Introduction

Good day to all! Let us examine Chapter 38 of Genesis. How well do you think you understand this chapter? Compared to the last time, the topic I am presenting today is an upgraded version, elevated to better align with the original meaning the Bible intends to convey. The title of my sermon is: Tamar Was More Righteous Than Judah! The scripture in the Bible states this, so there should be few objections. Tamar was more righteous than Judah, as the original scripture states.

How to Read the Bible

I want to share with you that I have a rather profound understanding of how to read the Bible. It is crucial to grasp God's intention and avoid criticizing the concepts the writer of the Bible intends to express. Moses, who wrote the Bible, may have a different perspective than we do. In fact, our perspective is not important; the perspective the author of the Bible wants to convey is paramount.

What exactly does Moses want to express? Moses wants to make it quite clear what righteousness truly is in the Bible. Why was Tamar more righteous than Judah? These individuals all sought to obtain God's promise, which is significant. Tamar's faith is her righteousness.

The magnitude of a person's faith determines whether they are righteous or wicked in God's eyes. If you ask me what a righteous person is, our understanding of a righteous person differs somewhat from what the Bible intends to convey. We define a righteous person from a human perspective as a good person. However, the righteous person the Bible intends to portray is someone with faith. What kind of faith? The kind of faith that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob possessed. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were all people of faith. Joseph's faith was remarkable, surpassing even the issue of the firstborn. The righteous shall live by faith, starting from Genesis. Because Abraham believed in God, God considered him righteous.

Everyone must understand what kind of faith we possess within us. If you inherit the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, that is extraordinary. Chapter 37 of Genesis discusses Joseph's dreams. In this chapter, I am discussing how Tamar was more righteous than Judah! I also want to continue discussing this dream, as Tamar was a person with a dream, seeking to obtain God's promise. Their view of things in this world has completely surpassed what we generally understand. Therefore, when reading the Bible, we must discern God's perspective and understand what the author of the Bible, Moses, intended to convey.

This particular chapter has caused many to stumble. A seminary professor once said: Every time I read Genesis 38, my heart bleeds. I wondered, what is he bleeding over? Because he reads about Judah's fall. However, the Bible never presents the concept of Judah's fall. Can you understand that? I cannot. He is reading his own meaning into it, while we are discerning God's intention. Can everyone sense this completely different perspective?

Human morality is often the key reason for stumbling. People believe that morality must be upheld. If we adhere to moral standards, even Jesus would not meet their standards, nor would Moses. Few people in the Bible can meet their moral standards. They believe in a God of morality, but our God is not a God of morality. Therefore, we must discern God's intention and recognize that many stumble on this rock because they lack faith.

How should we read Genesis Chapter 38? What intention does Moses want to express? Moses wants to express that people must have faith. However, people's faith is often lacking, which is why Jesus often criticized people for their lack of faith when he came: people of little faith, unbelieving people, an unbelieving generation, all referring to this. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be people of faith, believe in the God of Abraham, and inherit the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Tamar according to Abraham's faith.

Tamar's Dream

We cannot fully understand this passage, what Tamar's dream was, and can only speculate. Let me tell you a story about what Tamar was trying to do. We cannot directly read it in the Bible. However, through Tamar's actions, we can see what Tamar was trying to do. Tamar was determined to have a son from Judah's family because she knew that Judah had received the birthright of Jacob, and she wanted to marry into Judah's family. However, Tamar was still young at that time, and Judah married the daughter of Shua the Canaanite and had a son named Er. When Tamar grew up, she married into Judah's family and became the wife of Judah's eldest son.

Why marry Er? In fact, Er was not a good person. Perhaps he may have been a morally good person, but according to the Bible, he did evil in the eyes of the Lord because he did not follow God's will. Although he received the birthright, he did not follow God's will. Tamar married Er, not because she could not find a partner, but because she wanted to enter Judah's family. Because she valued the covenant God made with Abraham, the covenant God made with Isaac, and the covenant God made with Jacob, and now it was Judah's turn to receive the covenant God made.

The Bible records God speaking to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but it does not record God speaking to Judah. Don't you find this strange? He received the birthright, not because of anything else, but because his eldest, second, and third brothers had all lost their birthright. Judah did not make any mistakes, so he picked up a bargain. Judah did not lose his birthright, but when the birthright came into Judah's hands, we did not see him do anything with it.

