Genesis 38 JUDAH AND TAMAR: “Selfish Judah, Selfless Christ”
PREACHED AT CROSS OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP IN NAPERVILLE, Illinois (9/20/26)
Audio here.
Intro: Jesus in OT (Luke 24:27); Types of Christ (like Christ, but Christ is better); Antitypes (opposite of Christ)
-Today, the antitype of Jesus is seen in the person of Judah in Genesis 38: “Selfish Judah, Selfless Christ.”
–RELEVANT: Selfishness and sin lurk within our hearts and lives.
MI: Only Christ can deliver us from our sin and selfishness.
I. Judah’s Sons and Tamar (1-11)
-The Context: Judah marries a Canaanite and has children (1-5)
-Unrighteous Act of Judah: Family of Abraham were not supposed to marry Canaanites, but Judah does it anyway
-3 Sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah
-Tamar and 2 Dead Men (6-11)
-Tamar and Er married: but “Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD and the LORD put him to death”
-We find this SHOCKING! It challenges our sentimental, suburban view of God.
-What did Er do? We don’t know, but it was “wicked in the sight of the LORD”
-“Judge of all the Earth shall do right”àGen 18:25
-Tamar and Onan
-STRANGE to us: 2nd born son is obligated to raise up an offspring for dead brother if no son (Deut 25:5-10)
-Onan is aware that Tamar’s son would not be his and he would get less inheritance from Judah
-Onan’s sin: instead of fulfilling obligation to father a son, he sleeps with Tamar, but spills his seed
-WICKEDNESS OF ONAN: God judges his act wicked and PUTS HIS TO DEATH
*OBSERVE: The shocking holiness of God, a God who at times puts wicked individuals to death
-OUR STRUGGLES: Isn’t this a bit harsh?
-PROBLEM: low view of God’s holiness, high view of man, low view of sin
-ADDITIONAL PROBLEM: We think we own our lives and decide when we die.
–TRUTH: God is holy and right in His judgments. He is God and we are not!
-Chronicles of Narnia, children asking about Aslan (Christ figure): Is a safe lion? No he’s not safe, but He is good.
-We see this: The terrifying and beautiful truth of God’s holiness.
-Our God is a holy God, and at times He puts wicked people to death.
QUESTION: Is this just the OT?
ANSWER: No. We see examples of this in NT
-Herod: Acts 12:21-23
-Corinthian Christians: 1 Cor 11:27-3
-CONSIDER ALSOàHELL: God also punished the wicked in hell (Luke 12:4-5)
APPLICATION: God’s holiness is beautiful and terrifying.
RIGHT RESPONSE? Fear God. (Prov 1:7)
*BACK TO NARRATIVEà Will Shelah, son #3, marry Tamar?
-Judah is now hesitant to give his 3rd born son to Tamar—even though his sons are wicked, not her!
-A pledge is made (wait till Shelah grows up), and Tamar returns to her father’s house.
-Selfishness on Judah’s part: neglect of Tamar.
–QUESTION: Will Judah do what is right, or choose the path of sin and selfishness?
APP: Question we all face. Honestly, we all of choose sin and selfishness..
- The Continued Sin and Selfishness of Judah (12-26)
-Judah’s wife dies and he heads up to Timnah (12)
-Tamar Takes Action (13-14)
-She is owed a son and takes action to make it happen
-Dresses up as a prostitute, but covers her face.
-The deception is not upright but she is owed a son, even if through Judah
-Judah Propositions Tamar and Sleeps with her (15-19)
-Judah is led by his desires, and unknowingly propositions Tamar for sex, thinking she is a prostitute (15-16a)
-A future payment of goat is offered, and in meantime a PLEDGE is given (signet, cord and staff)
-Judah sleeps with Tamar, who becomes pregnant
-Tamar returns to garments of widowhood and father’s house.
-A Goat is Sent, but Tamar is nowhere to be found (20-23)
-Notice the concern for self “we shall be laughed at”
-Judah’s Sin is Exposed and Acknowledged (24-26)
-3 months pass and it is told to Judah, ‘Tamar is pregnant by immorality’
-Judah is outraged and very harshly says, ‘Bring her out, and let her be burned’
-Tamar’s response: ‘Please identify whose these are…”
-Judah’s right response (FINALLY)
-‘She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah’
-Judah sees that he was in the wrong. His selfishness and self-preservation were unrighteous.
-Key moment in the life of Judah: finally seeing his sin.
-“he did not know her again”
-Judah never sleeps with her again.
OBSERVE: The great selfishness and sin of Judah was exposed and Judah came to acknowledge his mistake.
GOSPEL APPLICATION:
-Before someone becomes a Christian, there must first be a CONVICTION of sin.
-Not a mere intellectual assent, but an experience of honestly acknowledging “God is righteous, I am not”
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?
-Law. ‘Through the law comes knowledge of sin’ (Rom 3:20)
-Jesus. ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man’ (Luke 5:8)
-Selfish Judah, but Selfless Christ.
-Preaching. ‘They were cut to the heart…what shall we do?’ (Acts 2:37)
–ULTIMATELY: God must bring it about.
QUESTION:
-Have ever been convicted of your sins? Have you ever come to see: you are a sinner before a holy God?
-Becoming a Christian: new relationship with sin. You hate it.
APPLICATION:
-Pray for an awareness of the holiness of God
-Ask God to bring about conviction, in your life and in others.
-Rest in Christ and remember the gospelà2 Cor 5:21
BEHOLD! àGREAT SELFISHNESS OF JUDAH, BUT GREAT SELFLESSNESS OF JESUS!
III. God’s Unstoppable Providence (27-30)
Strange BIRTH narrative
-Tamar is pregnant with TWINS
-Oldest (ZERAH) puts out hand, scarlet thread tied on it, then pull back in
-Youngest barges way forward and comes out first (PEREZ)
QUESTION: What is the point of this story?
-2 sons of Judah, who were put to death, are replaced.
-GENEAOLOGY of Perez is significant!
-Ruth 4:18-22
-Matt 1:1-3!
BIG IDEA: Nothing can stop God’s providence. No matter how sinful and awful our acts are, God will bring about His good plans to bless His people and the world.
CLOSE: Selfish Judah, Selfless Christ. Thank God that our hope is in Jesus Christ, who alone can deliver us from our sins and bring us back to God.
