The Healing Hand of Grace

Living The Dream • Sermon • Submitted 7 months ago • Presented 7 months ago

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Lead Pastor Wes Terry talks about the redemptive plan and purpose of God overcoming and working through our sinful choices and weakness. The sermon was preached on October 6th 2024 and was part of the series “Living the Dream.”

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INTRODUCTION:

Genesis 38 is one of the strangest and most difficult chapters of Genesis (or the Bible!)

Some suggest it’s a scribal addition because it interrupts the Joseph narrative.

They recommend “if your congregation isn’t mature enough you might want to skip over this chapter and just focus on the Joseph narrative in the following chapters.

I strongly disagree with BOTH of those sentiments. ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired by God and profitable.

We cannot say we’re committed to preaching the Scriptures if we skip the parts that make us squirm or are hard to understand.

And though this chapter does interrupt the story of Jospeh, it also has connections with what comes before and after.

Moses is setting up one more contrast between two important characters.

We’ve seen him do this several times before in Genesis.

Cain and Abel

Ham Shem & Japheth

Abraham and Lot

Issac and Ishmael

Jacob and Esau

and now Joseph & Judah

Through each we learn important truths about God’s promise in Gen 3:15 to deliver a Messiah who would liberate God’s people and crush the head of the serpent.

The interesting thing about this comparison is that most time is spent on Joseph whereas the continuation of God’s promise happens through Judah.

And the character arc of Judah is the focus of Genesis 38.

Through his story we learn that God’s promise does not depend on human achievement but on God’s greater grace.

It’s a principle we’ve seen before but it’s most powerfully illustrated in the story of Judah and Tamar.

Setting The Table

Last time we met Judah was in Genesis 37. He along with the rest of his brothers were engaged in some bad behavior.

Joseph was the only son of Jacob who wasn’t doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. That’s one reason why Jospeh might’ve been daddy’s favorite.

The special treatment of Jospeh created a special hatred between him and his other brothers so when they had him alone the developed a plan to kill him.

Though Reuben secretly planned to save Joseph’s life, Judah’s plan to sell him into slavery won the day with his brothers.

Joseph ends up getting sold to an Egyptian official name Potiphar. His experiences in that season are interesting to say the least.

Though he’s faithful to God in resisting sexual temptation, the lies from Potiphar’s wife land him in an Egyptian prison.

In today’s passage we see a similar temptation. But even though Judah fails, God still uses it for his glory.

Judah experiences a radical transformation of God’s amazing grace when he finally recognizes his need for repentance.

No matter your current circumstance that grace is available to you! But you must come recognize to recognize the same

Through his story we’re going to see

The hardening affects of sin

The humility of repentance.

The healing power of grace.

THE HARDENING AFFECTS OF SIN

Let’s pick up our story in Genesis 38:1-5

Genesis 38:1–5 CSB

1 At that time Judah left his brothers and settled near an Adullamite named Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua; he took her as a wife and slept with her. 3 She conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Er. 4 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and named him Onan. 5 She gave birth to another son and named him Shelah. It was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.

So Judah relocates away from the Hebron Valley. He makes an Adullamite friend named Hirah and marries a Canaanite woman, daughter of Shua.

Together they have three children: Er, Onan and Shelah. The first two, like Judah, also marry Canaanite women.

Judah’s geographical separation from his family symbolizes a spiritual separation from God.

Not only does he become close friends an an unbelieving Adullamite. He does the ONE thing his ancestors said was forbidden: marry a Canaanite woman.

The events in Judah’s life illustrate the hardening affects of sin.

Judah knew that the Canaanite women were off limits. Canaan was the cursed descendent of Ham, son of Noah. (Gen 9:25)

But not only does he commit that offense himself, he passes that seared conscience onto the next generation.

Love Without Liability

Each of Judah’s children illustrate something about the hardening affects of sin.

Er, Onan and Shelah all embody how sin transforms us into fools.

Genesis 38:6–7 CSB

6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord put him to death.

If this seems extreme to you it just illustrates we don’t understand the offense of sin in the eyes of a Holy God.

The error of Er (along with his father Judah) was thinking he could befriend the world without hostility from God. (James 4:4) We foolishly think the same.

We think, “I can love the world without liability.”

