WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.799 If you've ever looked around at the world, or looked around at your family, or looked 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:16.280 around or looked at your own life and thought, this is just a mess, this chapter is probably 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:17.019 even messier. 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:20.160 So here we go, Genesis 38. 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:24.140 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:26.179 Adulamite whose name was Hira. 00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:30.219 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:32.799 He took her and went into her. 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:35.859 And she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Ur. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:39.619 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:43.219 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:46.340 Judah was in Kezid when she bore him. 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:50.879 And Judah took a wife for Ur, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.859 But Ur, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord. 00:00:54.859 --> 00:00:56.579 And the Lord put him to death. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.899 Then Judah said to Onan, go into your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:04.359 to her and raise up offspring for your brother. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:07.599 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:12.799 So whenever he went into his brother's wife, he would waste the semen on the ground so as 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:14.299 not to give offspring to his brother. 00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:19.159 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:25.159 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, remain a widow in your father's house till 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:26.599 Shelah, my son, grows up. 00:01:27.340 --> 00:01:30.099 For he feared that he would die like his brothers. 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:33.280 So Tamar went and remained in her father's house. 00:01:34.019 --> 00:01:37.140 In the course of time, the wife of Judah, she was daughter, died. 00:01:38.019 --> 00:01:40.979 When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheep shearers. 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:43.000 He and his friend hired the Adolamite. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.780 And when Tamar was told, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep, she 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:53.799 took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:56.879 the entrance to Anaim, which is on the road to Timnah. 00:01:57.739 --> 00:02:03.099 For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:07.340 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.379 He turned to her at the roadside and said, come, let me come into you. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:13.039 For he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:16.060 She said, what will you give me that you may come into me? 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:18.400 He answered, I will send you a young goat from the flock. 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.699 And she said, if you give me a pledge until you send it. 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:23.400 He said, what pledge shall I give you? 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:28.079 She replied, your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.240 So he gave them to her and went into her, and she conceived by him. 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:37.259 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil, she put on the garments of her widowhood. 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:43.819 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adolamite to take back the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:49.479 And he asked the men of the place, where is the cult prostitute who is at Anaim by the roadside? 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:52.319 And they said, no cult prostitute has been here. 00:02:53.379 --> 00:02:55.939 So he returned to Judah and said, I haven't found her. 00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:59.739 Also, the men of the place said, no cult prostitute has been here. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.959 And Judah replied, let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:07.740 You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:12.600 About three months later, Judah was told, Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has been immoral. 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:15.460 Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality. 00:03:16.100 --> 00:03:18.640 And Judah said, bring her out, and let her be burned. 00:03:20.200 --> 00:03:23.159 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:27.439 By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:33.340 And she said, please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:39.340 Then Judah identified them and said, she is more righteous than I, 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:44.039 since I did not give her to my son, Sheila, and he did not know her again. 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:47.719 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:53.620 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:55.120 saying, this one came out first. 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:58.140 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.000 And she said, what a breach you have made for yourself. 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:03.060 Therefore, his name was called Perez. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:08.840 Afterward, his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah. 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.219 So last night, I was putting my kids to bed. 00:04:13.140 --> 00:04:17.620 And as usual, a part of our usual routine, I read them a couple of stories. 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:23.379 A story that my son chose was from one of his favorite series, The Berenstain Bears. 00:04:23.379 --> 00:04:29.860 Papa, Mama, Brother, and Sister Bear, and in some cases, Honey Bear, 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:35.279 reside in a big tree house down a sunny dirt road in Bear Country. 00:04:36.219 --> 00:04:39.159 In each book, they face some kind of conflict or challenge, 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:42.500 but by the end of the story, everything has been resolved, 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:48.300 and a moral or safety-related lesson has been clearly, maybe even too clearly, communicated. 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:54.879 According to Wikipedia, there are over 300 Berenstain Bears books, 00:04:55.340 --> 00:04:58.680 including over 40 in a series with explicitly Christian themes. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:04.280 This morning's Bible passage covers all kinds of things that are not found in any 00:05:04.280 --> 00:05:07.920 of the Berenstain Bears books, 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:11.259 or most other children's bedtime stories. 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:15.279 Its content is much closer to a supermarket tabloid 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:19.519 that stares at you as you walk through the checkout line or a soap opera. 00:05:21.099 --> 00:05:24.240 If this chapter were made into a movie, it would be R-rated. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:31.779 Betrayal, deception, scandal, lots of sex, prostitution, death. 00:05:32.039 --> 00:05:33.379 It's a hot mess. 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:37.219 If anything is clear from this passage, 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.399 it's clear that the Bible is not the product of the Victorian era. 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:43.959 It was not written by mismanners. 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:49.199 But you might ask, what is God doing in all this mess? 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.540 What in the world are we supposed to learn from such a crazy story? 00:05:55.159 --> 00:05:57.699 Last week, we looked at the theme of shattered dreams. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:02.339 How Joseph's dreams of greatness were shattered by the favoritism of his father 00:06:02.339 --> 00:06:04.139 and the jealousy of his brothers. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:08.259 At the end of the chapter, we saw Joseph sold into slavery 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:09.879 and taken down to Egypt. 00:06:10.859 --> 00:06:14.719 At first glance, this chapter seems to be a detour from the story of Joseph. 00:06:14.899 --> 00:06:16.219 Joseph isn't mentioned at all. 00:06:16.979 --> 00:06:19.759 Neither is his father Jacob, nor the other brothers. 00:06:20.059 --> 00:06:23.339 The focus shifts to Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. 00:06:24.479 --> 00:06:26.739 On the service, they do some pretty weird things. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:30.239 But I hope that as we dig into some of the details, 00:06:30.239 --> 00:06:31.579 and there are a lot of details, 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:36.719 but that you'll see what's motivating Judah and Tamar. 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:41.699 That you'll begin to relate to their characters and their stories. 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:45.319 And most of all, that you'll be drawn to the God 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.939 who is powerfully at work in each of them. 00:06:49.219 --> 00:06:52.859 Now, the basic contrast between Judah and Tamar is this. 00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:57.120 Judah was brought up in the family of God, 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:00.199 and he did everything he could to get out of it. 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:04.759 Tamar was brought up outside the family of God, 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:06.980 and she did everything she could to get in. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:11.220 So this morning, we'll look first at what God does with Judah, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:14.459 the insider who wanted out, 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:17.459 and then we'll look at what God does with Tamar, 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:19.079 the outsider who wanted in. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:22.800 So first, Judah, the insider who wanted out. 00:07:22.899 --> 00:07:24.439 Now, before we jump into this chapter, 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:27.819 let me set the stage from earlier in the book of Genesis 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:32.779 to paint the picture of how Judah got to where he is now. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:36.339 Judah was a young man with a lot of potential. 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:40.579 He was born into the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:43.579 And God had promised that that family, 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:46.099 Abraham's physical offspring, 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:48.620 would be the means of his promised blessing 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.339 for the whole world. 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:53.959 And within this family, his name stood out. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:57.860 Judah, which means praise. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.839 His mother praised God at his birth, 00:08:01.919 --> 00:08:05.639 and his name called him to live a life in praise of God. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:08.699 Judah also had natural leadership gifts. 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:10.620 When he spoke, his brothers listened. 00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:13.979 And they did what he said. 00:08:15.599 --> 00:08:17.339 And yet, while Judah had a lot of potential, 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:21.000 he received little attention from his parents, 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:23.000 especially from his dad. 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:25.240 You see, Judah's dad, Jacob, 00:08:25.339 --> 00:08:27.560 had 12 sons by four different women. 00:08:29.099 --> 00:08:30.379 Judah was child number four. