Finding Comfort In God's Control

Alba 5-8-2022

Finding Comfort in God's Control

Genesis 38:27-30

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Going into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was covered with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, etc.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, “You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?” “Yes,” was his incredulous reply.

She answered, “Well, today I didn't do it.”

Mothers often need a break from the cleaning, cooking, laundry. There is a lot to do to keep a house and home under control. Things can go haywire quickly, and not just for mothers. But no matter who you are, you can find comfort in trusting in God's ultimate control.

Too often people find their value, not by who they truly are, but by how they are controlling the situations around them. The truth of the matter is this: You cannot successfully manage the world, not even those in your closest circle. That includes mothers.

Even doing the best that you can, sometimes will not make things go as you have designed. But don’t be alarmed, God is in control. He holds the world in His hands. You can find release trusting in the ultimate control of God.

We will leave our study of Romans today and go to a text that is unusual for a Mother's Day sermon. But it will make you aware that God is in control, no matter what. Let's turn to Genesis 38:27-30 where it tells the story of Tamar and Judah. Tamar was pregnant.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.”

29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez [which means breaking out]. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah [it can mean scarlet or brightness].

I am sure that many mothers remember the events surrounding the birth of their children. This story is unique in many ways.

Our text is probably unfamiliar to you, especially for a Mother’s Day sermon, but instead of pressuring mothers with platitudes of the “Proverbs 31 Woman,” you need to realize that no matter what your parenting skills, it is wise to remember that God is your best ally.

While parents are responsible for bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6.4), it is good to remember that the Lord is right along side, guiding, molding, disciplining in ways that you cannot see.

The ultimate control of God means that God’s authority and power is supreme over the entire universe. That includes you and your children's lives.

The text this morning is about much more than a woman giving birth to a set of twins. That had already been recorded in Bible History. The text hides deep within it a powerful truth that God wants us to know.

What it reveals is that God is sovereign over ultimate outcomes.

Let me tell you the short version of the story of how this woman, Tamar, came to be a mother.

It begins with Judah who is the son of Jacob, a.k.a. Israel, and brother to eleven other boys. Joseph, one of the brothers, had just been sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites when chapter 38 begins.