1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,680 This week we're talking about avoiding the victim trap. 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,240 This is another PG13 sermon a couple weeks ago. 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:09,360 I preached the PG. 13. Sermon and in that. 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:13,400 Chapter of the Bible would have fit very well within the Game of 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,440 Thrones universe. Chapter 38, which we're 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,720 preaching preaching from today, would fit very well. 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:21,440 In the Bridgerton universe. I think. 8 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,120 It'd make a nice season long. Story arc for Bridgerton, maybe 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:26,360 even the hunting. Wives. 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,920 Who knows? But we're talking about. 11 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,040 Avoiding the victim. Trap as we are. 12 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,400 Trying to be faithful in a system, in a world. 13 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,400 System stacked against us. How can we do that without 14 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,720 becoming, you know, perpetual victims? 15 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,840 One of the. Greatest examples? 16 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,560 We have of that and and and illustrations of faithfulness in 17 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,800 a system. Stacked against you is that of 18 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,640 Tamar. In chapter 38. 19 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,880 Of Genesis. John read a portion of that. 20 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,120 There are some. Verses in there that I simply 21 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,760 will not read or ask anyone to read in worship on Sunday 22 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,080 morning. I want to paraphrase. 23 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,600 That would make it move it from APG 13 sermon to an R rated 24 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,520 sermon if I read it all just the way it is printed. 25 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,680 If that doesn't inspire you to read the Bible, I don't know 26 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,880 what, but let me give you the story because we need the whole 27 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,120 story. To have any idea? 28 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,200 Of the real significance of the few verses that John read 29 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:26,600 earlier. Tamar was married. 30 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,760 To ER ER. Was the oldest. 31 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,600 Son of Judah. Judah, one of the sons of Jacob. 32 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:38,360 And and and Tamar is married to his oldest son. 33 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,920 In fact, Judah arranged that marriage. 34 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,720 But we're told in the Bible, there are a couple verses I do 35 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:50,080 want to read out of there that. Uh, Judas first. 36 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,440 Born was wicked in. The Lord's sight, so the Lord 37 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:54,240 put him to. Death. 38 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,600 Pretty serious stuff. We don't know what uh. 39 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,680 Did but it. Must have been bad and God put 40 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:03,680 him to death. So the. 41 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,080 Custom and tradition and. That time in that. 42 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,720 Place is if if your. Son is married to a woman. 43 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,800 But has not. Had a child with her, yet 44 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:18,600 particularly not a male child, and the son dies that woman for 45 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:20,880 the. Sake of the dead, son, and. 46 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,280 For the sake of the wife. Is given as a. 47 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,360 Wife to. Another son, the next son and 48 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:28,440 and that. Did a couple of things. 49 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,640 It carried on the. Line because the next. 50 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:35,840 Son would then have a child with the woman his wife now. 51 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:38,640 But the son would be. Considered the first. 52 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,480 Brother's son, The child would be considered the first 53 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,280 brother's child, so you're carrying on that. 54 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,960 Son's line you're. Also that system. 55 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,320 Provides safety and security. For the woman. 56 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,320 So that she. Does not then need to live the 57 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,360 rest of her life. As a widow with. 58 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,320 No one to. Care for her and her old 59 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,080 children were your retirement. Plan and you had children. 60 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,360 Partly to have someone to take care of you when you were old. 61 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,960 And could not. Provide for yourself anymore and 62 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,800 that was. Tamar's position and. 63 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,520 So Judah gave. Tamar to be the wife. 64 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,560 Of his second son, Onan, Juna had three sons. 65 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,920 I don't know whether this had to do with some of the reasons 66 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:20,560 that. Uh. 67 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,640 Was killed by God. But Onan did not. 68 00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:25,440 Think of much of his older brother either. 