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:32.679 Imagine growing up in that family. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.740 His dad had been tricked into marrying his mom. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:40.340 And his dad really loved a different woman, 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.379 Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.580 So Jacob always deprioritized Judah's mother, Leah, 00:08:48.060 --> 00:08:49.180 and her sons. 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:51.139 He paid them little attention. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.200 He gave them little affection. 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:57.100 Judah grew up in a home where mom was constantly trying 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:59.860 and never succeeding to win dad's affection. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:03.840 And dad was lavishing his love on another woman 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:05.560 and a different set of kids. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.000 Not surprisingly, Judah and his brothers 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:10.899 began to feel resentful. 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:13.960 And their resentment continued to build up 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:17.840 against their dad's favoritism and neglect. 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:21.159 And they expressed their favoritism, Judah and his brothers, 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:22.080 in different ways. 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:24.920 We learn from chapter 35, verse 22, 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:26.659 that Judah's oldest brother, Reuben, 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:28.759 slept with his dad's mistress. 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:32.120 In a failed attempt to seize the reins of leadership 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:32.779 in the family. 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:35.799 For brothers two and three, Simeon and Levi, 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:39.139 their anger and resentment turned into violent rage. 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:42.319 When their sister Dinah was violated, 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:45.639 they not only punished the guy who did it, 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.500 they massacred his whole town. 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:51.080 Chapter 34 of Genesis. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:55.059 Judah took out his resentment in a more calculated way. 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:58.739 He took the initiative to sell Joseph into slavery, 00:09:58.839 --> 00:10:02.019 to get rid of his younger brother for good. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.059 You see, Rachel, his dad's favorite wife, 00:10:07.119 --> 00:10:07.919 had already died. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:11.579 And perhaps Judah hoped that with Joseph gone, 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.639 maybe his dad would finally pay attention 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:17.519 to him and his brothers. 00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:21.739 Maybe something would change in their family for the good, 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:22.460 but it didn't. 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:24.820 They came home. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.060 Joseph's gone. 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:28.159 Jacob was heartbroken. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.320 And he refused to be comforted. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:33.060 He found no comfort, 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:35.860 no joy from any of his other kids. 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:38.680 And so finally Judah was fed up. 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:41.820 He was fed up with his distant dad, 00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:43.279 who poured all his affection 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:45.259 into his other wife and his other kids. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:47.220 He was fed up with all the family drama 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:47.920 and dysfunction. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:49.040 And so he left home, 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.440 an angry young man in his 20s, 00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:54.259 determined to make a fresh start. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.279 That's where we get in verse 1. 00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:59.220 It happened at that time 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.639 that Judah went down from his brothers 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:03.160 and turned aside to a certain Adolamite, 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:03.980 whose name was Hira. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.160 Judah's response to his dysfunctional family 00:11:07.160 --> 00:11:09.660 was to run away as far as he could. 00:11:10.660 --> 00:11:12.379 On the one hand, it's very understandable 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:14.860 when you think about all that he grew up with. 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:17.820 But the problem with Judah's response 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:20.759 is that it wasn't just Judah's family 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.659 that was dysfunctional. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:27.539 Judah himself was also dysfunctional. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.360 And while you can run away 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.680 from a dysfunctional family, 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:31.940 you can't run away 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:35.180 from your own dysfunctional heart. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.139 So after running away 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:39.420 from his dysfunctional family, 00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:41.300 Judah ends up reproducing a family 00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:43.700 that is just as dysfunctional. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.800 He actually ends up acting 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:48.700 just like his dad, 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:51.600 whom he resented and hated. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.720 We see that just like his dad, 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:56.360 Judah was selfish 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:58.340 and distant from his wife. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:00.680 Notice the verbs in verse 2. 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:03.240 Judah saw the daughter 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:04.279 of a certain Canaanite. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:06.519 He took her and went into her. 00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:08.820 The language is meant to remind us 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.879 of Eve in the Garden of Eden. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:14.019 She saw the forbidden fruit. 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:16.720 She took it and she ate it. 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:20.759 Judah wasn't full of tender affection 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.399 or steadfast love. 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.259 He was simply grabbing 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.639 whatever was available 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:28.759 to satisfy his own lustful impulse. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.159 He wanted sex and he wanted kids. 00:12:31.439 --> 00:12:32.240 So we got married. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:34.500 It's a bad way to start a marriage. 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:36.419 And over time, 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:37.740 Judah didn't grow any closer 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.320 to his wife and his kids. 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:39.860 And if anything, 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:41.299 he became even more distant. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.379 When his first son, Ur, was born, 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.879 Judah named him. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:48.559 When his second and third sons were born, 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.919 his wife named them. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.220 When his third son was born, 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.860 he was apparently out of town. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.360 Verse 5 seems to indicate 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.500 he was in Hezib. 00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:59.500 Ironically, the word Hezib 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:01.600 sounds like the word for lying 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.659 in Hebrew. 00:13:04.040 --> 00:13:05.040 We could translate it. 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.800 Judah was living in the city of lies. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.340 And then in verse 12, 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.440 when Judah's wife died, 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:13.180 he got over it quite quickly. 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.040 The next phrase, 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:16.600 verse 12, 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.399 after it says the wife of Judah died, 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.779 it said when Judah was comforted, 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:21.259 he went up to Timnah 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.899 to his sheep shearers 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:23.519 with his friend, 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.540 Hyrod the Adolamite. 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:26.060 Modern equivalent, 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:27.480 he went to Myrtle Beach 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.500 over spring break. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:30.919 And he wasn't going 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:32.240 with Campus Crusade for Christ 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:33.259 to do a mission project. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.860 Judah was selfish 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.659 and distant from his wife, 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.440 just like his dad had been. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.940 And also, just like his dad, 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.559 Judah failed to train his sons 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:46.059 in the way of righteousness. 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:47.899 Verse 7, 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.440 Ur, Judah's firstborn, 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:51.879 was wicked in the sight of the Lord, 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.700 and the Lord put him to death. 00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:56.019 This is the first time 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.439 in all of Scripture 00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:59.860 that God singled out an individual 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:02.279 as incurably wicked 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:04.179 and killed him. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.639 Judah's second son, 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:07.740 Onan, was no better. 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.159 Then Judah said to Onan, 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.360 go into your brother's wife 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.220 and perform the duty 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.360 of a brother-in-law to her 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.259 and raise up offspring 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:14.899 for your brother. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:15.460 You might say, 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.699 what in the world 00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:17.799 is that about? 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.939 Well, in many traditional 00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:22.439 clan-based societies, 00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:24.759 if a married man died 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.699 with no kids, 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.799 his brother 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:28.139 or the nearest unmarried 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:28.879 male relative 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.299 was obligated 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:31.259 to marry the widow. 00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:34.079 Now, there were two basic reasons 00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:35.299 for this ancient custom. 00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:36.860 Number one, 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.960 it was an act of honor 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:39.460 to the deceased brother. 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.699 The first son born 00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:43.100 would be counted as 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.659 the son of the dead brother 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:46.960 so that the dead brother's 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.279 genealogical line 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.419 would continue 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:51.460 instead of being cut off. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.460 And his inheritance 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.980 would stay within the family 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:56.259 instead of passing 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.139 to outsiders. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:14:59.340 So first, 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.279 it was a way to honor 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.580 the dead brother. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.340 And second, 00:15:02.420 --> 00:15:03.259 it was a way to provide 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.500 security for the widow 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:06.519 who was otherwise 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.320 defenseless 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:09.159 and had 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.379 few or no options 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.879 in the ancient world. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.940 Now, what Onan did 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:15.720 in verse 9 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:17.320 is that he took on 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.200 the appearance 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.060 of honoring his brother 00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:21.619 and providing 00:15:21.619 --> 00:15:22.419 for Tamar, 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.699 but in reality, 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.659 he wasn't doing either. 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.500 He was happy 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.500 to have sex 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.099 with Tamar 00:15:29.099 --> 00:15:30.359 and to appear 00:15:30.359 --> 00:15:31.219 to do 00:15:31.219 --> 00:15:32.519 his family duty, 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:34.379 but he didn't want 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.079 the responsibility 00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:36.419 of raising a child 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.179 who would carry on 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.079 his brother's name 00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:39.439 and not his. 00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:41.539 You see, 00:15:41.599 --> 00:15:42.459 the problem with Onan 00:15:42.459 --> 00:15:43.139 was this. 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.659 The appearance 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.619 of righteousness 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:47.480 and faithfulness 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.659 and loyalty 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:51.019 masked the reality 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.620 of selfishness 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.799 and greed 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.820 and deception. 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.379 It was the same problem 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.820 with Ananias and Sapphira 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:00.700 in the book of Acts 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:01.419 in the New Testament. 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.879 We might call it 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.799 hypocrisy. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.820 And hypocrisy 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.840 makes God 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.919 rightfully angry 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.299 more than almost 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.000 anything else. 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:14.340 And it wasn't just 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:14.940 Onan, 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.600 who only cared 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.420 about his appearance, 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:16.860 Judah, 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.860 was the exact same way. 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.860 It wasn't an accident 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.680 that Judah's sons 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:23.259 were wicked. 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:25.540 Judah seems to have 00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:26.320 the same tendencies. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.019 Verse 20, 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:29.340 Judah sends his friend 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.320 to pay the prostitute 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.780 that he had used 00:16:32.780 --> 00:16:34.480 because he didn't want 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.160 to do it himself. 00:16:36.180 --> 00:16:36.780 He got his friend 00:16:36.780 --> 00:16:37.680 to do his dirty work. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.320 And when his friend 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:40.180 didn't find her, 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.900 Judah's concern was 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:44.160 people will laugh at us. 00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:45.820 He was concerned 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.540 only about 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:47.480 his appearance, 00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.280 his reputation. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.580 See, Judah failed 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.360 to train his sons 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.300 in the way of righteousness 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:55.200 because he was 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.860 not righteous himself. 00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.660 And the family 00:16:58.660 --> 00:16:59.399 that he had created 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.740 was just as dysfunctional 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.100 as the one 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.100 he had run away from. 00:17:03.540 --> 00:17:04.299 But Judah was 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:05.079 totally blind. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.860 He saw his problems 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:12.339 and he blamed 00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.079 everyone else. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.979 Verse 23, 00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:15.740 he even blamed 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.319 his friend, 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:17.579 his buddy Hira, 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.179 who he seems to like 00:17:19.179 --> 00:17:19.959 hanging out with. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:20.799 He says, 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:21.159 you see, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.439 I sent this young goat 00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:23.899 and you didn't find her. 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.500 But even more than Hira, 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.299 he blamed Tamar. 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.539 Verse 11, 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.959 Judah said to Tamar, 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.539 remain a widow 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.559 in your father's house 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.139 till Shelah my son 00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:36.619 grows up, 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.139 for he feared 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:37.759 that he would die 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.380 like his brothers. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.840 He implied 00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:42.380 that later on, 00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:44.500 when Shelah grew up, 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.520 Tamar could marry him. 00:17:48.560 --> 00:17:49.280 But if you look 00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:50.120 in verse 14, 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.860 it says he didn't 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:52.440 keep his word. 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.180 He probably 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.060 never intended to. 00:17:56.540 --> 00:17:57.060 Judah wanted 00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.080 to get rid of Tamar 00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:59.820 because in his own mind 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:00.420 he had concluded 00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.180 that she 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.800 was the problem. 00:18:04.020 --> 00:18:05.580 Why did my two sons die? 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.000 It was her fault. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.759 It's always her fault. 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.240 It's certainly not 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.920 my fault 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.520 and it's certainly 00:18:12.520 --> 00:18:13.620 not my kid's fault. 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.480 It's the classic mentality 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.259 of an abuser. 00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:20.420 Always blaming 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.140 someone else. 00:18:21.820 --> 00:18:22.820 Or maybe we should say 00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:23.759 instead it's the classic 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.800 mentality of a sinner. 00:18:26.060 --> 00:18:27.020 Ever since Adam 00:18:27.020 --> 00:18:27.680 blamed Eve 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:29.640 and Eve blamed the snake. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:31.880 You see, 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.220 Judah was willfully blind. