January 19 ▪ Day 19

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 6:6–8
Genesis 37–38
Matthew 19
Psalms 19

Verse Focus (Proverbs 6:6–8)

⁶Go to the ant, you sluggard;
     consider its ways and be wise!
⁷It has no commander,
     no overseer or ruler,
⁸yet it stores its provisions in summer
     and gathers its food at harvest.

Meditation

Today’s verse focus from Proverbs asks us to consider the industry of an ant, tirelessly working to provide food for the community. What is particularly noteworthy about the ant is that it does not require an overseer to compel its work. Humans, on the other hand, will often only do work because it is required by someone who is watching over our labor. With the command to “be wise,” we are to understand not only that slothful or lazy behavior is the opposite of wise, but that those who are wise find motivation from within themselves to do what is right.

Father God, a simple ant shames me. I am frequently a sluggard, and even though I know what I should do, I still find it difficult to want to do those things. Lord, your Scripture tells us that wisdom is a gift from you. So I ask you to give me wisdom. Please also give me the motivation to be industrious and to do what is right. Thank you that in Jesus there is a solution to my weaknesses. I pray in his name, Amen.

Genesis 37 switches the focus to Joseph, son of Rachel. At 17, he’s not exactly admirable. There is family dysfunction: Israel favors Joseph, and the brothers resent and even hate him for this. The Bible tells us that they could not even speak with him without anger or quarreling (v. 4). Joseph is also a tattletale, bringing a “bad report” to his father about his elder brothers. He is boastful, and delights in telling them about his dreams. Jacob rebukes Joseph for sharing the dream that foretells that the entire family will bow down before him; the brothers are jealous, but Jacob privately ponders the matter. This reminds me of how Mary stored up things in her heart, when she heard various prophecies about Jesus.

Had Joseph been more mature, he might have kept these dreams secret from his family. He was old enough to know what he was doing, and smart enough to interpret that the dreams were indicating that he would rule over his family. But he was younger than most of his brothers and I think he desperately desired them to speak well of him. Of course, he went about things all the wrong way.

I came from a family half the size of Joseph’s family (there were six kids in my family). We made life hard for the youngest in the family, partly because we felt like he had an easier time of it than we did — the folks were more relaxed by the time he came along, so he had a less restrictive upbringing than the older kids had had. So I understand some of the family dynamics that must have been in play for Joseph.

Well, as you know, things did not go well for Joseph. He goes to get news of his brothers for his father. And, far away from the rest of the family, the brothers see him and start plotting evil. Did they really want to kill him? Was the first brother who spoke of killing him serious, or was he speaking half in jest? I don’t suppose we’ll know the truth on this side of heaven and what you end up believing will likely be colored by your own family experience. Perhaps they did hate him that much.

Reuben shows some leadership, and prevents immediate bloodshed by altering the plan so that they throw him into a pit. And then they sit down to eat. Terrific. I love the irony of Judah’s suggestion: let’s not kill him but rather sell him as a slave since — after all — he’s our flesh and blood. So that’s what they do. They sell Joseph to a caravan belonging to some distant relatives, and he is taken down to Egypt. Meanwhile, the brothers take the special robe Joseph had worn and dip it in blood so that their father believes Joseph is dead. Israel grieves inconsolably at this loss.

Today as I was re-reading this story, I was struck by the price the brothers got for selling Joseph: 20 pieces of silver. This is significant because it is under the value of what a slave was worth, which was 30 pieces of silver (see Exodus 21:32). Now, maybe there was inflation between the time when Joseph was living and when the law was given several hundred years later — but, on the other hand, even more hundreds of years later 30 pieces is the still the same price that Judas got for betraying Jesus. So, I thought it was very interesting that Joseph’s brothers valued him as worth less than a slave.