They embraced a worldly vision for friendship and a worldly vision for marriage. At the time I’m sure it didn’t feel like such a big deal. But the consequences were deadly.

That’s what sin does to the human heart. You think you can attach yourself to the world without any negative consequence.

The word liability comes from the Latin “to bind.”

When you bind yourself to ungodly people you’re binding yourself the consequences of their sin.

You can’t choose ungodly friends and them not shape the way you live.

You can’t live in an ungodly culture and it not shape the way you think.

You can’t date/marry an ungodly partner and it not shape the next generation.

Bad company corrupts good morals. I used to think that was something my parents said to control who I hung out with.

And to some degree I guess it was but it was wisdom nonetheless. Beware of the hardening power of sin.

Pleasure Without Responsibility

The second hardening affect of sin can be seen through the actions of the second son.

Genesis 38:8–10 CSB

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and produce offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he released his semen on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so he put him to death also.

These boys are dropping like flies!

It’s one thing to die for being “evil in the eyes of the LORD.” But what’s so bad about engaging in protective sex?

Onon’s sin illustrates the second hardening affect of sin.

We think, “I can seek pleasure without responsibility.”

Judah’s command for Onan to produce an heir for Tamar would later be codified in to Mosaic Law. It was called Levirate marriage. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)

I know it sounds like the Hand Maiden’s tale but being a childless widow in that culture was the worst situation you could be in. One had a moral obligation to try and alleviate it.

Onan’s sin was in thinking, “I can have Tamar’s body without fulfilling my legal responsibility.”

You see this affect of sin in our culture as well. Especially as it relates to sex.

There’s an effort to separate the act of sex from the responsibility of childbearing.

Much of the talk around reproductive rights, abortion, sex ed and gender politics flows from this core values.

But you can’t ignore God’s design without consequences.

Procreation is one of if not THE MAIN purpose behind God’s creation of sex.

Sin leads us to think we can seek that kind of pleasure without the responsibility. And it’s not just in the realm of sex. It’s in any pleasure seeking enterprise.

Trust Without Accountability

The last hardening affect of sin is seen in Judah’s response to Onan’s death.

Genesis 38:11–14 CSB

11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He might die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house. 12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers. 13 Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s clothes, veiled her face, covered herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

In some ways, I’m sympathetic to Judah’s decision because his previous two sons died while married to Tamar and he only has ONE son left to carry on the family name.

The odds were not in his favor. So he asks Tamar to go live with HER father (rejecting responsibility) and that he’d give her in marriage to Shelah when he came of age.

The truth is, however, that Judah never intended on giving Shelah to Tamar and when she discovers that truth she takes matters into her own hands.

The hardening affect of sin is that I can have trust without accountability.

Judah tells Tamar - who had done nothing wrong as far as we can tell - I no longer want to have responsibility for you. So I just need you to go back home to dad.

That would’ve been a DANGEROUS move for a childless widowed woman. It was cruel and irresponsible.

But Judah essentially says, “It’s okay. Just trust me. I’ll take care of you eventually.”

Similarly, people today want the benefits of great trust without the burden of accountability.

I want the increased salary but not the stress that comes with the promotion.

I want at 12:00 curfew but I don’t want any tracking on my phone.

I want privacy and space but you can’t ask me any questions.

We don’t have time to look at all of the examples but you can imagine for yourself.

Sin makes us fools. It makes us think we can love the world with any liability, seek pleasure without responsibility and be trusted without accountability.

And the longer we live in sin the more deluded we are by these lies.

Foolish Comfortability

A hard heart is like a calloused hand. It doesn’t get that way overnight. But after it’s hard we become less and less sensitive to those things which grieve the heart of God.

The eventual result is an action so stupid that every other person who looks at it thinks, ‘What were you THINKING?!”

The result of a hardened heart is a foolish comfortability with sin.

That’s exactly what we see next with Judah’s encounter with Tamar.

Genesis 38:15–19 CSB

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He went over to her and said, “Come, let me sleep with you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me for sleeping with me?” 17 “I will send you a young goat from my flock,” he replied. But she said, “Only if you leave something with me until you send it.” 18 “What should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your signet ring, your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. 19 She got up and left, then removed her veil and put her widow’s clothes back on.