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.520 Refusing to acknowledge 00:18:35.520 --> 00:18:36.920 his own selfishness, 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.019 his own impulsiveness, 00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.160 his own foolishness. 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:39.840 He was trapped 00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:40.759 in his pride 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.779 and in his fear. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.620 This is what the Bible 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.200 calls sin. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.920 It's at the root 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:50.320 of every dysfunctional family 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:52.180 and every dysfunctional 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.700 human being. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.340 It may not manifest itself 00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:56.180 in prostitution 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.360 or spousal abuse, 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:59.099 but it carries on 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.500 the blame shifting, 00:19:01.219 --> 00:19:03.159 responsibility evading, 00:19:04.459 --> 00:19:05.859 self-justifying, 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.959 fear-driven, 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.679 God-avoiding pattern 00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:12.000 that started all the way back 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.500 with Adam and Eve. 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:16.519 And the Bible says 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.259 all of us 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:19.059 have participated 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:21.400 in this pattern. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.660 And until our sin 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.480 is acknowledged 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.160 and repented of 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.819 and not simply 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.640 excused 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.380 and justified, 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.420 it's a downward spiral 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:33.079 with no end in sight. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.539 You see, 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.420 almost this whole chapter 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.480 is a downward spiral 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.000 for Judah. 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.440 He ran away 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.720 from God's chosen family 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.819 when they were at their worst. 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.779 He created his own family 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:45.119 that was just as dysfunctional 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.319 as what he'd ran away from. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.359 His family was on the brink 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.359 of total destruction. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.639 He slept with a prostitute, 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.799 left his IDs with her 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.519 and couldn't find her 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.179 to get him back. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.379 But what we also see 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:57.980 in this chapter 00:19:57.980 --> 00:20:00.399 is that through all this mess, 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.779 God was pursuing Judah. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:06.159 God was pursuing Judah 00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:07.460 all the way down, 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.659 his downward spiral, 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.019 in order to humble him 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.539 and eventually 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.460 to restore him. 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:14.859 I'd say, 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.099 how do we see God 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.740 pursuing Judah? 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.559 Well, for one thing, 00:20:17.619 --> 00:20:18.480 God put Judah 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.680 in situations 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.900 that made Judah 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.799 face up to what 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.819 he was running away from. 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.559 Judah ran away from home 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.400 because he was furious 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.220 with his dad. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.019 And then, 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.639 God put Judah 00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:34.639 in the exact same situation 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:36.619 as Judah's dad. 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.519 Judah lost his wife. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.420 Just like Jacob 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.180 had lost Rachel. 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:43.940 Judah lost 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:45.079 not just one son, 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.599 but two. 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.220 And just like his dad, 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.920 Judah was left alone, 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.299 fearing for the safety 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.440 of his youngest son. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.460 Well, that alone 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.980 didn't sink in quite yet, 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:01.200 so God went one step further. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.700 Just before Judah ran away, 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.619 he and his brothers 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.539 had sold Joseph 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.000 Joseph into slavery. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.759 And they had dipped 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.759 Joseph's robe in blood, 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.279 brought the robe to Jacob 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.819 and said, 00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:18.399 this we have found. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.500 Please identify 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.059 whose it is. 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.759 Well, if you look down 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.680 in verse 25, 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:30.159 Tamar used the exact same words. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.740 By the man to whom 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.920 these belong, 00:21:34.040 --> 00:21:34.700 I am pregnant. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.340 Please identify 00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:40.019 whose these are. 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.360 Tamar's words 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.220 not only revealed 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.700 Judah's hypocrisy 00:21:44.300 --> 00:21:45.900 in condemning Tamar, 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.820 they brought him 00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:47.759 face to face 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:49.440 with his hypocrisy 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:51.100 in deceiving his father 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:54.000 and selling off his brother 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:56.640 nearly 20 years ago. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:59.759 And finally, 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:00.600 Judah breaks down. 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.980 Verse 26, 00:22:03.060 --> 00:22:03.980 he identified them 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.920 and said, 00:22:05.020 --> 00:22:07.280 she is more righteous 00:22:07.280 --> 00:22:08.120 than I. 00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:10.660 Verse 26 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.640 is the first time 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.560 in this whole chapter 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:13.759 that spans a period 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.920 of over 20 years 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:16.840 where Judah 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.960 stopped running away 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:20.500 and stopped blaming 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.400 everybody else 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:23.600 and finally 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:24.660 acknowledged his sin 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.519 and took responsibility 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.240 for it. 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.320 It's what the New Testament 00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:31.840 calls repentance. 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:34.000 In the context 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.080 of the bigger story, 00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:37.920 it's the turning point 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.800 of Judah's life. 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.860 Because after verse 26, 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.980 whenever Judah appears, 00:22:43.280 --> 00:22:43.860 his character 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:46.180 is completely different. 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:48.540 Instead of selfishly, 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.840 fearfully running away 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:51.720 from his messed up family, 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:53.119 he exercises courageous 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.299 and self-sacrificial leadership 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.980 to put it back together. 00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.799 We'll see it more 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.839 in the next several chapters. 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.179 But Judah becomes 00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:05.139 a truly changed man. 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:08.119 Why is this story 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:08.619 in the Bible? 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.319 Because it's such 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.059 a clear picture 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:15.240 of God's amazing grace 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.039 to humble 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.159 and restore 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:19.059 even the worst 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.579 of sinners 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.460 in the craziest 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.379 of situations. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.200 Maybe you can relate 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.659 to Judah 00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:29.299 in coming from 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.500 a very dysfunctional family. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.940 But if you're honest 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.639 with yourself, 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.879 you can see 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.480 that the problem 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.179 is not only 00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:38.440 with your family members 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:40.379 whom you may have 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.480 left behind long ago. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.700 The problem 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.779 is in your own heart too. 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.519 Maybe you have brought 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:47.960 anger, 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.859 unforgiveness, 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.980 selfish demands, 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.799 fearful accusations 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:56.480 into your adult life, 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.240 into your friendships, 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.119 into your marriage, 00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.339 into your relationship 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.099 with your kids. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.240 Maybe like Judah, 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.819 you have been 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:06.740 a selfish jerk. 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.859 You've left 00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.319 other people 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.900 in the lurch 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.980 who are depending 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.799 on you for help. 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.019 You've made 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.940 all kinds of promises 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.599 to get people 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.240 off your back 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.819 and you haven't 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.500 followed through. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.759 You've acted 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.140 out of selfish impulses 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.400 and blamed other people 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.519 for the results 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.039 of your own foolishness. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.339 You have worked 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.079 hard to appear 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.440 kind 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.079 and loyal. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.200 But in reality, 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.940 you have not been. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.220 If any of those 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.700 statements 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:37.720 you recognize 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.500 to be true of you, 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.240 there is good news 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.819 for you today. 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:41.639 As we read 00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:42.659 in 1 Timothy, 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.500 Christ Jesus 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:45.059 came into the world 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.939 to save sinners. 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.419 He came to save 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:51.019 selfish jerks. 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.819 He came to save 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.099 sex offenders. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.799 He came to save 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.200 slave traitors. 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.419 He came to save 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.939 spouse abusers. 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.939 He came to save 00:25:00.939 --> 00:25:02.839 self-righteous hypocrites. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.039 Judah was all 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:04.659 of the above. 00:25:06.399 --> 00:25:07.759 And the same God 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.659 who pursued Judah 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.300 to humble 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:11.300 and then restore 00:25:11.300 --> 00:25:12.400 him is here today. 00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.960 To humble 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.279 and then 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.019 restore 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.080 you. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.740 By his amazing 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.840 and glorious grace. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.500 You are not 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:23.160 too messed up 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.440 for God 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.860 to forgive 00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.640 and heal 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.540 and restore you. 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.420 No matter how horrible 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.120 are the things 00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.640 you have done, 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.519 no matter how 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.320 broken 00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:32.680 is your past, 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.560 you are not 00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:34.279 beyond the reach 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.460 of God's grace. 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:38.400 and neither 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:38.860 is 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:40.500 your craziest, 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.500 most offensive, 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.299 most selfish, 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.180 most bitter, 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.120 most immoral, 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.240 most hypocritical 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.759 neighbor. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:51.660 the God of the Bible 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.660 delights in saving 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:54.599 the worst of sinners, 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.579 showing us 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.220 mercy, 00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:59.119 displaying us 00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.960 patience, 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.720 and transforming 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.779 us by his grace. 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.640 And if we have been 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.819 saved by that grace, 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.900 that should become 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.480 our delight 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.799 and our ambition 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.299 as well. 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:13.299 But also 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.180 do not be mistaken. 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:15.980 You will never 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.539 be truly 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.960 restored by God 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.339 unless you are 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.279 first humbled 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.879 by God. 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.680 The turning point 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.419 in Judah's life 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.039 was when he was 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.119 finally humbled, 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.639 when he faced up 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:30.119 to all his sin 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.399 that he had been 00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:32.180 running away from 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.079 for 20 years, 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.359 for his whole life 00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:34.639 even. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.099 Maybe you've been 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.980 running away from God 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:39.940 and his people. 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.519 For months 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.299 or years. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.659 Maybe you've been 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.480 living in denial 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.099 or blame 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.980 or avoidance. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.319 And today God 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:48.919 is bringing you 00:26:48.919 --> 00:26:49.659 face to face 00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:50.180 with what you've 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.240 been running away from 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.779 and calling you 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.419 to acknowledge 00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:54.700 like Judah 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.839 your unrighteousness. 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.639 James said 00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.339 humble yourselves 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.119 before the Lord 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.740 and he will 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.379 lift you up. 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.819 Jesus said 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.599 blessed are the 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.599 poor in spirit. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.859 Those who acknowledge 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.819 that they've got nothing. 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.879 For theirs 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:12.919 is the kingdom 00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:14.000 of heaven. 00:27:14.919 --> 00:27:16.180 Brothers and sisters, 00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:18.359 we will never become 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.799 great leaders 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.819 in our families. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.559 We will never become 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:24.079 godly leaders 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.419 in God's church 00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:26.279 unless we are 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.079 frequently brought 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.440 down to our knees 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:31.579 in confession of sin 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:33.200 and humble dependence 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.740 on God. 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:35.980 See what we learn 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.380 from Judah 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:36.900 is that God 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.900 humbles and restores 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.720 even the worst 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.240 of sinners. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.759 The insider 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.380 in God's family 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.059 who did everything 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.839 he could to get out. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.880 But this story 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.740 is not only about 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.880 God's work in Judah, 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:51.380 it's also about 00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:52.440 God's work in Tamar. 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.940 The outsider 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.640 who did everything 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.440 she could to get in. 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:58.279 You see, 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:58.799 in many ways, 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.759 Tamar was the opposite 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.160 of Judah. 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:02.019 She was not born 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.660 into the family 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.400 of God's promise. 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.440 She was from a pagan 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.600 Canaanite background. 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.039 She was a spiritual 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.680 outsider 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:10.559 with no knowledge 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.420 of the God of Abraham, 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.360 Isaac, and Jacob, 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.160 with no access 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.019 to the promises 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.120 and blessing of God. 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.019 And her first contact 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.779 with God's chosen people 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.559 was with Judah 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:22.220 when he was at his worst, 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.440 when he had abandoned 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.980 his brothers, 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.019 run away from his dad, 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.079 and forsaken his place 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.100 in the family of God. 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.259 This would be like 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.819 growing up 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.839 in a Buddhist family, 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.500 having never heard 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.180 of Christianity, 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.460 and the first person 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:36.860 you meet 00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.940 who has any connection 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:39.620 to the Christian church 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:41.860 is the disillusioned 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:42.779 atheist son 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:44.000 of a former pastor 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.660 who committed adultery 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.799 with his church secretary 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.519 and embezzled 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.660 half the church's savings. 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.339 Most likely, 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:51.940 you would think, 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:53.080 I don't want anything 00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:54.160 to do with Christianity 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.259 if that is the kind 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.140 of life it produces. 00:28:58.360 --> 00:28:59.380 And the more time 00:28:59.380 --> 00:28:59.960 Tamar spent 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.740 with Judah's family, 00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:01.460 the more she bore 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:01.940 the brunt 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:03.559 of their dysfunctionality. 00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.420 Her father-in-law 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.700 was selfish 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.559 and distant 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.259 from his wife. 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.779 His sons, 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.039 her husbands, 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:11.980 were no better. 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.779 So wicked 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.600 that God personally 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.380 struck them down. 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.820 Tamar was used, 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:18.259 lied to, 00:29:18.820 --> 00:29:19.539 left alone, 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.259 and grieving, 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.120 and defenseless, 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:22.079 and finally condemned 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.559 to die. 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.339 Humanly speaking, 00:29:24.459 --> 00:29:25.939 Tamar had every reason 00:29:25.939 --> 00:29:26.979 to run away 00:29:26.979 --> 00:29:27.919 from Judah's family 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.699 just like Judah 00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.339 had run away 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.359 from his dad. 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.919 Judah had already 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:34.099 sent Tamar back home. 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.279 Presumably, 00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:36.839 she could have 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.979 just asked her dad 00:29:37.979 --> 00:29:38.459 for permission 00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:39.259 to marry a nice 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.979 Canaanite man. 00:29:41.459 --> 00:29:42.399 But she didn't. 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:44.959 Somehow, 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.680 now in the process 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.600 of being connected 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.200 to Judah's 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.579 dysfunctional family, 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.380 Tamar had heard 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:50.519 about the God 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:53.000 who had made promises 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.600 to Judah's ancestors, 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.200 to Abraham 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.819 and Isaac 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:56.340 and Jacob. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.120 She heard about 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.779 the God 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.360 who had promised 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:58.920 to Abraham, 00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.799 I will surely 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.700 bless you. 00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.519 I will surely 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.700 multiply your offspring 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:05.759 as the stars of heaven 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.539 and as the sand 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.200 on the seashore, 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:09.819 and in your offspring 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:12.180 shall all the nations 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.140 of the earth be blessed. 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:16.420 Genesis 22, 17 and 18. 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.220 God had promised 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.480 that his plan 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.000 of redemption 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.700 for the world 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.580 would be carried out 00:30:21.580 --> 00:30:22.240 through the physical 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.779 descendants 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.860 of Abraham, 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.259 Isaac, 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.299 and Jacob. 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.759 And though Tamar's 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.940 understanding of God 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.920 may have been limited 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.700 and imperfect, 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.519 she believed 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.480 the promise of God. 00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.580 And because she believed, 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.600 she risked everything 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.140 she had 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.240 to belong to God's family 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.080 and to carry on 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.919 the family line 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.899 through which God 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.439 had promised 00:30:44.439 --> 00:30:45.720 to bring his blessing 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.339 to the world. 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.019 Judah's family 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.619 was tottering 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.139 on the brink 00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:51.240 of total extinction. 00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:52.000 Judah's wife 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.519 had died. 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.379 Two of Judah's sons 00:30:54.379 --> 00:30:54.839 were dead. 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:57.119 Judah showed 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.859 no intention 00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.039 of ever letting her marry 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.179 his youngest son, 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.500 Shelah. 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.139 There seemed to be 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:03.419 no way forward. 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.619 Tamar was desperate, 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.319 alone, 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.000 and abandoned, 00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:07.240 and so she took a risk. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.699 She knew Judah 00:31:09.699 --> 00:31:10.279 very well. 00:31:11.179 --> 00:31:11.919 Her plan worked 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.539 without a hitch. 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:13.960 She even got 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.500 his signet, 00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:14.800 cord, 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:15.320 and staff, 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:15.860 in other words, 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.120 his ID and credit cards. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.680 Now what motivated 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.500 Tamar to do 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.080 what she did? 