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Welcome to Week #5  of the Dreamers Series

If you missed a previous week you can find them by clicking on the pictures below: 

      

 


God’s Grace on Display

Dreamers Series

 

God’s grace is on display all throughout Scripture, but powerfully and poignantly so in Genesis 38.

 

Maybe you are like me and you wonder why in the world would God have this particular story inserted in the middle of Jo’s story?  Truthfully, I never used to give it much thought – I just thought, that it was weird, and one of the times the Bible was in actual chronological order.

 

Why did God interrupt the dramatic story of Joseph and insert the story of Judah here?  Judah after all was quite the opposite of Joseph in every way.  Judah was not the greatest of guys and after Joseph was gone from the family, he regained his position and again became the rightful heir, the next in line for the family birthright.

 

Some people just love a good story, don’t they? You know the kind: one built on lies, wickedness, betrayal, sexual liaisons, adultery, seduction, prostitution, rebellion, evil, injustices and intrigue?

 

No?  Not your cup of tea?

 

Not mine either, really.  However, as you read the Bible it is full of those kinds of stories, one being found right here in Genesis 38.   I encourage you to read it in its entirety so you can get a feeling for just how bad Judah and his sons were.  But also, so you can see how God continues to weave His story of redemption and grace through the lives of His people.

 

#God continues to weave His story of redemption and grace throughout the lives of His people. Share on X

 

Still wondering why God would interrupt Joseph’s story with Tamar and Judah?  Here is a great explanation found in the notes portion of The Voice Translation Bible:

 

This disturbing chapter is artfully inserted at the beginning of Joseph’s story for a reason. Though Joseph has the key role in getting Israel to Egypt and saving his family from the upcoming famine, it is Judah’s line that is chosen by God to play a crucial part in Israel’s more distant future. Judah’s son, Perez, is the ancestor to King David and ultimately to the Anointed One. But Perez’s strange birth is overshadowed by the sleazy events that lead to his conception. The sexually-charged atmosphere of this chapter may well upset some, but Scripture is brutally honest about people and what they do. Lust and lies, deception and prostitution do not frustrate God’s plan; in fact God has a way of taking them, redeeming them, and including them within His greater will.

 

I love that last line:  God has a way of redeeming … Redeeming our stories, our sin, our rebellion, our past mistakes and more working them into the fabric of the future and destiny He has for us.

 

It was about this time that Judah decided to leave home, so he parted company with his brothers and went to see Hirah, a fellow from Adullam. When he was there, Judah laid eyes on the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and slept with her. She conceived and gave birth to her first son. Judah named him Er. She conceived again and gave birth to her second son, whom she named Onan. She then gave birth to her third son, and she named him Shelah. (Judah was away in Chezib when she gave birth to him.)

Now Judah arranged for Er, his firstborn, to marry a woman named Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was a particularly wretched human being in the eyes of the Eternal One, and so the Eternal ended his life. Judah summoned his second son, Onan. (Genesis 38:1-7 The Voice).

 

#God has a way of redeeming our mistakes and weaving them into the fabric of our destiny. Share on X

 

As I was researching, I discovered that Judah was around sixteen years old at the time he would have left home.  Another interesting discovery was the meaning of Judah’s Canaanite wife’s name.  The name Shua literally means “a pit.”

Last week, we discussed the different types of pits we can find ourselves in. (you can find that post here) Joseph was thrown into a “Premediated Pit” by his brothers.  Because of their jealousy toward Joseph they plotted and planed to murder him (premeditated). Instead, Judah urges them to not kill him, but rather throw him in a pit and let him die.

Here we see Judah falling into a “Pit of His Own Making,” although, he doesn’t realize it until much later.

Brain Simmons in his book “Dreamer,” says: “Judah was also thrown into a “pit” of compromise! It was custom for Jacob to find a bride for his son Judah, but here we have Hirah finding a bride for Jacob’s wayward son…”

 

Continuing to read Judah and Tamar’s story in Genesis 38, we see that Judah’s deceit and willful rebelliousness leads him to summon a prostitute and commit incest (unaware) with his daughter-in-law.  He then calls for her to be put to death because she is pregnant. Judah not only lacked integrity; he was a hypocrite.

 

Through all of the mess occurring in this passage and what Judah brings to the story, the focus shouldn’t be on those things, but rather on the story of redemption and grace.  Truthfully, I could spend a month at least writing on just this chapter alone, but I won’t.

 

The take away for us all from this chapter is that God always has a plan.  He always has a plan of redemption and one filled with Grace!

 

God had a plan for Joseph to get his family to Egypt and saved from the famine, but He also had a longer future plan. A plan to develop the lineage of Jesus through the line of the tribe of Judah. Jesus’ lineage is traced back through the tribe of Judah to Tamar and one of her sons.

 

#God always has a plan of redemption filled with grace! Share on X

 

Let us remember: God’s sovereign grace trumps any sin.

 


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Episode #003: He’s in the Whisper “Dare 2 Hear The Podcast” is now live!

Thank you to those who listened last week and have already left reviews!  You have blessed us so much!

Would you please consider subscribing to my podcast on the platform of your choice, sharing it on your social media with friends and if you like what you hear, would you leave a review so others can know what you think.

 

 

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For those who like to watch and not just listen, I will also be posting new episodes on my YouTube Channel.  You can find it by clicking here.

New episodes will be released every Wednesday. Next week Episode #004:  Ways God Speaks

Can I ask a HUGE Favor? 

Would you Please Listen & LEAVE A REVIEW ON iTunes…

It know it may seem like a lot to ask, because it takes time. However, if you can leave an honest review after listening, it would really be a HUGE blessing. Each review helps the podcast rank higher and get more eyes. If you’re interested, here’s how you do it:

  1. Go to the iTunes podcast page for my show – CLICK HERE
  2. Click on the blue button that says “View in iTunes.” (If you are prompted to launch iTunes, you’ll need to do so)
  3. Listen to Episode 1  How to Hear the Voice of God
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With Much love and Appreciation,

Debbie 


Debbie Kitterman is a natural born encourager who is on fire for God. She is passionate about equipping individuals, so they can go deeper in the relationship with God, reach their God-potential and claim their Kingdom inheritance. Debbie is a wife, mother, author, pastor, speaker and the founder of “Dare 2 Hear,” a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. Her writing and teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at: www.debbiekitterman.com

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YouVersion 7-Day Devotional

This is a 7-day Devotional you can get on the YouVersion Bible App

I am blessed and honored to have a 7-day devotional on the YouVersion Bible App. YAY!!! It is a great way to kick start the 7- days before my on-line Bible Study starts next week. I would be so blessed if you would check it out and share it with your friends. You can find it here: Be The Gift Someone Needs Today!


Have you had the opportunity to read my new book  “The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for others.” ?  This book is about learning to hear the voice of God in our own life so we can respond to those God bumps and little nudges He gives us on a daily basis.    God is calling us to be agents of encouragement and to be the gift the worlds needs today.

We live in a time, where those around us are in desperate need of a real encounter with Jesus and in need of encouragement. We are called to encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13), and to build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  My book will teach you how to step out and do just that.

To order your copy today: You can find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, OR your favorite online retailer, Plus, newly added, you can now get a signed copy from me.  Click Here to order yours today! 

We all have the opportunity to #BeTheGift of encouragement others need today.

 


Do you wonder if God still speaks today?  Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally?  Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?

Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to  move you forward  hearing from God?

If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need.  I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others.  He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you.  The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice. 

God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?

d2htrainging.com membership site is open, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.

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