Genesis 38:27-30 tells of twins that were born to a woman named Tamar – Pharez and Zarah. Honestly, these names are probably not as well known to us as names like David, Jonah, or Peter. Nevertheless, there is nothing accidental in God’s Word! In fact, Tamar and Pharez are actually an important part of the greatest family record in the history of mankind! They are found in the very genealogy of Jesus Christ!

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; (Matthew 1:3)

Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus Christ through Joseph, the husband of Mary. Though Christ was virgin-born and Joseph was not His biological father, Matthew deliberately traces Christ's royal line through Judah, Pharez, and Tamar.

Who were these people? What is so significant about their story? The answer may shock you. Their story was a disaster!

Let’s make a list of some of the events surrounding Judah, Tamar, and Pharez:

·      Not long after selling his own brother into slavery and lying to his father about Joseph’s death, Judah continues with business as usual.

·      He befriends a worldly man and, through him, meets and marries a Canaanite woman.

·      Judah has three sons, two of whom we know were wicked and judicially killed by God.

·      Judah’s oldest son, Er, married Tamar. After his death, his brother married her but refused to give her children, as was her customary right.

·      After Tamar’s second husband died, Judah told her to wait for his youngest son to grow up, though he apparently had no intention of letting him marry her.

·      Judah has no qualms against hiring a harlot, not knowing she is his own daughter-in-law.

·      Tamar actually conceives a child by her father-in-law, Judah.

·      When Tamar’s pregnancy became obvious, Judah hypocritically and self-righteously demanded that she be punished for playing the harlot, all the while he knew that he had slept with a supposed harlot only months earlier!

·      When she exposed Judah as the father, he acknowledged his own wrongdoing and admitted, “She hath been more righteous than I.”

·      Tamar gave birth to twins—the children of her own father-in-law.

Despite the evil and tragedies in Genesis 38, we later read that the Lord Jesus Christ’s record can be traced through that chapter. How? How is any of this possible? There is only one word: GRACE.

It is God’s grace, or undeserved kindness, that brought forth the Redeemer through a record of ugliness, sin, and tragedy. What a truth! Grace is greater than our sin! Through Jesus Christ, the stain and guilt of sin can be washed away! God’s grace is sufficient, and that grace is still found in the One who is God’s Son – the Lord Jesus Christ!

God’s grace is greater than all our sin!

We cannot excuse the terrible deeds and sins recorded in Genesis 38. We dare not act as though these actions were anything less than sin. We refuse to accept the immorality of that dark chapter as normal and moral. Yet, as we consider our Savior, we are left with that same truth: God’s grace is greater than all our sin!

The truth be told, we all have some bullet points of wickedness in our lives. The truth be told, we all have sins that stain our record.

Sin has a terrible price, but grace is greater than all our sin!

God’s grace and mercy were displayed when Jesus Christ, the sinless One, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. Our sins lead us to Hell, a real place of eternal torment. Yet, Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins that we might have eternal life. He rose from the dead! He is the only One with power to save!

Even through a family of tragedy, sin, and ruin, God brought forth the very Savior and hope of all mankind. Despite the evil and ugliness of sin in your life, God’s grace is greater! He calls us to repent of our sin and believe on the name of Jesus Christ!

Have you trusted the Lord Jesus as your Savior? Do you know that God can wash away the sins of your life? Do you know that God can bring you from death unto life by His grace and mercy? Do you know that your past does not have to bind you nor does your sin have to doom you?

There is hope in the Lord Jesus Christ! The evil and sin of your past are not beyond the reach of His grace. God’s grace, found in Jesus Christ, is greater than all our sin. Trust Jesus Christ now!

Thank you for reading today's fire-starter devotional. Please share this with someone. Also Please send your prayer request to prayer@rtfministries.net by this evening.

Thank you Pastor Lewey for writing today's devotional.