Skip to content The Prison of Judah Mar 4 · 1 hr 8 min ...more
The Prison of Judah
March 4, 2021 · 1 hr 8 min
The brothers of Joseph go on to live their lives as if nothing happened. However the slippery slope of sin catches up to them, and Judah finds himself in a whirlwind of shame.Inspired by Genesis 38See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series Bedtime Bible: Joseph March 4, 2021 · 1 hr 8 min · Bedtime Bible: Joseph
The brothers of Joseph go on to live their lives as if nothing happened. However the slippery slope of sin catches up to them, and Judah finds himself in a whirlwind of shame.Inspired by Genesis 38See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. ...more Show the full description Show less The brothers of Joseph go on to live their lives as if nothing happened. However the slippery slope of sin catches up to them, and Judah finds himself in a whirlwind of shame.Inspired by Genesis 38See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series Bedtime Bible: Joseph
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1:56 seductively. He smiled and closed his eyes. Delilah leaned in close and said,
2:09 you are a mighty warrior. Is there any weakness you have? Sampson peeked 1 eye
2:21 open, thinking she was playing a game with him. He yawned and held her hips close to
2:32 his. If anyone ties me with 7 bowstrings, I lose all my power and become like
2:44 any other man. The Philistines, listening through the window, gathered some
2:55 bowstrings and placed them outside Delilah's door. She smiled and winked at Sampson.
3:07 Well, let us put that to the test, shall we? She said playfully. She left the room
3:19 and gathered the bowstrings. She tied them tightly around Sampson's chiseled frame. Sampson simply smirked,
3:32 amused by Delilah's efforts. Delilah left the room and looked through the window. She placed a finger over her
3:44 lips and gestured for the Philistine men to hide. Samson, the Philistines are here, she
3:56 shouted. As if the strings were held under a flame, Samson snapped the bowstrings with ease.
4:08 He leapt out of his chair and burst into the room. Delilah recoiled, surprised that he broke free so easily.
4:21 You lied to me, she shouted. How can I share my bed with someone who lies to me? Tell me, what is
4:33 the secret to taking away your strength? Sampson shrugged. There is no way, he said, wrapping his arms
4:45 around her waist. Talila stepped back and wagged her finger. Tell me now what is
4:57 the secret? Sampson chuckled. If anyone ties me with new ropes that have never been used,
5:09 I become as weak as a suckling child. So Delilah acquired new rope and tied Samson up.
5:22 She stroked his hair and kissed his cheek. I will return shortly, my love, she whispered. Samson watched
5:34 her exit wearing a coy smile. Then from the other room, he heard Delilah scream. They are
5:46 here, Sampson. Please help. Samson launched himself forward with the force of a wild animal. The
5:57 ropes snapped as if there were spider webs. This time, Samson broke down the wood door ready to fight.
6:10 However, he saw no Philistine, only Delilah with her arms crossed. You lied again, she said in a core
6:21 stone. This time, she would not flirt. She needed Sampson to reveal his secrets. You say that you
6:33 love me. You say you would give anything to me. Why won't you trust me? Delilah
6:45 spent most of the night poking and prodding him. She begged, she yelled, and she chided him for his secrets.
6:58 Sampson, finally at his wit's end, sighed and threw his hands up into the air. The secret lies within my hair,
7:10 he shouted. He grabbed 1 of his dreads and showed it to her. I have taken a vow before god to never cut my
7:22 hair. Delilah smiled and brought Samson into bed. They lay together again,
7:35 and Samson fell asleep in her lap. She stroked his forehead and sang a lullaby. Then
7:47 as the night drew to an end, she took a razor to his head. 7 locks were removed, and
7:58 Sampson's mighty strength left him. Delilah smiled, stroked his cheek, and yelled again,
8:10 Sampson, they are here. Sampson rose to his feet, ready for a fight, but his arms felt
8:22 heavier. His legs were shaky, and his chest seemed deflated. Lethargic,
8:33 Samson fell to his knees. When the Philistines saw this through the window, they burst through and subdued him.
8:46 They beat him, chained him, and carted him off to be embarrassed in front of Philistine nobility.
8:58 God's chosen hero of the generation had lost his strength. However, it was not the lack of hair that made him weak.
