what?????

What can you say about Judah and Tamar.  Can you see the correlation between some of these stories and God's rules for the people called Israel?  Every time these guys who are supposed to be a blessing to the world get mixed up with folks who worship other gods, there is trouble.  And certainly the story of Judah and Tamar, found in the 38th chapter of Genesis is full of trouble.  It is a veritable soap opera....don't you agree?  I think in the New Testament it is the admonishment of Paul for Christians to be "in the world but not of the world".  Certainly, sleeping with temple prostitutes would lead to trouble in every circumstance.  And thus God tells the Israelites when they emerge from bondage not to marry the Cannanite women lest there be trouble as there was in the days of Dinah and Judah.

The story of Joseph and his days with Potiphar remind me of God's command to Adam and Eve only with a twist.  In the Garden, Adam and Eve were given dominion over all of creation but told not to partake of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden.  Joseph rises to a position of great authority in Potiphar's household.  He is in control of everything, but knows he must not partake of the "forbidden" fruit that Potiphar's wife offers.  The twist......Adam and Eve eat of the fruit and are banished.  Joseph resists the tempter and is banished as well. 

the result of Adam and Eve's banishment has rested upon us since there fall from grace.  Joseph's obedience to God's call to live righteously led to a nation (Israel) that has blessed all generations.  In the moment we may be unable to see God's plan, but God is always seeking redemption for mankind.  Can we be a part of his redemptive plan.....Yes!, but only out of our obedience can he use us fully.  The dungeon may be God's proving ground.....certainly Paul and Silas were blessed even though they were beaten and put into a dungeon, but God used that circumstance to save the jailer and his entire family(Acts 16).