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.019 Was it revenge? 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.980 Wanting to give Judah 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.140 a taste of his own medicine? 00:31:28.300 --> 00:31:29.160 You tricked me 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.759 by not letting me 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.460 marry your son, 00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:32.380 so I'll trick you 00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:33.720 and get you back. 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.400 Was it desperation? 00:31:37.800 --> 00:31:38.960 Was she simply 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.900 obsessed with having 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.440 a child? 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.799 There would have been 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:44.120 probably easier ways. 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:46.819 Or was it faith? 00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:49.059 Believing that God 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.579 had promised 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.440 to bless the world 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.299 through Abraham's 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.160 physical descendants 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.180 and risking it all 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.920 to be part of that family. 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.160 Her motives may have 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:58.660 been mixed, 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:01.019 but in verse 26, 00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:01.600 Judah said, 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:04.360 she is more righteous 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:05.340 than I. 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.059 It could even be 00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:07.400 translated more strongly. 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.500 She is righteous, 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.160 not I. 00:32:12.280 --> 00:32:13.480 Tamar was righteous 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:15.259 because she refused 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.840 to go back 00:32:15.840 --> 00:32:16.519 to her pagan 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.800 religious background. 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:20.240 She clung to God's promise 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.480 that a Savior would come 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.759 from the seed of Abraham. 00:32:24.580 --> 00:32:25.720 Maybe you're here today 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:27.580 and you're not 00:32:27.580 --> 00:32:28.259 a Christian believer. 00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:30.120 Maybe you never expected 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:31.220 to hear a sermon 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.100 like this in church. 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.280 Let me challenge you, 00:32:35.340 --> 00:32:36.460 Christianity is probably 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.740 not what you think it is. 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:40.200 The Bible is not primarily 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.299 a set of rules 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.600 or rituals 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.440 or principles 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:45.579 to help people be 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.440 nicer 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.660 and a little more 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.400 well-behaved. 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.840 The church is not 00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.779 a club that exists 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.940 to help its members 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.380 feel better about ourselves. 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:56.120 The Christian message 00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.019 is that Christ Jesus 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.920 came into the world 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.840 to save sinners, 00:32:59.100 --> 00:33:00.259 of whom I am 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:00.700 the foremost. 00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:02.980 In other words, 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:04.160 being a Christian means 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:05.360 acknowledging that 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.359 I am more flawed 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.979 and more sinful 00:33:07.979 --> 00:33:08.979 than I ever dared 00:33:08.979 --> 00:33:09.559 to imagine. 00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:12.159 But knowing 00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:13.699 that in Jesus Christ 00:33:13.699 --> 00:33:14.779 I am more loved 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.719 and accepted 00:33:15.719 --> 00:33:17.579 than I ever dared 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:17.979 to hope. 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.539 That's the Christian 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.439 gospel, 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.579 the good news. 00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:23.159 It's a message 00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:23.899 of liberating 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:24.799 and transforming 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.099 grace. 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.240 Grace. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:31.819 it's the promise 00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:34.160 that attracted 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:35.359 Tamar. 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.799 Tamar was righteous 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:39.359 because she refused 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:39.839 to go back 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.299 to her pagan 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.039 religious past. 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.839 She was also righteous 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.779 because she was loyal 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.839 to the people of God 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.779 even when they were 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.620 at their worst. 00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:48.079 Even when she had been 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.620 mistreated 00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.759 and abandoned by them. 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.240 And maybe you can 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.559 identify with her. 00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:55.179 Maybe you've had 00:33:55.179 --> 00:33:56.240 terrible experiences 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:57.299 with Christians. 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.359 Maybe you've been 00:33:59.359 --> 00:33:59.740 ignored 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.179 in the midst 00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:01.819 of your grief. 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.139 Maybe you've been 00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:03.679 made to feel 00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:04.539 like an unwanted 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.539 outsider. 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.340 Maybe you've been 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.000 lied to, 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.679 put off, 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.619 and finally 00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.299 left alone 00:34:12.299 --> 00:34:13.420 by those who 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.159 initially said 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.079 they cared. 00:34:16.299 --> 00:34:17.119 Maybe you've seen 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:18.119 abusive marriages, 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.199 messy divorces, 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.940 and unresolved 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:20.900 conflicts among 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:22.619 church people. 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:25.639 Maybe you've been 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.539 sexually abused 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:28.039 and treated 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:29.099 as damaged goods 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:30.539 by church members 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.539 or even by church 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:31.900 leaders. 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.679 Maybe you've been 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:35.259 blamed and condemned 00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:37.000 for the failings 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.559 of others. 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.679 But for some reason 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.699 you're still here 00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:41.099 today. 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:43.119 You're still listening 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.019 to the word of God. 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.739 You're still present 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:45.699 with the people of God. 00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.380 And I want to say 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:46.739 to you, 00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:47.900 my sisters and brothers 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.599 and friends 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:50.079 with deep wounds, 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:52.079 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:53.980 is here for you 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.599 today. 00:34:55.299 --> 00:34:56.219 To heal you 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:56.920 of any bitterness 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.679 that may still 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.840 remain in your heart 00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:00.059 and to honor you 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.799 for your faithful 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.440 perseverance 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:03.799 and your loyalty 00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.639 to God's people 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:06.340 even when we have 00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:07.420 fallen far short. 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.099 Tamar was righteous 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:14.920 because she refused 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.420 to go back 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.380 to her pagan past, 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.420 because she was loyal 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.279 to the people of God 00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:18.840 even when they were 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.340 at their worst, 00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:19.800 and finally 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:20.519 because she acted 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:22.180 boldly and decisively 00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:23.140 to align herself 00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:23.940 with God's promises 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.800 and God's family 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.800 in the face of a 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.620 seemingly impossible 00:35:26.620 --> 00:35:27.280 situation. 