69 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,280 And he had no. Desire to provide an heir for 70 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,880 his older brother. And so this takes us to a 71 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,560 portion of scripture that I will not read in Sunday worship, but 72 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:40,480 I will give. A paraphrase to Onan. 73 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,200 Took his. Pleasure of Tamar. 74 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,880 But shall we say? Finished on the ground. 75 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:50,960 So he. Got what he wanted. 76 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,840 Out of the relationship, he got his pleasure. 77 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,800 But he refused to give. Tamar what she needed. 78 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:04,640 Which was a child to provide security for her in the future 79 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:05,640 of her own. Life. 80 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:11,480 God did not like that and this. Is what the Bible says what Onan 81 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:12,800 did? Was wicked in the. 82 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,320 Lord's sight. So the Lord put him to death 83 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,160 also. Now we're going to pause right 84 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:19,240 here. There's some brilliant 85 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:20,560 storytelling. Going on here. 86 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,440 Because by the. Time we get to the end of. 87 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,920 This chapter we might. Be tempted to think that. 88 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:29,600 Somehow God is soft on sin, but we see from the very beginning 89 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:34,640 that God is not soft on sin. God in chapter 38 of Genesis is. 90 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,080 Very much this. Is I'm I'm really working hard 91 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,200 not to get fired today, God. In Genesis. 92 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,360 Chapter 38 is. Very much a mess. 93 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:46,440 Around and find out God and uh messed around and found. 94 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,400 Out and then onan. Messed around and found out. 95 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,160 And. Judah's got one. 96 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:56,440 More son Sheila. Sheila is too young to marry and 97 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,920 Judah out of superstition, out of ignorance. 98 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:02,960 Out of looking at his sons through rose colored glasses may 99 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,840 be a combination of all. Of those things. 100 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:06,280 When he had two. Sons. 101 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:10,120 Die after marrying Tamar. He decided she was the problem. 102 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,640 She's a Black Widow. She's bad luck. 103 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,400 She's a curse. And he did not. 104 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,480 Want her to marry his youngest son? 105 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,400 He was afraid that. Shayla would then die too. 106 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,720 And so he told. Tamar, you go back. 107 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,000 And stay with your folks. Shayla's too. 108 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,360 Young to be married when he's old enough. 109 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,200 I'll bring you back. And then you. 110 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,640 Can marry Shayla. But Judah had no intention of. 111 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,840 Ever bringing her back. And we know. 112 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:42,320 That because he didn't. Shayla grew up came of marrying. 113 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,760 Age and Judah. Left Tamar with her. 114 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,160 Family rather than bringing him in to marry. 115 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:53,920 Shayla, Judah's wife, Judah's. Wife then dies as. 116 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,440 Well, and now Judah's a single man, and Judah decides, oh, I'm 117 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,160 a single. Man, I want to be out in the 118 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,640 world now rather than just always stay at home and taking 119 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,480 care of business here. Go out and help tend the flocks, 120 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,000 shear the sheep, that kind of thing. 121 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,000 And so he. Makes a plan to go out. 122 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:09,600 And work in the. Fields. 123 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,800 And and on his. Way out, Tamar hears. 124 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,680 About this. She knows Shayla's old. 125 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,920 Enough to be married but hasn't been given to her and she knows 126 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:22,640 where. Judah. 127 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,440 Is and where Judah is. Going and where he's going to 128 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:26,880 have to pass. To get. 129 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,920 There and Tamar. Knows her father-in-law really 130 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,000 well, apparently. Because she takes. 131 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,080 Off her morning clothes, her widow's garb. 132 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,000 She puts on a veil, which signifies that she's a 133 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,320 prostitute. She goes out and hangs out. 134 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,040 By the road outside the city of Anayam, where she knows Judah's 135 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,200 passing by. And like I say, she knows her 136 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,961 father-in-law well. Her father in law's walking by. 137 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,480 He sees a prostitute. And then he walks up to her and. 138 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,840 Delivers the most sophisticated. And romantic of of. 139 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,880 Come on lines which? He says to her, hey. 140 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,840 Won't. You come sleep with me. 141 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,000 To which she replies. How much you going to pay me? 142 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,480 Judas says I'll. Give you a young goat. 143 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,200 I don't know whether that's a good price. 