Did you notice how many times Moses points out the fact that Judah couldn’t see? He’s emphasizing the point that sin makes us fools. We’re fools blinded by our sin.

He doesn’t see that she’s a prostitute because she covered her face (V 15)

He did not know she was his daughter in law (v 16)

Then when asked to give a pledge he offers 3 items that are equivalent to a passport, a pin number and your credit card information. (She could’ve taken him to the cleaners!)

Even though this was incredibly stupid and reckless he does so anyway. Why? Because sin makes us stupid. It makes us foolishly comfortable so that we think we’re invincible.

The City of Sight

All of this takes place in a city called Enaim which means “sight.” The irony is stingingly strong.

Judah who should’ve been able to see better was not able to see because of the hardening affect of his sin.

Tamar - however - does seem to see that the only way out of her current predicament was to sleep with her Father-in-law while he was in such a compromising position.

She couldn’t marry anybody else because Judah betrothed her to his last son. But Judah was so gripped by fear he refused to give him away when the proper time came.

So Tamar plays the ONE card left to play (loosely within the bounds of Levirate marriage) and presents herself as an option to Judah who put her in such a position.

God’s Sovereign Grace

In no way do I want to condone the actions of Tamar dressing up as a prostitute and practicing deception.

But the text doesn’t condemn Tamar as much as it does Judah. (Cf: Mat 1:3; Ruth 4:12; Hosea 4:14)

Some commentators argue that Tamar recognized the Abrahamic blessing and that the line of Judah needed to be preserved.

She likewise realized God’s blessing on her own life required remaining in that family line.

Her approach in doing so is sinful but the motivation behind that act was one of faith.

It wouldn’t have been the first time that a ungodly act wasn’t still used by the Lord to advance his redemptive purpose.

Even the worst of sins serve their purpose in the sovereign hands of grace.

God is no stranger to working through weak and sinful vessels. It might not have been the cleanest path from point A to B.

But God’s merciful hand of sovereign grace eventually leads us home.

A Jacob is about to experience that transformative grace of God.

But before he could do that, he had to recognize a handful of important thing.

THE HUMILITY OF REPENTANCE

Let’s pick our story back up in verse 20. Genesis 38:20-30

Genesis 38:20–26 CSB

20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get back the items he had left with the woman, he could not find her. 21 He asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There has been no cult prostitute here,” they answered. 22 So the Adullamite returned to Judah, saying, “I couldn’t find her, and besides, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no cult prostitute here.’ ” 23 Judah replied, “Let her keep the items for herself; otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send this young goat, but you couldn’t find her.” 24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law, Tamar, has been acting like a prostitute, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out,” Judah said, “and let her be burned to death!” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent her father-in-law this message: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong.” And she added, “Examine them. Whose signet ring, cord, and staff are these?” 26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her intimately again.

You’ve got to admire the strategic thinking of Tamar in this story. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Three months go by and she’s probably starting to show. People ask her the question and she tells them the truth! “Oh, you know… just pretending to be a prostitute!”

Judah’s response is what you might imagine. “Bring her out and let her be burned to death.”

The reason they’re looking to Judah for the punishment is because as the father of her late husband he was legally responsible.

Judah obviously comes off looking like a total jerk because he had just engaged in the same and yet nobody was calling for his burning at the stake.

So Tamar was very prudent to slow the progress by sending Judah’s possession back for his examination.

I said earlier that the signet ring, cord and staff were equivalent to a passport, pin and credit card number. Each were cultural ways to identify and verify a person’s identity.

Knowing that he had been caught Judah stops the execution, acknowledges his own fault and commits to a different way of life.

Recognize to Repent

The word “recognize” is verse 26 is significant. And it surfaces the three things we must recognize if we want to experience the transforming grace of God.

Each of these recognitions illustrate the humility of repentance.

They are three things every repentant person must embody in their own life.

I can’t escape my sin.

I can’t erase my sin.

I can’t excuse my sin.

Escape Sin

First Judah recognized “I can’t escape my sin.”

I’m sure after he sent Tamar off with a deceptive betrothal he though he could string her along forever.

Likewise when he had sex with that prostitute I’m sure he thought to himself, “This will never blow back on me. I’m in the clear.”

When Judah’s sin IS exposed he responds by pointing the finger. We try to escape our sin by criticizing others.