00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:28.300 Now obviously 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.519 the details of Tamar's 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.120 action are not 00:35:30.120 --> 00:35:30.700 to be imitated. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.420 But R.C. Sproul 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.519 says this, 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.660 Our role in 00:35:38.660 --> 00:35:39.420 redemptive history 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:40.740 does not hinge on us 00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:41.900 acting boldly 00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:42.400 to raise up 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.200 physical offspring 00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.820 for Abraham, 00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:44.780 Isaac, and Jacob. 00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.680 However, 00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:47.660 this has not 00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:48.700 eliminated God's 00:35:48.700 --> 00:35:49.540 call for us 00:35:49.540 --> 00:35:50.680 to take daring 00:35:50.680 --> 00:35:52.000 moves of faith. 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:53.860 Like Tamar, 00:35:54.180 --> 00:35:54.940 we may be forced 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.820 to put our lives 00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:56.480 or livelihood 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.300 on the line 00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.040 in order to do 00:35:58.040 --> 00:35:58.560 what is right 00:35:58.560 --> 00:35:59.260 or to stand up 00:35:59.260 --> 00:35:59.800 for Christ. 00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:01.240 Have you stepped 00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:01.880 out in faith 00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:02.440 in a way that 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.060 has cost you? 00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.740 Is Jesus calling 00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:05.340 you to make 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.500 a bold move 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.720 for his sake 00:36:07.720 --> 00:36:08.360 today? 00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:11.019 What we see 00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.600 at the conclusion 00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:12.500 of this passage 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:14.680 in verses 27 to 30 00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:15.239 is that God 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:16.559 honored Tamar, 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.759 the desperate 00:36:18.759 --> 00:36:19.559 outsider who 00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:20.219 risked it all 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:20.899 to get in on 00:36:20.899 --> 00:36:21.639 God's promises 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:22.619 and be part 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:23.419 of God's family. 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.500 God honored her 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.480 by preserving her 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.500 through a treacherous 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:27.960 delivery, 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.279 one of the most 00:36:29.279 --> 00:36:30.359 medically hazardous 00:36:30.359 --> 00:36:31.940 presentations possible, 00:36:32.259 --> 00:36:33.299 locked twins, 00:36:33.899 --> 00:36:34.460 one of whom 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.419 was in a transverse 00:36:35.419 --> 00:36:35.919 position. 00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.379 You can ask 00:36:38.379 --> 00:36:39.639 an OBGYN about it. 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:42.299 They'll immediately 00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:43.019 do a C-section, 00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:44.619 but they couldn't 00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:45.059 back then. 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:46.739 Either the baby 00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:47.239 or the mother 00:36:47.239 --> 00:36:48.380 could have easily 00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:48.880 died, 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:49.860 but God preserved 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.179 them. 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.300 They're a skilled 00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:52.860 midwife. 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.219 They're a skilled 00:36:55.219 --> 00:36:55.619 doctor. 00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.539 God honored Tamar 00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:00.199 with not just one 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:00.739 son but two. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.759 And what we see 00:37:02.759 --> 00:37:04.699 is a picture 00:37:04.699 --> 00:37:05.599 of God's blessing, 00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:06.820 God's life, 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.500 God's joy, 00:37:07.639 --> 00:37:08.440 God's freedom 00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.420 breaking through 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.300 and beginning 00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:11.019 to redeem 00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:12.119 this horribly 00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:13.280 dysfunctional family. 00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.280 He was honoring 00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:14.940 this desperate, 00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:15.539 abandoned, 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:16.680 abused woman 00:37:16.680 --> 00:37:17.159 who wanted 00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:18.320 above all else 00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:19.180 to have a place 00:37:19.180 --> 00:37:20.019 in the family 00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:20.559 of God. 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:22.079 Tamar became 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:23.000 not just the mother 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:24.099 of two twin boys 00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:25.019 but an ancestor 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:26.480 of King David 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.500 and King Jesus 00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:29.119 himself. 00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:30.960 Tamar is one 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.180 of four faithful 00:37:32.180 --> 00:37:33.559 Gentile outsiders 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:35.039 included in the 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:35.840 family of God 00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.559 and prominently 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.340 listed in the 00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:38.380 genealogy of Jesus 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.579 in Matthew chapter 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:39.880 one. 00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:43.079 No matter what 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.680 your background, 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:46.079 no matter how much 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.760 of an outsider 00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:47.920 you might feel like, 00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:51.220 no matter how badly 00:37:51.220 --> 00:37:51.860 you've been treated 00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:53.059 by Christians in the 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:53.480 past, 00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.700 if you want in 00:37:54.700 --> 00:37:56.620 on the promises 00:37:56.620 --> 00:37:57.500 of God in Jesus 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:57.900 Christ, 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:58.559 there is a place 00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.500 of honor for you 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.740 in the family 00:38:00.740 --> 00:38:01.280 of God. 00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.160 Because in Jesus 00:38:03.160 --> 00:38:03.500 Christ, 00:38:03.600 --> 00:38:04.039 the promise 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:04.920 that Tamar heard 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.620 and held onto 00:38:05.620 --> 00:38:06.820 has been fulfilled. 00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:09.079 in Jesus' death 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.660 and in his 00:38:09.660 --> 00:38:10.180 resurrection, 00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:11.320 the blessing of God 00:38:11.320 --> 00:38:12.900 has broken through. 00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:15.380 The dividing wall 00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.440 has been broken down. 00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:19.180 And all the world 00:38:19.180 --> 00:38:20.559 can enter in. 00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.720 Let us pray. 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.400 God, we thank you 00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.680 for your amazing grace 00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:39.680 in the midst 00:38:39.680 --> 00:38:40.500 of such a mess. 00:38:43.300 --> 00:38:44.119 We thank you 00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:44.820 that you put this 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:46.599 story in your word 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:50.519 so that we might 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:50.860 know 00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:53.019 that you came 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.780 into the world 00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:55.720 to save 00:38:55.720 --> 00:38:56.420 sinners 00:38:56.420 --> 00:39:01.280 and to welcome 00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:02.360 outsiders. 00:39:06.240 --> 00:39:07.000 Lord, we pray 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:08.300 that you would 00:39:08.300 --> 00:39:08.960 humble us, 00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:12.340 that you would 00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:12.820 show us 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:14.240 our sin. 00:39:17.240 --> 00:39:18.000 For we all 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:18.400 are sinners. 00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.920 We pray that you 00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:21.519 would humble us 00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:22.760 in order to restore us. 00:39:22.760 --> 00:39:23.980 And we pray 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.380 that we would 00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.180 cling to you 00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:27.060 by faith 00:39:27.060 --> 00:39:29.420 and trust 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.040 your promise 00:39:30.040 --> 00:39:32.040 that in your 00:39:32.040 --> 00:39:32.560 great mercy 00:39:32.560 --> 00:39:32.980 you will 00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:34.380 honor us 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:37.000 and include us 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:38.440 and never 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.040 leave us 00:39:39.040 --> 00:39:39.860 and never 00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.640 abandon us. 00:39:43.640 --> 00:39:44.480 I pray this 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:45.120 in Jesus' name. 00:39:45.620 --> 00:39:45.860 Amen. 00:39:47.660 --> 00:39:48.460 As the music team 00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:48.980 comes up, 00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:50.400 we're going to sing 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:50.519 a minute.