9:10 His willingness to throw away his devotion to God for the sake of a woman was his ultimate downfall. He forsook his
9:22 duty to the people of Israel all for 1 more moment of pleasure. However, Samson's
9:34 weakness and disobedience would not thwart the purposes of God. God was the true hero.
9:46 He would use Sampson despite his fickle heart. Through Sampson, God would liberate the nation. No sin
9:58 can bind the faithfulness of the Lord Almighty. Chapter 3, the prison of Judah.
10:12 Judah sat on the ledge of the canyons overlooking Dothan. The gentle wind grazed his face as he watched the sunrise
10:24 over the valley. It had only been 2 days since he watched his younger brother beaten, chained up,
10:37 and carted off like an animal to the slave trades in Egypt. A restlessness dwells deep within his soul. The object of
10:48 his jealousy was gone. Yet the dissatisfaction of life remained. He was the fourth born of God's chosen people.
11:02 He held the favor of his brothers. Yet, there was an abiding shame he had yet to deal with.
11:14 Although Joseph was gone, his father's contempt for him remained. He found no favor, love, or affection
11:26 towards him in replacement of the dreamer. There is no place for me among my father's people, Judah said to himself.
11:40 As the harsh eastern sun rose, Judah turned his face towards the Canaanite land of Timnah. He got up from where he sat
11:53 and walked down a few miles east. He would often visit there to trade and had grown close with a certain
12:04 Adylemite named Hira. Judah made his way into the small town. Herds of goats and sheep
12:17 were grazing on the periphery of town. Small homes built from mud bricks stood scattered with smoke rising from the center.
12:30 Judah meandered through the village. Timnah was a luscious and beautiful place. Yet within its
12:41 borders were dark rituals and sacrifices. Judah was unknowingly walking into a den of snakes.
12:55 Judah felt more at home with Hera and the Adullamites. They were people of the world. They worshiped the earth
13:08 and had no purpose beyond their own needs. Judah felt at ease without the pressures of his father's rule.
13:21 He felt free to do as he pleased, and so he did. He sat by the fire with
13:32 Hira. Hira, a portly man with a great deal of wealth, treated Judah to a large meal
13:44 and good wine. The 2 of them spoke into the night, laughing and gorging themselves.
13:57 Judah leaned back, tossing stones into the fire and watching them pop from the heat. Hera looked at
14:09 Judah through the fire with a smirk. I hear your father lost a son, he said nonchalantly.
14:22 Judah peered up at Hera. His drunken eyes were filled with hatred. He scoffed
14:34 and took another sip from the jar next to him. He spat into the fire causing it to rise.
14:47 Judah leaned his head back and sighed. Yes. Joseph, the poor boy was devoured by
14:59 beasts. Here, it chuckled subtly and nodded. You don't seem too grieved by
15:10 it, he said. But I suppose your father has many sons to spare. And no doubt,
15:23 it means more inheritance for you. Hera knew how to prod Judah. Judah waved his hands
15:36 and scoffed again. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at the stars above. He recalled how
15:48 often his father would speak of Abraham's promise. How his descendants would outnumber the stars.
16:02 My great grandfather was chosen by God to create a legacy, Judah slurred,
16:14 and my grandfather after him, and my father after him. Judah rose from his feet and stretched.
16:28 However, there seems to be no favor for any of us brothers, especially after Joseph was taken.
16:42 Taken? Hira asked incredulously. I thought you said Joseph was killed.
16:55 Judah ignored Hira and stumbled to grab his cloak. Mark my words, he said, fumbling to put his cloak
17:06 on. I will make a name for myself, and my father will bless me. Judah
17:18 regained balance and walked off into the village. It was dark and dim torch lights illuminated the small path leading
17:30 up to the well. Judah tripped onto the side of the stone well. He grunted from the blow to his hip and keeled over.
17:45 He leaned over and drew some water. He splashed his face and took a sip,
17:56 spitting some of the water out onto the ground. He looked back up to the stars. He pondered where he was for a
18:08 moment. He wondered if God would speak to him as he did to his father. Where is my favor?
18:21 He whispered. What is my legacy? There was no response from above, only
18:33 silence. Judah made his way down the path. He stopped for a moment and saw a young
18:44 Canaanite woman leaning against her home under the torchlight. Her hair was long and draped around the
18:56 curves of her body. Even in the darkness of night, Judah could see her bright eyes shining like the moon.
