Tamar And Judah's Sin. God's Grace Continued. Genesis 38 Viewer Discretion Advised

2024.10.06.Sermon Notes. Genesis 38 Tamar and Judah’s sin. God’s Grace Continued.

Viewer Discretion Advised.

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA. Why is this account of this record in here? Because GOD’s Grace continues despite man’s failures. The Line of Judah is established through SIN, so that GOD’s GRACE can rescue the sinful. JESUS didn’t come for the righteous, but to call the sinful to repentance.

Scriptures: Matthew 9:12-13, Matthew 18:11, Genesis 38:1-30, Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Numbers 32:23, Luke 3:33-34, Matthew 1:1-16 , Romans 6:23, Romans 3:23-24, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:4-7, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 2:7-10

Matthew 9:12-13 (NKJV)

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Genesis 38:1-30 Tamar and Judah’s sin

1 It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Vs. 1. Judah, 4th born of Leah, suggested selling Joseph into slavery. Saw his father’s grief. Kept the lie and probably felt guilt. He departed from his brothers, separating himself. Distancing himself.

POINT. Sin produces guilt. And Guilt can distance us from GOD unless we repent.

Vs. 2-5. Judah marries a Canaanite woman. Against his father and grandfather’s better judgment

She conceives and has 2 sons. Er and Onan. And then a 3rd son Shelah.

6 Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.

Vs. 6-7 Er’s marriage to Tamar and his death.

Judah had chosen a Canaanite wife for himself, and for his son Er.

Er, the firstborn was wicked and GOD killed him. We don’t know the wickedness of Er, but it was enough that GOD brought immediate judgment upon him.

8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

Vs. 8-10. Onan’s refusal to father a child for Tamar.

Fathering a child with a brother’s widow. This was a custom in those days which was eventually established as the levirate marriage law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 5 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7 But if the man does not want to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.’ 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, I do not want to take her,’ 9 then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.’

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 says that If a man died before providing sons to his wife, it was the duty of his brothers to marry her and to give her sons. The child was considered the son of the brother who died, because the living brother only acted in his place (Onan knew that the heir would not be his).