He hears about Tamar’s prostitution and points the finger with rage and hostility.

The penalty for adultery and prostitution was usually stoning but this ups the anty.

He does what many of us do when we’re confronted with our sin. We point the finger.

What I did might be bad but look over there! Look at them! Look at that!

You’ll never experience the grace of God if you keep trying to escape your sin through pointing the finger.

Erase Sin

But Jacob also had to recognize “I cannot erase my sin.”

He tired to erase his sin by sending his buddy Hirah to exchange the young goat for the pledge Judah had given.

He couldn’t find Tamar because Tamar didn’t want to be found. He also found out that covering up his sin wasn’t going to be easy given the fact that no such prostitute exists.

So they decide to just leave it alone because if it went public it would be to their shame. (Gen 38:23)

Judah tried to erase his sin by covering up his actions. When that attempt failed he covered up the cover up. Lest he become a laughing stock.

Many feel as long as their sin stays “covered” there’s no real need to deal with their heart. (internet history, yet to be busted, etc)

The reality is you cannot escape your sin and you cannot hide your sin - eventually your sin will find you out.

Excuse Sin

And when it does you’ll have to recognize the third part of repentance.

“I cannot excuse my sin.”

Judah couldn’t done what most of our politicians do. Deny, Deny, Deny!

But he does something so much wiser than that. He accepts responsibility and acknowledges, “I’m in the wrong.”

Genesis 38:26 “26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her intimately again.”

Not only does Judah acknowledge his own culpability in his sin. He also changes his behavior so that he never become intimate with her again.

(Which leads me to believe this wasn’t a one and done night of passion but repeated offenses by Judah in that season.)

THE HEALING HAND OF GRACE

As we’ve seen again and again in the book of Genesis, once we embrace a spirit of repentance and obedience God unleashes his blessing in our life.

God’ takes the sin of Tamar and Judah and completes his plan to advance his seed of promise.

Genesis 38:27–30 CSB

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, and the midwife took it and tied a scarlet thread around it, announcing, “This one came out first.” 29 But then he pulled his hand back, out came his brother, and she said, “What a breakout you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread tied to his hand, came out, and was named Zerah.

Another surprising reversal as has become common in the book of Genesis.

The chapter ends with the truth that God’s promise does not depend on human achievement but the sovereign grace of God.

God works despite the sins of his people and God transforms his people upon repentance of their sin.

The next time we see Judah in Genesis he’s no longer living next to his Canaanite neighbor but he’s back home in the Hebron Valley with his brothers.

Not only that - the Judah who first wanted to sell his brother into slavery offers to sell himself into slavery so that his younger brother Benjamin might be free.

It’s a total reversal and transformation. He took Judah the wretched and transformed him into a godly man marked by Christ-like love.

This is what our God does. He can take the most wretched sinner and heal him by his grace.

Conclusion

It actually gets even better than that. Judah will become the LARGEST tribe in Israel and leader of the others.

He becomes a namesake for the Jewish people. Judah has his name written on the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem.

And though this crazy story may seem disconnected from the plan of redemption it’s actually a central link in salvation history.

In Genesis 49:8-10 Jacob is going to bless Judah and promise him “All your brothers will praise you.” It was through Judah that the kingly line would be established and from which the scepter would never part. (Gen 39:10)

It was through the faith and determination of Tamar that the line of Judah was maintained. Through that line would come King David and the ultimate David, Jesus Christ.

There are five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. The first four of these are all Gentile outsiders.

None of them were people you’d want in your family tree. They’re scandalous. Outsiders. Alienated from polite society.

So why are they put at the front of Jesus’ genealogy? Because those are the people for whom Jesus came.

The outsiders, the weary and heavy laden. He gives justice to victims of injustice and mercy and grace to those who repent.

Jesus is the promised Messiah who would crush the head of the serpent and liberate the people of God.

But God’s people aren’t always the cleaned up and morally pure. They’re the humble and repentant people of faith.

He died in our place for our sins. He took our place so that we could stand in his place. He’s the Lion from the tribe of Judah and he’s here this morning to radically transform your life by his amazing grace.

Believe in him and your life can be radically transformed. Your sin doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

If God’s grace is great enough to redeem the sin of Tamar and Judah it’s great enough to redeem your sin as well.

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