Unexpected Breakthrough

Unexpected Breakthrough

Genesis 38: ²⁷ Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. ²⁸ And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” ²⁹ Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. ³⁰ Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

 

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When Tamar was ready to give birth, a midwife got ready. When the first baby stuck out his hand, the midwife tied a scarlet thread around it. But his brother came out unexpectedly.

 

My Observations:

• Tamar’s midwife must have delivered a lot of babies and knew by Tamar’s size, that she was having twins.
• Zerah was expected to come out first, but Perez came out unexpectedly.
• Perez would become the one who would be in the lineage of JESUS.

 

Humans expect things to happen one way, BVUT GOD makes them happen another. The midwife knew a lot about delivering babies, therefore had an expectation. But that expectation was met with the unexpected. Same goes with our lives. We expect GOD to act one way, and HE does something unexpected.

 

Unlike Esau and Jacob, there was no fighting in the womb. Both brothers were mentioned in the lineage of JESUS. Zerah got a shout out, but Perez had the descendants. The King of kings and the LORD of Lords would come through an unexpected breakthrough.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail to Moses about the birth of Perez and Zerah?
• What are your expectations of GOD?
• Can you believe that GOD is orchestrating an unexpected breakthrough for you?

Realized Mistake

Realized Mistake

Genesis 38: ²⁰ And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. ²¹ Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

²² So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

²³ Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

²⁴ And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

²⁵ When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

²⁶ So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

 

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Judah did not know he slept with his daughter-in-law. He thought she was a harlot. Instead of looking for her to pay her, he sent the payment by his friend Hirah, who could not find the harlot. After three months, Tamar was discovered to be pregnant. Judah’s friends accused her of being a harlot.  But Tamar exposed Judah as being the father.

 

My Observations:

• Judah seemed ashamed that he slept with a harlot, otherwise known as a prostitute.
• Judah seemed to want to get the payment over with so his deed could be swept under the rug.
• Judah wanted to burn Tamar for acting like a prostitute, but realized it was him who got her pregnant and it was because he never gave his son to her.

 

When GOD told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, Abraham probably thought his descendants would love the LORD as much as he did. He probably thought his family would be honorable and that GOD would pour out HIS blessings on a clean family who obeyed well. But that was not the case.

 

JESUS came from a messy family who made mistakes like you and me. Judah became the father of the lineage of JESUS through his daughter-in-law Tamar. Deceit, lust, false accusation and many other unexpected things happened, yet GOD chose this family. Judah accepted responsibility and never slept with Tamar again.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Judah’s shameful approach?
• What are your expectations of GOD and are they based on misinformation about HIS grace?
• Will you realize how much grace GOD is showing you today?

Hidden Purpose

Hidden Purpose

Genesis 38: ¹¹ Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

 

¹² Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. ¹³ And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” ¹⁴ So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. ¹⁵ When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. ¹⁶ Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

 

¹⁷ And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

 

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

 

¹⁸ Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

 

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. ¹⁹ So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

 

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Years had passed after Judah’s sons were killed by the LORD for doing evil. Judah’s only living son had grown up enough to be married, but Judah did not present him to Tamar as promised. Judah had a daughter who died during this time. With three of his children dead, it took time for Judah to become comforted. He went to shear his sheep.

 

My Observations:

• Judah was probably very cautious about giving Shelah to Tamar because of the loss of three children.
• Tamar waited years and it did not seem like she would be married to who she was promised to.
• Tamar hid her identity, pretending to be something she wasn’t.

 

There is a lot going on here that is difficult to unpack. We are given the graphic details of the negotiation. Tamar may have seen that Judah was not reliable for many reasons. All she knew was the promise made to her was broken.

 

Her plan was to appeal to her father-in-law as a harlot so she could conceive a child. Her plan worked and she conceived. GOD’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was satisfied by Tamar’s hidden action.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Tamar’s actions?
• How does this story make you feel about GOD’s grace?
• Are you able to see GOD differently today so HIS grace can work out your situation?

It’s Complicated

It’s Complicated

Genesis 38: 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.

 

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. 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.

 

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After selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah left his brothers and went to the Adullamites. There he married a Canaanite woman named Shua. She conceived three sons, Er, Onan and Shelah. Er and Onan were killed by the LORD for their evil decisions and lifestyles.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS chose Judah for HIS lineage.
• Judah chose to marry a woman who Isaac and Rebekah would not have been pleased with because of the Canaanite beliefs.
• Judah may or may not have been part of the conspiracy against Joseph.

 

JESUS is the “Lion of Judah.” But looking at the choices of Judah, it would seem that GOD was out of HIS mind. BUT GOD is gracious and sovereign at the same time. HE saw the wickedness of Er and killed him before he got to far with his evil. Er must have grown up enough to have committed adult evil actions. He had a wife named Tamar.

 

Judah seemed to raise his sons to be like the Canaanites. Two out of three were killed by the LORD for their evil ways. Onan’s evil is complicated. It seems more than disobedience and selfishness, rather a mixture of wanting to be known, but his brother would be known instead. GOD chose a family that would seem messed up and dysfunctional. HE knew what HE was doing.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about where Judah went to start a family?
• Do you think your background is really messed up?
• Can you believe that GOD seems to delight in choosing messed up people to do HIS greatest work?