Seize the Moment – Day 429
Judah, Tamar, and Jesus!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, May 20.
Genesis 38 interrupts the story of Joseph to tell the story of Judah, one of Joseph’s older brothers. Interestingly, it was Judah in Genesis 37:26-27 that saved Joseph’s life, but led him to be sold into slavery to the Egyptians. Ironically, in Genesis 46:28, Jacob chooses Judah to lead the entire family to Egypt where Joseph waited to save them all from the seven-year famine.
Did you know that Genesis 38 is important also to understanding the genealogy of Jesus Christ?
In Matthew 1:3 we read: “Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar.” Do those names mean anything to you?
Who is Tamar? She is his daughter-in-law and the disregarded widow of Judah’s deceased first and second sons, Er and Onan, who was withheld from his third son, Shelah.
Genesis 38:27-30 captures the birth of these famous twins to Judah through Tamar.
It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.
Revelation 5:5 describes Jesus as “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah.”
This is one of the triumphant names of Jesus, but have you read recently the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38? Birthed through sordid details of this ancient story came the One who rescued all of humanity from their sins.
Seize the moment and trust God with your past, present, and future. Truly, our God gives beauty for ashes!