In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Why Here? Sins of Judah The Women of Jesus’ Family Tree 1

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Why Here? This is part of Jacob’s story. Judah is a part of Jacob. Chapter 38 shows why the period of Egyptian slavery was necessary for God’s chosen people. Israel was intermarrying with the Canaanites. They were being swallowed up by the culture. In Egypt they would be preserved. Judah provides a contrast to Joseph. 2

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Sins of Judah Judah married an unbelieving wife. She is not named, the daughter of Adullam. They were Canaanites. Her character was passed on to her sons. Principle from 2 Corinthians 6:14 3

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NASB) 14  Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Sins of Judah Judah was unfaithful to his most solemn commitments. In his marriage, he was unfaithful to God and to his parents. He was also unfaithful in upholding the Levirate law found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Judah withheld from God! 4

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Sins of Judah Judah became very immoral. The longer Judah lived in Canaan the more he was swept into their culture. Judah became worse than the Canaanites in practice. Tamar gave birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. 5

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Sins of Judah Where grace abounds One sin inevitably leads to another. God’s grace can work in a situation for greater good. Jesus is no stranger to this way – 1 Peter 2:20-24. 6

1 Peter 2:20-24 (NASB) 20  For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 21  For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,  22  who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;  23  and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;  24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Sins of Judah Where grace abounds One sin inevitably leads to another. God’s grace can work in a situation for greater good. Jesus is no stranger to this way – 1 Peter 2:20-24. This event rebukes presumption on our part. This event challenges despair, because in the midst of great sin, we also see the great mercy of God – Romans 5:20-21. 6

Romans 5:20-21 (NASB) 20  The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,  21  so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 The Women of Jesus’ Family Tree The remarkable mention of four women in the genealogy of Jesus! Relatively unknown All were Gentiles. Three of the four were notoriously sinful. 7

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 The Women of Jesus’ Family Tree Sinful women Tamar’s methods reflected the culture that she lived in; she bore two sons, one of whom was Perez. Rahab was a prostitute who believed that God had given her land to the Jews. She married Salmon, a descendant of Perez. Bathsheba committed adultery and became pregnant. Although that son died, she later gave birth to Solomon – Psalm 147:10-11. 8

Psalm 147:10-11 (NIV) 10  His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 11  the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 The Women of Jesus’ Family Tree They were all gentiles. Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites. Ruth was a Moabite. Bathsheba was presumably a Hittite. Compare John 4:20-22 with Ephesians 2:11-12. 9

John 4:20-22 (NASB) 20  “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”  21  Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.  22  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.”

Ephesians 2:11-12 (NASB) 11  Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—  12  remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 The Women of Jesus’ Family Tree By faith … All these women were sinners and Gentiles. They were all saved by God’s grace. They all came to worship the one true God. There is hope for all! If you stand outside the door, you will not be saved. But, you may enter – John 6:37! 10

In Spite of Ourselves Genesis 38 Application Are you treating sin seriously? In that sin, do you still see the hope? The hope that is only found in Jesus? Can you see God’s plan in your redemption? 11