144 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,000 I just have to confess, I really don't. 145 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,800 Have any idea whether? That's a good price or not, but 146 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,000 Tamar accepts but Judah? Doesn't have a goat with him 147 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,960 his. Goats are out in the field, and 148 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:27,560 so Tamar says. What pledge will you? 149 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,560 Give me so that. I know you're going to pay me 150 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,640 for my. Services and she. 151 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,000 Said, why don't you? Give me your signet. 152 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,080 Ring and your staff. It's kind of like. 153 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,240 Saying today, give me your driver's license. 154 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,360 And your. Spare set of car keys. 155 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,640 Because. Then everyone will know these. 156 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,800 Belong to you and then I can collect. 157 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,560 So Judah gives her. His driver's license. 158 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,680 His signet ring. And his staff and they do their. 159 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,400 Business. Together and Judah. 160 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,400 Judah. Leaves happy and satisfied and 161 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,240 after. Judah leaves Tamar. 162 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,440 Takes off the veil, puts her widow's clothes. 163 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,520 Back on and goes back. Home now pregnant by. 164 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,360 Judah. Her father-in-law. 165 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:12,040 I told. You this is. 166 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:18,880 Perfect for Bridget, perfect Time passes Jude well. 167 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,800 Jude, I got it. Jude is a stand up guy. 168 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,120 Jude, he's a little superstitious. 169 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,280 He's got. Rose colored glasses towards his 170 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:29,360 son, but he's a stand up. Guy and he leaves and he's like 171 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,120 I need. To pay the prostitute, so it 172 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:32,559 goes to his other servant. Says here. 173 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,360 I told this prostitute. I'd give her a young goat if she 174 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:36,600 slept with me. She slept with me. 175 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,080 Go find the prostitute. You'll find her outside the city 176 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,320 of Naim. And take the goat to her and 177 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:42,280 his. Servant goes. 178 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,560 And he's got the goat and he goes to the people of the city 179 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:46,120 and. Says hey my master. 180 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,560 Owes a prostitute a goat, Could you? 181 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,680 Tell me where the prostitute is. They're like there's. 182 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:52,800 No prostitute around here. So. 183 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,720 He's going around asking, I got a goat, where's the prostitute? 184 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,520 Anyone know he keep and? Finally, Judah says, look, this 185 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:01,920 is. Getting embarrassing and 186 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,920 ridiculous. We did our best. 187 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,440 We can't find her. We'll just take the goat back 188 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,840 home. Then time passes and three 189 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,640 months later, everybody knows Tamar's pregnant. 190 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,040 Because that's how pregnancy. Works and someone. 191 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,200 Must have seen her dress up as she dressed. 192 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,600 Up because word is sent back to Judah. 193 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,560 Your daughter-in-law Tamar is. Pregnant because she's been 194 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:32,360 prostituting herself. And Judah's reply is bring her 195 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,040 here. And we'll burn her. 196 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,520 Alive. That escalated quickly. 197 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,800 Tamar on her route. Way. 198 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:48,920 To Judah answer Judah's summons sends a package and a message. 199 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,640 Ahead of her. And it arrives at Judah and he 200 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,080 opens the package. And inside is his staff and his 201 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,200 signet ring and a note. That says. 202 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:04,000 I'm pregnant by the person who owns these. 203 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,560 And Judah's response? Is. 204 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:17,560 Oh, oh, oh, oh. And he knows. 205 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,080 He knows, and he knows that Tamar knows. 206 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,440 And Judah does. Something he again Judah is not. 207 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,040 Perfect, but. Judah is a stand up guy here and 208 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,480 Judah's. Reply is extraordinarily 209 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,320 important. For us, Judah said. 210 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,200 Tamar's righteousness is greater than my own. 211 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,760 Because I failed to provide for her. 212 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:49,680 Tamar's more righteous than me, and so Judah brings Tamar into 213 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:50,520 his. Household. 