Genesis 38

I. Sons of Judah. Vs. 1-5

A. Er, Onan, and Shelah.

II. Judah finds a wife for Er. Vs. 6-11

A. Tamar became Er’s wife. Vs. 6

B. God slew Er because of his wickedness. Vs. 7

C. Judah had Onan to marry Tamar and have children for Er. Vs. 8

D. God slew Onan because Onan did not want children by Tamar. Vs. 9-10

E. Shelah was too young to be married, and Tamar was to wait until Shelah was old enough. Vs. 11

III. The revenge of Tamar. Vs. 12-26

A. Judah’s wife dies and he goes to Timnah. Vs. 12

1. Shelah is now old enough to marry Tamar.

2. Judah did not give Shelah to Tamar as he promised.

B. Tamar dresses like a harlot and tempts Judah. Vs. 14-15

C. Tamar agreed to lie with Judah for a goat. Vs. 16-17

1. Judah gives Tamar his signet, bracelets and staff to keep until she receives the goat. Vs. 18

D. Tamar lies with Judah and conceived. Vs. 18

E. Tamar left and changes her clothes. Vs. 19

F. When Judah sent the goat for the harlot, they could not find her. Vs. 20-23

G. When word came to Judah that Tamar was with child by whoredom, he had her brought to him to be burnt. Vs. 24

H. Tamar reveals that Judah is the father of the child. Vs. 25-26

1. Tamar had proof by his signet, bracelets and staff that he was the father.

2. Tamar did this because Judah did not give Shelah to her as he had promised.

3. Judah considers her more righteous than he.

IV. Why is Tamar in the genealogy of Jesus?

A. Matthew 1:1-3 “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas (Judah) and his brethren; and Judas (Judah) begat Pharez and Zarah of Tamar; and Pharez begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;”

1. A sinner, a harlot by revenge, saved by righteousness. Genesis 38:1-30

2. We are made righteous by Jesus. Philippians 3:9

V. Tamar has twins. Vs. 27-30

A. One of the twins put his hand out.

B. A midwife put a scarlet thread around his hand and said this was the first one. Vs. 28

C. But the one that had the scarlet thread around his hand came out last. Vs. 29-30

D. Things and events are not always what they seem to be.

1. Man interprets things and events by what he sees physically and is usually wrong.

2. Isa 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

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