Untitled Sermon (6)

Genesis 38

In Genesis 38, why did Judah's actions of marrying a Canaanite woman go against the teachings of his ancestors? How does this decision impact the story later on?

Genesis 38:1-30

“When Sin and Grace Collide”

Outline

Introduction:

As we journey through the book of Genesis, we come to an unexpected passage in the narrative of Joseph's journey in Egypt.

Chapter 38 shifts the focus to Joseph's older brother, Judah. This is one of the strangest and most uncomfortable passages in the Bible. But since it is part of God’s Word, we need to seek to understand it and apply it. Moses has a reason for including this story here. The Bible doesn't include scandalous material just for the sake of it. There's always a good reason for recording acts of wrongdoing.

This story helps us to see the contrast between Joseph and his brothers more clearly. We've already started to notice that Joseph is different from the motley crew of brothers that he had. In the next chapter, he'll face temptation and will remain morally pure. This story strategically placed right before presents a distinct contrast with Joseph and his brothers.

But also this story helps us to see that God is in control even when man sins. It helps us understand that God is full of grace and he uses people in spite of their sin to accomplish His purposes.

If you go to Genesis 49, Jacob is making all kinds of prophecies concerning his sons. And when he gets to Judah, he makes all these predictions about Judah’s future. He says that he will be respected by his brothers and will overcome his enemies. Jacob says that the scepter, which is a symbol of leadership, will stay with Judah's descendants, showing they will hold powerful positions. This power will last until everyone recognizes Judah's authority.

So in that prophecy sees that a great ruler will come from Judah’s family, as mentioned with the scepter. Ultimately, Jesus Christ fulfills this prophecy as a descendant of Judah. Jesus is called the lion of Judah in Revelation 5:5

So, the story of Judah in Genesis 38 is important because there we see God working his plan to bring His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Jesus will be the serpent crusher that was prophesied in Genesis 3:15.So let’s work through this text, strange and uncomfortable as it might be.

First, we see that there is Disobedience. (38:1–10)

Judah leaves his brothers and goes to live with a man named Hirah. (Vs. 1). This chapter covers many years because when Judah leaves home in chapter 37, he’s a single man. He gets married to this Canaanite woman who is un-named but is the daughter of a man named Shua (vs. 2) And then his kids get married. So we are talking 20-30 years that take place in this chapter, all while Joseph is going through his trials in Egypt. By the time we come to the end of chapter 38, Joseph is just about to be reconciled to his brothers.

The first act of disobedience was Judah marrying a Cannanite woman. (Vs. 2). God’s people were not to intermarry with those who worshipped idols. We saw in Genesis 26 that Esau married a Canaanite even though he was instructed not to do so by his parents. All the descendants of Abraham taught their children to marry only those who believed in Yahweh and under no circumstances to marry with the Canaanites who were idolatrous and very opposed to Yahweh.

Moses is writing this right before the children of Israel go into the land of Canaan and they are not supposed to intermarry with the Canaanites. However, many of them did, and this is what led to the idolatry and spiritual downfall of the nation of Israel that we read about in Judges, the books of Samuel and Kings.

This situation is reminiscent of a later marriage in the book of Judges, Chapter 14, verses 1 through 3, where Samson does something similar. He seeks out a Canaanite wife, and despite his parents' objections, he insists on marrying her because he finds her beautiful.

So Judah and this Canaanite wife and by her he has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. (Vs. 3, 4) As we’ll see, his kids grow up and they get married. Judah is involved in choosing a wife for his oldest son Er, and her name is Tamar. (Vs. 6)

Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord, so God took his life before he could father any children (vs. 7). We don’t know what he did that was so evil but it had to be very bad because this is the first time in Scripture that we see God striking an individual dead. Of course we know that he struck the whole world down in the Flood but this is the first time He strikes an individual dead for his sin.

So Er died and his wife Tamar became a widow and in this culture, it is the responsibility of the next brother to produce an heir. Later, this came to be known as is the levirate law. Why do this? It seems very weird to us, but it was put in place to ensure that the widow have support. At that time, women were not allowed to work and make a living. So she would have no one to care for her without this arrangement.

We see something similar to this in the story of Ruth. Remember Boaz? Ruth could not marry him until the kinsman redeemer declined to take her as his wife. In that case, the kinsman redeemer declined to do it so Boaz was able to marry Ruth.