214 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,400 The scripture is clear. He never sleeps with her again, 215 00:10:54,680 --> 00:10:56,800 but he brings her into his household. 216 00:10:57,560 --> 00:11:00,240 And provides for her, and shelters her and gives. 217 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,320 Her all that she needs, she gives birth to twin. 218 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,880 Boys, the oldest. His name is Perez, and we'll get 219 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:09,280 back to that in a minute. And Judah. 220 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:14,960 Fulfills his obligations to. Tamar Tamar in this. 221 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,680 Whole situation is clearly. Vulnerable and clearly 222 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:20,880 victimized. She has little to no power. 223 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,200 In this environment. Her first husband dies because 224 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:26,520 he's evil. We don't know what. 225 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:28,400 It was, but we know he was evil and. 226 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:35,360 God killed him directly. 2nd. Husband abuses her, uses her. 227 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:40,840 And God kills him for it. And she's what can she do? 228 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,360 She's got no. Way to force Judah to marry her 229 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,240 to Shayla. She's got no way. 230 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,760 To force own end to. Actually have a child. 231 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,360 With her. She has very little. 232 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,000 Power and she's victimized by the people. 233 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,560 Around her that have more power. Than she does but. 234 00:11:57,560 --> 00:12:00,400 She's got 2 choices, 2 basic. Options. 235 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,560 In that situation, one of those options. 236 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,440 Is to let victimhood. Define her to let. 237 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,280 That be the thing that. She says this is just me, this. 238 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,560 Is my life I'm. I am. 239 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,000 I am a victim. I am. 240 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,520 Powerless the world is. Unfair. 241 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:15,920 And there's. Nothing I can do. 242 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:17,520 About it. And she could just. 243 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,720 Kind of curl up and go about and you know. 244 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,200 There's nothing I can do. Roll over and die. 245 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,600 Give up, but she. Doesn't let victimhood define 246 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,920 her instead. She does what she. 247 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:36,080 Can with what she has in the context in which she. 248 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:40,520 Is to secure a safer, more just future. 249 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:43,080 For. Herself and her family. 250 00:12:48,630 --> 00:12:51,230 You could call. Tamar's actions immoral. 251 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,680 Few chapters down the Bible, a few years down the road. 252 00:12:56,680 --> 00:12:58,960 Moses will give some. Laws to the nation. 253 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,120 Of Israel and pretty much. Everything that happens in this 254 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:06,560 chapter was against the law. All of it. 255 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:12,480 You could call. Tamar's actions immoral but the 256 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:17,840 Bible invites us to see Tamar differently and to see what 257 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:22,360 Tamar has done differently than simply playing the. 258 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:26,680 Morality police. We see it first of all with. 259 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:31,080 Judah and Judas's response? Judah affirmed Tamar rather than 260 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,480 condemning her. And I've been saying this wrong 261 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:39,280 all morning at Rock Springs and at Chester. 262 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,240 I've been saying that. Judah essentially said. 263 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,480 To Tamar, what you? DID isn't as bad. 264 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,160 As what I did, but that's. Way too negative. 265 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,480 A way to phrase it. He didn't. 266 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,920 Say that What, Tamar? Did was bad at all? 267 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,200 He said. Tamar's righteousness is greater 268 00:13:55,200 --> 00:14:07,620 than mine, though what Tamar did was a righteous thing that when 269 00:14:07,620 --> 00:14:09,340 she got. Pregnant by her father-in-law, 270 00:14:09,340 --> 00:14:14,260 that. There was good in that when she 271 00:14:14,260 --> 00:14:17,260 dressed up like a prostitute, there was good in that. 272 00:14:19,380 --> 00:14:23,240 Judah affirmed her you to recognize them that is the the 273 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,240 signet ring and the staff and said she. 274 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,400 Is more righteous than I since I wouldn't give. 275 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,520 Her to my son Sheila. Now we're going to look at the. 276 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,200 Details of this particular piece of this. 277 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,960 Story. It's either next. 278 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,040 Week or the week after, we're going to spend kind of three 279 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:44,000 weeks on on this to get. Some of the details here and and 280 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:48,160 really dig down into them. But today, it's just enough to 281 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:52,200 know. That Judah Affirmed Tamar and 282 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:53,880 declared her to be. Righteous. 