Chapter 38 tells the story of Judah and Tamar. Although Moses couldn’t have known it when he wrote this history, he is telling us about some of Jesus’ direct ancestors. So, Tamar marries Judah’s eldest son, Er. But, according to verse 7, he “was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.” I found it interesting that the practice of marrying your brother’s widow when that brother had no descendants pre-dated the giving of the law. Wikipedia tells me that this type of marriage (called “levirate marriage”) is actually common in many parts of the world. At any rate, Judah’s second son, Onan, slept with Tamar as was expected of him, but then did what he could to avoid actually impregnating her. So he, too, is put to death. Judah’s youngest son was not of age to marry yet, so Judah tells Tamar to go back to her father’s house and wait. But really, Judah is afraid that the youngest son might die, too.

When Tamar realizes that Judah does not intend to honor the marriage custom, she poses as a temple prostitute and sleeps with Judah himself. She obtains several personal items as a pledge that he will pay her for the sex, but then disappears with these items. Tamar, of course, becomes pregnant. When her pregnancy is common knowledge, Judah is ready to condemn her to be burned to death. But when Tamar produces the proof of fatherhood, Judah recognizes that Tamar has been more righteous in this matter than he has.

In a story that has strong echoes to the story of the birth of Esau and Jacob, Tamar also gives birth to twin sons. The “red” one who seemed to come out first but instead came out second is Zerah; the other twin is Perez, many times great-grandfather of Jesus.

Matthew chapter 19 gives Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce. He is stricter than even what the Mosaic Law allows, saying that God joins two people together and thus they should not be separated. He is questioned then about why the Law even talks about divorce, but responds this is because people are so “hard-hearted.” Later, Jesus says that not everyone can accept this teaching of his about marriage and divorce, but “only those to whom it is given.” He concludes his remarks by saying, “Let anyone accept this who can.” (v. 12)

As a single person, I am not qualified to speak on marriage or divorce. Certainly, even the church and various denominations differ in their views on this topic. But what I do want to point out is how remarkable it is that Jesus even talks about a teaching that is only for “some.” The idea that Scripture may be conditional goes against almost everything we tend to believe about the Word. And I would caution that just because Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce is only for some doesn’t mean that other teachings of his are also only for “some.” Still, it does raise some intriguing questions.

Despite having just covered this topic in the previous chapter, the disciples try to discourage people from bringing children to Jesus. Jesus rebukes them, again stating that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children exactly like these that are being brought to him. And Jesus lays hands on the children and prays for them. I think of all the women and men through the ages who have taught Sunday School and Bible Camp and who have enlarged the kingdom of God through their service. I know I owe my own salvation in part to seeds planted when I was young by women whose names I no longer remember.

Jesus interacts with the rich young man, who faithfully keeps the law but asks Jesus, “What do I lack?” And that question haunts me, because I hear in it the recognition of the void that lives in all of us when Christ is not there. What do I lack? Jesus comments how difficult it is for the rich to come to God, and I think of Americans today, unaware of just how wealthy we all are. We may struggle financially and have other difficulties, but in comparison to the rest of the world, we are extremely wealthy. Fortunately, Jesus reassures all readers of the future that we need not fear for our salvation for with God “all things are possible.”

Psalm 19 celebrates God’s glory in creation and in the law. I would tell you this psalm is my favorite — and it is, regardless of how many other favorites I have. 🙂 I love how the psalmist tells us the heavens declare the glory of God in a voice that is heard all throughout the earth. Paul echoes this thought in Romans when he tells us that God’s qualities have been clearly seen so that no one is without excuse (Romans 1:20).

The psalmist goes on to talk about how God’s law is perfect, certain, right, clear, pure, true, and enduring. God’s law is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey, and keeping the law brings “great reward.” The psalmist prays that God will clear him from “hidden faults,” as well as keep him from “willful sins.” When I was younger, I identified with the problem of “hidden faults” but found the idea of “willful sins” harder to understand. (I don’t have that problem anymore. 🙂 ) The psalm concludes with a beautiful final prayer, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Father God, I do pray that my words, my thoughts, and my actions might be acceptable and pleasing to you. Where they are not, I know that you will correct me as gently or forcefully as needed. I thank you for your grace and mercy and for the forgiveness I have through Christ Jesus. Grant me wisdom and diligence for the day ahead. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.