That’s in the Bible

We come to yet again another pretty messed up story. If this was made into a movie, I am sure our parents would not recommend us watching this “rated R” film. This story although is very messed up, I hope seeing it in full context of God’s plan gives us a better hope and understanding of the God that we believe in who is filled with grace and mercy.

Read Genesis 38:1-30

So in order to understand this story in God’s plan, we have to understand who the characters are so please turn to Matthew 1:3. Yes, the genealogy of Jesus includes Judah and Tamar. How can this be after reading such a terrible and awful story on what both Judah and Tamar did? Tomorrow you will read about Joseph and how he fled from sexual temptation while here we see the opposite. Don’t you think the line of Jesus would therefore come from Joseph, a righteous great example for all of us.
I really believe this gives us a good picture of the God that we love and serve. We use words like grace and mercy but when it comes to truly living those words out, I don’t think we know how to. We really have to look to God and His examples to truly understand those words. I mean God takes sinful, broken people and still uses them for His purposes and plans. He says I will take all your messed-up-ness and use it in the line of Jesus who will bring righteousness and restoration for all of the broken pieces of humanity.
From the ESV Study Bible – “Knowing that Tamar has twins, the midwife ties a scarlet thread (v. 28) on the hand of Zerah so that she can identify him as the firstborn, the one who came out first. But before Zerah is fully born, his twin brother breaks out in front of him. Consequently, in the light of the midwife's observation, he is called Perez (v. 29), which means “breach.” Viewed in the light of Genesis as a whole, the unusual nature of this brief birth account, especially with its focus on the identity of the firstborn, suggests that something significant will develop in the line of Perez” – (dramatic music playing) – again look at Matthew 1:3. It is through line of Perez that we will have the lineage to Jesus.
So as we look at this passage, I want you to see that God uses everyone. Yes, everyone – no matter who you are or what you have done, God wants you to be part of His amazing story. Are we able to look at all the ways that people fail us or fail themselves, and look on them with God’s eyes of mercy and grace? Or do we judge and condemn and don’t leave any room for that? Are we able to believe in a God that is truly full of grace and mercy?