283 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:59,320 More righteous. Than he even more significantly 284 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,240 than that. Is what God did. 285 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,680 God chose Tamar. To be part of. 286 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:09,120 Jesus's direct ancestry. One of her two. 287 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,280 Sons born the twins. Born was Perez. 288 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,480 Perez was a. Direct ancestor of Jesus. 289 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,120 Himself, You can find it in Matthew. 290 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,240 Chapter 1. But. 291 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,200 For what Tamar had done, would the Messiah have come? 292 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,680 That's extraordinary. Tamar is mentioned explicitly by 293 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,360 name in the genealogy. Of Jesus, it's like. 294 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,520 You know Matthew and the God who's. 295 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,160 Guiding him wants everyone. To know that when? 296 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,160 It says Perez. Is 1 of. 297 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,440 Jesus ancestors and it explicitly says Perez. 298 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:49,480 Son of Tamar. Son of Tamar and her. 299 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,480 Father-in-law. Is part of Jesus? 300 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,920 'S ancestry. She was part. 301 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,520 Of God's plan for bringing salvation to the. 302 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:05,120 World what she did. One of three women mentioned in 303 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,880 Jesus's ancestry. Hundreds of years of ancestry 304 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,640 and Tamar's highlighted, lifted up and honored. 305 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,360 This is what God has done for Tamar and the message God is 306 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,800 sending us. I got to think you remember when 307 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,800 when the with the folks brought the woman. 308 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,120 Caught in the act? Of adultery to Jesus. 309 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,640 For them to condemn her, to stone her to death, another 310 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,480 death penalty. This time by stoning. 311 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,360 Rather than by burning. And that's what the law said 312 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:33,440 they brought. Her to Jesus. 313 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:34,800 Remember Jesus? He was like. 314 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,280 Yeah, it's against the. Law, you're right. 315 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,280 It's sin. Tell you what, Whoever. 316 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:47,320 Has no sin in your life. You can throw the stones and 317 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,720 everyone left. And then Jesus looked up at the 318 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,240 woman and said to her. Is there no one? 319 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,280 Left to condemn you and the woman said no. 320 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,400 And Jesus said then I don't condemn you. 321 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,119 Go and sin no more. I wonder whether. 322 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,960 Jesus was thinking of. Grandma Tamar when all of that 323 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,359 was going on. Whether Jesus was thinking. 324 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:18,480 Of his own heritage, his own lineage, his own ancestry, when 325 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,280 this woman was brought to him to be condemned and destroyed. 326 00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:27,960 There are two different perspectives we can take. 327 00:17:28,319 --> 00:17:32,680 On this story, one of those is, is Tamar's perspective well. 328 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,560 Before we get to that though. John, God's judgement. 329 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:37,200 See. God is not. 330 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:44,880 Soft on sin God before Tamar had sex with her father-in-law and 331 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:45,880 got pregnant. By him. 332 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,400 God had already killed two people. 333 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,120 For wit, for wickedness. God is not soft on sin. 334 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,720 But God honored Tamar rather than condemning her God's 335 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,240 judgment. Is wise. 336 00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:03,680 It's. Discerning and it's nuanced and 337 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,000 it's. Far beyond our own. 338 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,680 Capacity to be as. Wise. 339 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,280 And discerning and nuanced as God is in our Judge, in our 340 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,400 judgments. We can't see people's hearts. 341 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,440 We can never. See the full picture. 342 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,600 We never know all of what's going on but God. 343 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:21,360 Does, and God knows when to punish, when to condemn, when to 344 00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:25,480 honor, when to bless in ways that we never can. 345 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:29,600 That's why Jesus told us. Don't judge and you won't be 346 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,760 judged. Don't condemn and you won't be 347 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:33,160 condemned. It's why Jesus. 348 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,200 Told the parable of the. Farmer who planted wheat good 349 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,640 seed in his field and the. But his enemy planted. 350 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,320 Weeds among the wheat and when the wheat. 