In this situation, we are not told that there is even a proper marriage between Onan, the 2nd son of Judah, and Tamar. We are just told that Onan is intimate with Tamar, and he incorporates a method of birth control known as the withdrawal method. He does this because he is selfish. He was willing to have intimate relations with Tamar, but he didn’t want to produce an heir. Why? The text tells us – because he knew that an offspring produced with Tamar is not really his offspring. It would be his brother’s offspring. There was nothing in it for him. He was selfish. All he wants is to fulfill his desires with her and not give her a son.

So to the public eye, Onan seems to be doing the right thing. It looks to everyone on the outside that he is fulfilling his duties as the next of kin. But everyone thinks that something is wrong with Tamar. She is not getting pregnant. Little do they know that Onan is committing this act of selfishness, not at all fulfilling his duties, just willing to have sexual relations with Tamar. Onan knows what’s going on. Tamar knows what’s going on. And the Lord knows what is going on. This was a wicked thing in the sight of the Lord because Onan only cares about himself. So having struck down his brother Er, God now strikes down the second son, Onan.

Now Judah, the father, has two dead sons and he is probably very nervous about giving his third son, Shelah, to Tamar. He probably is thinking she is hexed. In verse 11, Judah promises Tamar that Shelah, his youngest son, will someday take her as his wife. (Vs. 11). He says that Shelah is not old enough to marry her yet. That may have been true, but it seems like Judah had no intention of ever really giving his youngest son to Tamar. So in reality, he was shirking his responsibility as the father. The father was responsible for making sure this widow of his son was taken care of.

So Judah tells Tamar to go back to her father’s house until Shelah is old enough. It’s kind of like “Don’t call me. I’ll call you.” Judah is hoping to be done with her altogether. Now, she can be someone else’s problem.

So in these first 11 verses, we see that the family of Judah is a mess much in need of god’s grace. Judah, Er, Onan - they are all being disobedient.

Now let’s see secondly that there is Deception. (38:12–18)

Just when you thought this story could not get any more sordid, it does. Here, we see Tamar's plan to secure her rights as the primary matriarch of Judah's lineage. As the wife of the firstborn, she had certain cultural rights, and this was her strategy to claim them.She realizes that Shelah, the third son, has grown up, and that Judah is not going to arrange their marriage. She realizes that Judah has just wiped his hands of her. So she takes matters into her own hands.

Notice she waits until Judah’s wife dies maybe because she doesn’t want to be causing him to commit adultery. (Vs. 12) She also knows now that because his wife has died his opportunity for intimacy is gone, and that he may be looking for fulfillment elsewhere.

So when she hears that he’s in her area, she dresses up as a prostitute. (vs.13-15). This happens during sheep shearing time, which is like Mardi Gras for those people In the Canaanite culture. The false religion of these people was known for its fertility cult, temple prostitution was common, and Tamar was mistaken for one of these temple prostitutes.

During sheep shearing festivities, people engaged in ritualistic sex with these temple prostitutes to invoke blessings for their flocks and lands. Even though Judah was raised to worship only Yawheh, he was ingrained in this Canaanite culture of false relgion and this time was a time of partying and heightened sexual temptation.

Tamar is wearing a veil (vs. 14) which kept Judah from knowing who she was. And just as she planned, Judah takes the bait. He propositions her. (Vs. 16). She agrees to have relations with him and they agree the price to be a goat. (Vs. 17) He doesn’t have a goat with him so she says he can leave some collateral. She asks for his signet ring, a cord, and his staff until he brings the goat. (Vs. 18)

The signet ring was a personal identification, that would be like a driver’s license or passport today. The cord that she requested was probably a chain worn around his neck to hold the signet. And it seems to be customary that every man had a trusty walking staff, essential for journeys and tending to the flock. These items were crucial parts of Judah’s belongings.

Judah, by this time, is so worked up with desire, that he is willing to give his signet ring as a down payment. He just wants to be with this woman. They have sexual relations, and Tamar becomes pregnant by Judah, her father in law. (Vs. 18) So, Judah commits a sinful act in Israel by engaging in an immoral act with a woman he doesn't recognize is his daughter in law, all while dealing with his own grief and the loss of his wife.

Moses seems to be highlighting the danger of being influenced by worldly values and practices. Judah has become entangled in Canaanite culture and practices because of his marriage into it, which was his own decision.

This serves as a powerful warning for us today. As Christians we are immersed in a secular and godless culture, so there's a risk of us being influenced by its values, especially if we intermarry with unbelievers.

For young people considering marriage, it's crucial to choose a partner who shares your faith deeply, not just someone who tolerates or accepts it. Otherwise, you may end up in a situation as dire as Judah’s.

