. Now, we're going to find out that Joseph is an altogether different kind of boy than Judah was.
I always have felt that Joseph and Benjamin did a great deal of teaching and instruction and personal attention that the other ten boys never did get. These were the only two that Jacob seemed to be interested in. Now Joseph, because of the hatred and animosity of his brothers, he's been sold down into the land of Egypt in the house of Potiphar, and he happens to be a very important soldier.
He's in the military. He had his office in the Pentagon of that day, and he's part of the brass. He's a prominent official, by the way.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Story of Judah and Tamar
- A. The birth of twins Phares and Zerah
- B. The significance of the scarlet thread
- II. The Genealogy of Jesus
- A. The line of Judah to Jesus
- B. The importance of understanding our genealogy
- III. The Story of Joseph
- A. His sale into Egypt
- B. His rise to prominence
- IV. Comparison of Judah and Joseph
- A. Judah's sin and consequences
- B. Joseph's faith and success
Key Quotes
“This is the line into which the Lord Jesus came, by the way, and this is an evidence of the fact that God must now get His people down into the land of Egypt.” — J. Vernon McGee
“He's in the military. He had his office in the Pentagon of that day, and he's part of the brass. He's a prominent official, by the way.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We should understand and appreciate our place in God's plan of salvation.
- Faith and hard work can lead to success and prominence, as seen in the story of Joseph.
- Our genealogy is important because it connects us to God and His people.