351 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,120 Grew up the weeds, grew up with it and the. 352 00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:43,360 Farmer's Servant. Said hey, do you? 353 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:44,920 Want us to? Go out and pull the weeds out. 354 00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:47,120 And get rid of them, the farmer. Said no. 355 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,880 You'll end up pulling up some of the wheat too. 356 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,600 You're not able you. Can't tell the difference 357 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:57,560 between the weeds and the wheat. Leave it all till the end and at 358 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:02,120 harvest time I'll sort it out. We'll sort it out. 359 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:07,480 Then we do not have the. Capacity of God to judge God 360 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:08,840 there's a beautiful story it's a. 361 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:12,520 Very old story. It's like I, I. 15102. 1000 It's 362 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,360 an old. Story and it's. 363 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,040 It's more of a parable illustration. 364 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,480 Even than a story. But it was told. 365 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,520 Very, very early on in the life of the Church. 366 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,160 About this issue of. Judgment and and and the story 367 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:30,280 was imagine to imagine a set of twins. 368 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:34,400 Girls who? As infants, their parents. 369 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,560 Die and they are left. Orphaned with no. 370 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:44,000 One to take them in and one. Daughter is adopted by a wealthy 371 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,720 Christian. Family deeply committed to their 372 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,800 faith has. Plenty of resources they. 373 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,440 Bring her into their. Home and raise. 374 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,880 Her as her own. The other is given over to a 375 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,720 brothel. And. 376 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,720 The teachers of that. Time said very. 377 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,800 Clearly and very directly. That when the final judgement 378 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,000 comes, God will judge. Those two people. 379 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:12,640 Differently because their circumstances. 380 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,040 Were different their life? Experiences were different. 381 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,800 The things that were that happened to them were different, 382 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,280 the things that were done to them. 383 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,240 Were different. And God will not judge them the 384 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:28,200 same. God's judgment is wise, it's 385 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,120 discerning, it's nuanced, and it's beyond our capacity. 386 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:33,440 And so Jesus says. Leave it to me. 387 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,400 I'll be the judge. You do the loving, you do the 388 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,040 serving, you do the caring. I'll be the judge. 389 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,000 Two different perspectives. One is Tamar's. 390 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,160 Perspective, I believe, part of the story. 391 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,240 Of Tamar is here to invite. Us to rather than making 392 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:54,200 victimhood our identity that we like Tamar are invited to use 393 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,600 the agency and the. Power that we have. 394 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:03,160 To improve our situation as we can, to do what we can with what 395 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:08,520 we have. We can't do more than that, but 396 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:10,120 we are. Invited to do that. 397 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,520 Rather than lying down and giving up and complaining that 398 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:17,960 life isn't fair. To use the resources that God 399 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:20,120 has. Given us to do what we can. 400 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:23,400 A lot of people have followed that. 401 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,440 Example over the years. I think one of the most. 402 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,000 Powerful examples. Of that is a woman and I'm going 403 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,920 to butcher the pronunciation of her name and I apologize. 404 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:36,720 Nargez Muhammadi. She is as far. 405 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:42,920 As we know, still alive and still in prison in Iran back. 406 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,160 In the early well. She was. 407 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,600 Trained as a physicist, so she's not a dummy. 408 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,760 She's a smart woman. But she didn't choose. 409 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,920 To become a physicist, as she became aware. 410 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,120 Of the suffering. Of the women in her nation, 411 00:21:56,120 --> 00:21:58,720 particularly in prison of the abuse. 412 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,880 And the torture and the rape. All for showing a little too 413 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:04,520 much hair or a little too much skin. 414 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,880 In public. She began to report on that. 415 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,080 And she began to. Call it out and she began to 416 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:11,720 call for justice. For these women. 417 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,320 And she did that not. Just in Iran, but also outside 418 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,000 of Iran. She called for that, and she 419 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:19,640 was. Arrested, she was convicted. 420 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,200 This was back in the 2000s. She was arrested. 