Genesis 36-38

Genesis 37

V. 3,4- Parental favoritism causes deep rifts and familial issues. Parents should guard against this and use discretion especially during the formative years.

V. 5-11- Joseph should have been more discreet. A lot of times the vision that God gives you is for you alone. We need to learn when to share and when to nurture our dreams in our heart.

V. 19-20 - Beware of dream killers! It really wasn't just about their hate for Joseph, his dream and 'ambition' pushed them over the edge, maybe because they sensed the dream was attainable. I'm not sure they would have bothered if they didn't think it could become a reality.

38:10

What Onan did was wicked in God's sight, so he put him to death. Wow! I'd been taught that it was about the act of masturbation but now after reading about all the misogynistic and lustful behavior that went on back in the day without anyone blinking an eye, I think it was about the act of disobedience and waste of his seed. Onan would rather spill his seed than continue the bloodline as his father Judah had ordered.

Notice that we weren't even told what Er did (v. 7)that was wicked in God's sight, but I have a feeling that it didn't matter- whatever it was God considered to be wicked.

V. 27

Israel's grandson had twins, much reminiscent of himself and Esau- with the twins seemingly experiencing a power struggle at birth. I wonder if this is significant.