At this time, Tamar saw that Judah had already married a wife, and it was too late to marry him. Later, she married Judah's eldest son, Er. If we had the opportunity to chat with Tamar about these things she had heard, we would know what Tamar had inside her, somewhat like Rebekah's nurse, and somewhat like the things in Rebekah's and Rahab's minds. When Tamar spoke of the affairs of the house of Israel, the things that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had done in their lives, she could recount them like a treasure, even more clearly than the people in Abraham's family.

For example, Rahab explained how the Israelites came out of Egypt clearly, even though the Israelites could not explain it clearly, she could explain it. That is to say, she specialized in studying this. Tamar had studied this matter, so she married into the house of Judah, an Israelite. What kind of faith is that? It is the faith of Abraham, the dream of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At that time, had Joseph obtained his dream? Not yet, but Joseph cherished his dream. Tamar carried such a dream when she married into Judah's family and became the eldest daughter-in-law.

Did you think she was attracted to Er? Er was not a good person. Why did Tamar marry such a bad man? Let me tell you a short story. One family had their son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law all return home for the Chinese New Year. On New Year's Eve, everyone prepared good dishes and good food. The old lady sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked at her son, then at her daughter-in-law; at her daughter, then at her son-in-law; and said something very interesting to everyone in the room: Good men don't have good wives, but lazy men have beautiful wives. Everyone in the room frowned, thinking that the old lady was talking about them, all with negative thoughts. This also reveals a truth: Er was a lazy man who married a beautiful wife.

This is a very magical thing. It is not easy to have a dream! A woman with a dream is a husband-killing person. If you are a person of faith and dreams, it will be a little unsettling to be your husband. Perhaps your faith is small, so don't worry, because you are still far from Tamar. We must be people of faith, even if we kill an Er, it doesn't matter. A person of faith and dreams not only kills her husband! She kills everyone she meets! Aren't you saying you want to be a blessing to many people? That also depends on what the Bible says. The Bible says: Many will fall, and many will rise. Everyone think about it, Tamar had faith and dreams, was her life easy? It was not easy.

Nothing Can Deprive Tamar of Her Dream

Tamar married Er because she had a dream, but Er died. Most people would not be able to accept such a thing. Look at the scripture:

Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him. (Genesis 38:7)

Why didn't God remember Tamar? It was because God remembered Tamar that He let Er die. If you were Tamar, you would definitely say in your heart: I married a husband, how could he suddenly die? This person's death brought Tamar one step closer to her dream of having a son from Judah, because an obstacle was removed. This kind of thing cannot deprive Tamar of her dream. How many people did she bring death to? Why did she bring death to her husband and then to her husband's brother Onan? What does the Bible say?

But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he wasted his seed on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother. (Genesis 38:9)

It is hard for us to imagine: What was he thinking? Just to leave offspring for his brother, what could happen? Nothing could happen. But that's what he thought, and what was the result?

And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and he slew him also. (Genesis 38:10)

Onan also died, this is really deadly. What was this person thinking? In fact, such a thing happened in order to fulfill Tamar's dream. Finally, Judah's family still had a young son, but this is not important. After encountering so many things, Tamar still held on to her dream of having a son from Judah's family. Not long after, she brought death to Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua. Do you think this person's life is tough? How many obstacles did she have to clear?

Judah was comforted after his wife died, which is hard for us to understand. Later, Judah became a bachelor. Was Tamar single? Also single. After Judah's wife died, is it considered fornication for a single man to be with a single woman? We thought they were married. With so many things happening, Tamar's dream was not deprived, and she was waiting for an opportunity. Tamar saw that Shelah had grown up and had not yet married her, and she knew that he was afraid of being brought death to, and it was very likely that he would be brought death to.

If the youngest son was also brought death to, who would be left in this family? What's wrong with two single people? It's just that she used to be married to his son. We thought they were both married, but they were not. One thing after another happened, but Tamar's dream could not be deprived. I really don't know what Tamar was waiting for? In fact, she was waiting for an opportunity.

Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son is grown.” For he thought, “Lest he die, like his brothers.” So Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. (Genesis 38:11)

Tamar saw that Shelah had grown up and had not married her, because he was afraid that she would bring death to him. I tell you, it is very possible that she would bring death to him. If the youngest son was also brought death to, wouldn't only Tamar and Judah be left in this family? Maybe Judah really understood a little bit. Tamar looked good, with a beautiful appearance. Don't think that Tamar was ugly and couldn't get married. In fact, spiritual people are quite handsome.