421 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,800 She was convicted on multiple counts. 422 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:26,560 She. Was a. 423 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,640 She was sentenced to a total of. 30 years in. 424 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:34,720 Prison and 154. Lashes. 425 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,240 You ever watch the? Passion of the Christ. 426 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:53,640 You imagine that 154 times. And while in prison, Muhammadi 427 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:00,760 still smuggles out messages reporting on the conditions 428 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,000 calling for. Justice for the other. 429 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:11,120 Women that are there. And for her, she. 430 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,320 Has in the grand scheme of things and the institutions of 431 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,720 Iran and the institutions of the world, Nargis Mohammadi has 432 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,960 little or no power. Whatsoever and the easiest. 433 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:25,160 Thing in the world. For her to. 434 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,920 Have done was long before anything got that. 435 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:29,880 Bad to just say. There's nothing I can do. 436 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,760 There's nothing I can do. I'm a victim like all the other 437 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:35,720 women here. I'm a victim. 438 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,680 There's nothing I can do. But instead, she chose to use 439 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:44,280 what she had to do what she could, even at great risk. 440 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,920 And great. Cost to herself, just like 441 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:52,000 Tamar. Tamar could have been killed and 442 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:56,160 nearly was. Killed for what she did, but she 443 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,640 took the risk to use what she had to do what she could. 444 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:04,080 To improve her situation and the scripture invites. 445 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,760 Us to be like. Tamar. 446 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,360 To live out that. Legacy, like Nargis Mohammadi is 447 00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:16,600 doing in our own lives, in our own situation, in our own 448 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,040 context, there's another perspective. 449 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:20,040 Though that I would invite us to. 450 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:21,760 Spend a. Little bit of time in as well, 451 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,160 and that's Judah's. Perspective. 452 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:29,360 Judah and his experience and what he did is invites us to 453 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:31,600 this the rather than judging others. 454 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,080 For doing. What they can with. 455 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,080 What they have to check to see if? 456 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,160 They might be more. Righteous than we who have left 457 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:39,720 them in that position to begin with. 458 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,800 There are a lot of people. Who do bad things because the 459 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,600 only choices. They have are bad choices. 460 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:51,880 They don't have any good choices, they don't have any 461 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,600 good options. And so they do what they can 462 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:56,960 with what they. Have to take. 463 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:01,120 Care of themselves and their own and the easy thing to. 464 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:02,600 Do is sit? Back and play the. 465 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,600 Morality police. And judge and cadem. 466 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:12,800 But the scripture invites us to. Be like Judah to. 467 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:17,120 Recognize our own failing. To put a spotlight. 468 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:19,200 On ourselves and say what have I done? 469 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,160 To leave vulnerable people in positions of. 470 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,360 Vulnerability and powerlessness. Such that they. 471 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:27,480 Have no good options to choose from. 472 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:34,640 And see that. Perhaps their? 473 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,400 Righteousness is greater than our own. 474 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,760 We. Are not powerful people. 475 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,320 In this room. I am not. 476 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,240 If you are if the president. Is calling you. 477 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,800 To consult with policy, please let me know. 478 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,160 I have some suggestions I would. Like to pass on. 479 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:58,440 I don't think he's calling anybody. 480 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:03,680 Here we have. Little or no power in the 481 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:09,040 institutions of this world, but that doesn't mean we're victims. 482 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,200 Doesn't mean we're helpless. It doesn't mean we're hopeless 483 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:17,160 any more than it did for Tamar. We are invited. 484 00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:20,520 To do what she did, to use what? We have. 485 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:25,080 To do what we. Can to improve our own situation 486 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:27,320 and the situations of those around us. 487 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,000 That's the legacy that we have. From Tamar, grandmother of 488 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:38,960 Jesus, a spiritual mother for all of us, in Jesus name, Amen. 489 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:39,840 Amen.