19:09 It was forbidden for he and his brothers to have dealings with the Canaanite women. However, that did
19:21 not stop them before. He approached her with drunken confidence. Who are you? Judah asked.
19:36 The woman turned with initial fear, then let her guard down once she saw Judah's face. Judah
19:48 was a familiar sight in Timnah. Everyone knew the sons of Jacob. They were brash, good
20:00 looking, and brave young men who had slain the sons of Shechem. I am a daughter of
20:12 Shua, the woman said gently. There was a seductive quality to her voice. Judah felt
20:24 chills crawl down his spine. He looked at her with longing and lust. The 2 of
20:36 them spoke into the night and eventually found themselves entangled in 1 another's arms. The
20:47 next day, Judah paid for the right to take her as his wife. The 2 of them journeyed back to
20:59 Jacob and the rest of Judah's family. As they approached the tents, the brothers could see the woman on Judah's arm.
21:12 They snickered at the sight of her. They knew her reputation in Timnah as did Jacob.
21:25 However, Jacob was far too grieved to pay attention. He dismissed Judah's new marriage
21:38 and returned to his work with an impassive energy. Judah still longed for the regard of his
21:50 father. However, he knew it was time for him to begin a family of his own.
22:02 He and his wife built their dwelling close to his family, made love, and bore a son.
22:15 They named him Er. Judah looked at him as the pride of his life.
22:27 He held him in his arms and looked up to the skies. This will be my legacy, he
22:39 whispered. There was still no voice speaking to him from the heavens. No whisper of
22:50 approval or promise of prosperity. Just the vast darkness staring blankly down at him.
23:05 Judah looked down at Er and stroked his little head. You will make me great, Judah said.
23:19 I will be even greater than my father, Jacob. I will be greater than Joseph.
23:31 Judah and his wife continued to grow their family. They bore another son and named him Onan,
23:45 and then another called Sheila. The 3 boys grew up together under the
23:56 legacy of Jacob. However, the Canaanite practices of their mother also influenced them.
24:09 They grew up by the fire, hearing their grandfather speak of the god of promises. They heard about his wrestling with god
24:23 and the promise of a mighty nation springing forth from his offspring. However, their mother's
24:35 ties to her pagan country were still deep and powerful. The boys also grew up with a sense of
24:46 lawlessness and lewdness, something their father did very little to combat. For
24:58 years, they lived in a household of duality. Because of this, they became apathetic to the things
25:09 of God. As the 3 boys became men, Their attention to honor waned
25:21 and dissolved into nothing. They did as they pleased and cared very little about the legacy
25:33 of their forefathers. Years had passed, and Judah was tending to his flock with his sons.
25:47 He turned to Er. He was a long and lean young man. His shoulders were broad, and
25:59 the curls of his hair fell over his eyes. Judah could not help but be reminded of his youngest brother, Joseph.
26:13 Where was he now? Was he still alive? He thought. Judah shook the thoughts from his
26:24 head and gestured to Er. Are you anxious? Judah asked.
26:36 Er looked up from his work and shrugged.
26:43 Judah rolled his eyes.
26:46 He had arranged for Er to be married to a woman named Tamar. She was a beautiful young Canaanite woman.
27:00 She was gentle, clever, and filled with fire. However, Er seemed
27:12 more preoccupied with the women of the night who walked the streets of Timna. This is your chance to carry out our legacy,
27:23 Er. Be mindful of your purpose in this family. Judah's words fell on deaf ears
27:36 as Er could care less about the honor and legacy of his family. He had seen their hypocrisy.
27:49 Judah held his head low.
27:53 He felt ashamed that he could not seem to build a family that would gain the favor of God. Every night,
28:06 he would look up to the heavens and be met with silence. The next day, Er
28:18 and Tamar were wed. The entire family was in attendance. They danced around the fire,
28:29 laughed, and feasted into the night. Judah looked over to his father.
28:41 However, Jacob paid no attention to him or the celebration. Instead, he held his newborn son in his arms.
28:56 Jacob and Rachel had since bore another child, Benjamin. He looked at Benjamin with the same favor
29:07 and love as he once did Joseph. However, Judah was no longer angry. He was no longer
29:19 overwhelmed with jealousy. Instead, he was tired. He was weary from all the
29:31 bitterness that consumed him day and night. He looked at his sons dancing by the fire with his brothers and sisters.
29:45 For a brief moment, Judah was at peace. But only for a moment.