So we see here the moral failings of Judah and we see the cunning schemes of Tamar, providing us with a contrast against which we can appreciate the grace of God in Joseph's life. And also we see how this family consistently demonstrates their need for grace and God continues to show grace to them as we will see going through the narrative of Joseph.

So we have seen the disobedience and the deception but now let’s notice thirdly that there is Disclosure. (Vs. 20-30)

Later, Judah sends his friend, Hiram, to find the prostitute and to deliver the goat and retrieve his personal items used as collateral, but he can’t find her. (Vs. 20) So when we get to verse 23, Judah is embarrassed that he was so caught up in passion that he left those items in her possession and now she has taken off with them. It would be like a man leaving a wallet at a strip club. He decides to let her keep the items and tries to move on. However, he can't escape his actions.

Three months later, Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant. Outraged, he orders her to be burned. (Vs. 24) But as Tamar is brought out, she reveals the items he left with her, proving he was the one who got her pregnant. (Vs. 25). Now, Judah realizes he’s busted. (Vs. 26)

This story reminds us of David's story with Bathsheba, and how Nathan the prophet told him a story and David initially condemns another's sin before realizing his own guilt. Judah, too, is blinded by his own actions until confronted with the truth.

In verse 26, Judah confesses that he has acted in an unrighteous manner. (Vs. 26). As a result, Tamar is spared from punishment, and she gives birth to twin sons. (Vs. 27). The oldest of the twins is called Perez and becomes a significant figure in the lineage of David and ultimately in the lineage of Jesus Christ. From Perez's line comes Boaz, and eventually, through a long line of descendants, including David and Josiah, arises Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

So why is this story here? What does God want us to learn from it? From Genesis 38, we can glean several important lessons:

First, God wants to show us that He is sovereign. He is in control. He is a God of providence. God brings his promises to pass even when men act sinfully.

I already mentioned the similarity of this story with Samson and Delilah, but also in that story, we see that God used Samson’s disobedience to bring about his purpose which was to enact justice on the Phillistines. So even when man sins, God takes it and turns it for good. God uses it to bring about His plans. God is sovereign in every situation.

Second, God wants to show us that man is inherently sinful. Judah's actions, driven by lust and deceit, demonstrate our capacity for moral failure. It's a sobering reminder of the ongoing struggle with temptation and the importance of remaining vigilant against sin. We all are in a battle with sin and it is a battle we cannot win on our own.

We need a Savior, one who can give us deliverance from sin’s bondage. The only one who qualifies to save us from our sin is Jesus Christ. He left Heaven and came to earth, took on human flesh as God, and died for our sins. He rose again to show His victory. And He offers salvation from sin to all who believe in Him.

Third, God wants to show us His grace and how it collides with our sin. Despite the sinful events in Genesis 38, there is a message of redemption and grace. Through the twists and turns of the narrative, God shows His ability to redeem even the most broken situations. This is where sin and grace collide. As we read in Romans 5:20, 21, “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Perez's birth illustrate God's ability to bring beauty from ashes and to work through imperfect individuals to accomplish His will. This is God's relentless grace at work in the lives of flawed individuals. Judah, we see is deeply flawed and sinful, and yet God plans that through his line will come kings, including the Messiah himself, Jesus Christ.

Wouldn’t Joseph be a more deserving person to be in that line that Judah? Yes, but God doesn’t think like us. God likes to use the most unlikely to show His grace. Listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.“

Also, the inclusion of Tamar in the genealogy of Jesus alongside other bold and courageous women demonstrates God's grace extended to outsiders and those with scandalous pasts. God chooses to work through individuals like Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, highlighting His inclusive and transforming grace. If there is anything good in us, it is all because of God’s grace!

Fourth, God wants us to learn how to repent well. Throughout Genesis, God's people repeatedly engage in sinful behavior, often getting caught in their sin. We see here that God exposes sin and he opens our eyes to our own sin. We can be sure that our sins will find us out.

As we read this chapter, it reminds us that we need to consider if there is anything in our lives that we are trying to hide and cover up instead of confessing and forsaking it.

With Judah, he takes ownership of his sin when confronted by Tamar. He openly admits his wrongdoing. That’s what we need to do - recognize our sin and take responsibility for it. Confess it and repent of it.

Think of a magnificent piece of art made from the ashes of a burnt canvas. It's a powerful metaphor for the way God can take the brokenness of our lives and create something breathtaking and new. This speaks to the universal human experience of finding hope and redemption in the midst of adversity.