Justin Houtz

Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

DateVersionReading Plan
January 15, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Genesis 37-38

Observation & Interpretation

Gen. 37:8 – Joseph’s brothers hated Joseph because their father, Jacob, loved him most and they hated him even more upon hearing of his dream.

  • The narrator writes that Joseph’s brothers hated him three times (vv. 4, 5, 8). This repetition frames the evil actions Joseph’s brothers will later commit against him. (FSB)

Gen. 37:5, 10 – The text reads that Joseph told his brothers about the first dream (v. 5) and that he told his father and brothers the second dream (v. 10).

Gen. 37:18-28 – In Joseph’s interactions with his brothers, Reuben and Judah are singled out as having specific roles in what would happen to Joseph.

  • When Joseph was sent on an errand to his brothers, they conspired … to kill him, but at Reuben’s suggestion they agreed to cast him into a pit near Dothan. As they sat down to eat, they saw a company of Ismaelites bound for Egypt, and at Judah’s suggestion decided to sell him. In this passage, the Ismaelites are also called Midiaites, as in Judges 8:22-24. As the Midianite traders passed by, Joseph’s brothers brought Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the traders. (BBC)

Gen. 38:1-5 – Judah bore three sons by a Canaanite woman.

  • Marriage with the Canaanites was discouraged among the Israelites: Abraham insisted that Isaac not marry a Canaanite (Gen 24:3); Isaac and Rebekah objected to Esau’s marriages with foreigners and forbad Jacob to marry outside the clan (27:46-28:1). The law later forbade intermarriage with Canaanites, because of the risk of foreigners leading the Israelites into idolatry (Deut. 7:1-3). (FSB)

Gen. 38:7 – Judah’s firstborn son, Er, was wicked in the sight of the LORD and He put Er to death.

  • Er’s offense or precisely how he died is unknown. (FSB)

Gen. 38:27-30 – In the birth of Judah and Tamar’s twin sons, Perez and Zerah, Zerah put out his hand during labor and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his hand to indicate that he was the firstborn. However, Zerah withdrew his hand and the other son, Perez, came out first.

  • The birth was a complicated one, as one of the babies stuck his hand—not his head, as is normal—out of the birth canal. The child pulled his hand back inside the mother…As it turned out, his brother actually came out first, earning himself not only the rights of the firstborn but also the name Perez (”Bursting Forth/Breach”). His brother, born belated with the scarlet thread still tied to his hand, received the name Zerah (”Dawning/Shining”). Perez would later be mentioned as an ancestor of both David (Ru 4:12, 18) and Jesus (Mt 1:3). (CSB Notes)

Luke 15

Application

Luke 15:7 (ESV) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. … Luke 15:32 (ESV) It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Reading the final verses of the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the prodigal son, we see the joy and celebration associated with repentance. Only by God’s grace are we are brought to an understanding of our sin such that we turn from it and place our faith solely in Jesus for salvation. Where once there was death, now there is life, and heaven erupts with joy in response. How wonderful it is to reflect on this and on our holy and righteous God who loves in such a way.

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