29:56 That night, Er found himself in a drunken stupor. Instead of going to bed with his new bride,
30:09 he stumbled into the nearby city to find more wine and prostitutes. It was a familiar practice for Er and
30:21 had become a religion for him. He thrashed about in the village with little consideration for his wife
30:33 or family. Not only this, but he would harm the people he came in contact with. He
30:45 was eager for a fight and cared very little about anyone but himself. His heart was consumed by
30:57 evil. Although God was silent to the family of Judah, he was still present.
31:10 He was watching the family devolve into madness. However, even in the midst of brokenness,
31:21 he had a plan for Judah. However, this plan would not be carried out by a wicked man like Er.
31:34 After a night of drunken rampaging, Er stumbled back home. He walked through the fields of grain,
31:46 eager to ravage Tamar before falling asleep. However, he did not get that far.
31:59 He tripped and fell into the nearby stream. He fell face down into the water.
32:12 Blood dripped from his forehead. Er turned onto his back, unable to prop himself up.
32:24 The liquor in his body made him warm on the inside. However, he was not able to feel the cold water removing
32:36 all heat from his body. Ur lay there with his head dripping blood. It slowly
32:47 flowed into the water, making the stream turn red. He stared up at the stars,
33:00 remembering the stories his grandfather told by the fire. He would not get to hear those stories again.
33:14 Slowly, as blood left Er's body, He grew colder and colder.
33:25 He closed his eyes and fell asleep into the darkness. Judah awoke the next morning and
33:37 walked out to the fields. He watched the new light shine over the green pastures where his flock grazed peacefully.
33:49 Judah kissed his wife, splashed his face with water, and grabbed his staff. Onan and Sheila walked
34:01 behind him. Fear was cooler than normal, and dark clouds shrouded the skies.
34:13 Judah pulled his cloak in closer and made his way up to the hills where his brothers were working the fields.
34:26 At the bottom of the hill near the stream, Judah could see his brothers huddled together looking down at the water.
34:39 He came in closer. His brothers looked back at him with grim expressions. Judah broke through the group
34:51 and looked down. There, lying in the stream, laid Er's pale and lifeless
35:03 body. Judah fell to his knees and laid his hand on Er.
35:14 His eyes welled up with tears, but he held them back. He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow.
35:29 Without a word, Judah picked up his son in his arms and made his way back to the tents.
35:41 He knew in his heart of hearts that Er was a wicked man. He knew that his death was his
35:53 own doing and allowed by God. And he knew deep down that he was a failure as a father.
36:09 Judah and his brothers dug a grave for Er. They mourned and sang old songs of sadness.
36:22 Their voices bellowed across the plains. Behind them stood Tamar wearing widow's robes.
36:36 The wind blew against the family as they stood over Er's grave. Judah pulled his second born, Onan,
36:48 aside. Together, they walked, talking about Er and lamenting his death.
37:00 Judah stopped and gestured to Tamar. You know what the custom is, Onan, he said. You will
37:12 take Tamar into bed and give her a son on behalf of your brother. That way, she does not go
37:23 childless, and our legacy will continue. Onan, much like his
37:34 brother, did not care much about legacy. However, he did see Tehmar's beauty.
37:48 To him, it was an ample opportunity to get a beautiful woman in his bed.
37:59 Onan nodded and then left his father's side to go and comfort Tamar. He kissed her hand
38:11 and spoke gently in her ear. That night, Onan took Tamar into his bed.
38:25 Onan began gently, but was soon overcome with lust and selfishness. He had his way with
38:36 Tamar, giving no care to her heart. He used her for pleasure.
38:48 And when the time came for him to give her his seed, he came out of her and onto the ground.
39:01 Onin would not give Tamar a child. He knew that whatever child she would bear would not be his own,
39:14 but hers. He used Tamar for his own pleasure, but would not give her the 1 thing she desired,
39:28 a family. Content with his own selfishness, Onan left Tamar alone in bed
39:40 and departed to go drink. Tamar lay in bed with tears in her eyes. She held
39:52 her face in shame, weeping bitterly into the night. She dressed herself and retreated back to her tent.
40:06 She fell onto the floor, sobbing with a deep well of sadness, loss, and shame.
40:18 God looked upon her with compassion, but he looked upon Onan with rage. Onan walked beside the stream with a jar ofShow more
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