Could Tamar marry someone else? Yes. In that era, it was not a problem for widows to marry, because they were free people. I think this is very good, but some people think they are moral experts. Even if you are a moral expert, you may not be able to grasp God's will. After experiencing so many things, what was Tamar thinking? She was thinking of having a son from Judah's family or Judah's descendants, so that her own son could inherit God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and inherit the covenant that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made with God. There is nothing better than this in the world. Tamar did not want to marry casually, but insisted on having a son from Judah's family, either from Shelah. But Judah did not give Shelah to Tamar. But it doesn't matter, anyway, Judah's wife is dead, and Tamar's husband is also dead, Tamar doesn't care about generations, just let it be!

As a result, she waited and waited, and Shelah grew up after ten or eight years. Was Tamar waiting for Shelah? No, she was waiting to have a son from Judah's family. It was uncertain to have a son from Judah's family! Judah felt that Tamar was too deadly, her life was too tough, and when he saw that his son Shelah was too weak, it wouldn't work. Then he made a decision not to bring Tamar back. If he doesn't bring Tamar back, Tamar will come automatically! This is character.

Now Tamar heard it said, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the road and said, “Come, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” And he said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. (Genesis 38:13-18)

Nothing can deprive Tamar of her dream. What kind of faith is this? This is the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This character is amazing! We have to give her a thumbs up. In this life, if you have a heavenly dream, it is difficult not to encounter something big or small. Our church has come out with heavenly dreams for so many years, and it is all tears when you say too much. If you don't overcome, if you don't fall, if you don't go to the ring, if you don't get beaten black and blue, can you win the championship? You can't win the championship.

In fact, the champions have been beaten a lot in the past. The champions of MMA and VFC have all been beaten a lot on the ring. Sometimes they are even KO'd with one punch, anything can happen. It is strange not to encounter difficulties when you have a dream. But people really need character to live, and they need a character that goes down with a dream. I admire this kind of character. Do you ask me if I have this character? Definitely. The church has achieved its current situation, which looks good and has blessed many people. Many people want to come in and say: I donate. I said: You are not qualified to donate! Some people say: Look how crazy you are! It's not crazy, it's really like this, our requirements are still very high.

Other churches are pulling people in, but our church is pushing people out. If you don't have a bit of destiny, a bit of faith, what are you doing there? We have to be people walking on the same road, we have to be the same destiny, the same dream, the same faith, inheriting the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and inheriting the dream of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What we inherit is Tamar's dream, to be people with character.

With people with such character, we will walk the blessed road hand in hand. There are many positions in the kingdom of God, and it doesn't matter if there is one or two firstborns. Thank God, I am very happy when I see brothers and sisters. A sister came to see me from afar, and tears flowed down when she spoke to me. She said: Teacher, if I hadn't met you on the road of life, I would have been miserable. She drove here, driving a big Benz.

She said: Teacher, do you want to drive my car? I said: Okay! I'll come and drive your big Benz. It looks so good! It's valuable, but it's very hard! Do you want to be a blessing to many people? Do you want to inherit such a vision and dream, inherit such faith, obtain the covenant with God, obtain the qualification to make a covenant with God, and inherit Tamar's faith? Then you must not lose your vision and dream. With vision and dream, even if you enter the coffin, you must hold on to such vision and dream, that is faith.

So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. (Genesis 38:26)

Tamar is a righteous person, Tamar is more righteous than Judah. Judah didn't know when he said this, he just picked up a leak in a daze. But Tamar was very confident, Tamar knew what she was doing, Tamar just wanted to have children from Judah's family. In fact, Tamar was very beautiful, and because she was a widow, there were many rumors in front of the widow's door. Tamar was not easy! Many people came to propose marriage, and wealthy families also came to propose marriage. But she refused one after another, refusing one marriage after another, just to have a son from Judah's family, either from Shelah, or directly from Judah.

What kind of faith is this? She doesn't want anyone, she just wants to obtain God's promise. Maybe Tamar didn't know that she would appear in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, but she just felt very good. If there is no dream, how can you move forward? If there is no dream, she would have married long ago, but she did not give up, and as a result, she brought a creative approach.

I am a very creative person, and I have many ideas in me. If it were me, but I am a man and there is no way; if I were a woman, I am Tamar, in the days of Judah, I guess I would do the same.

Even If It Exceeds the Moral Bottom Line, You Must Obtain This Dream

What moral bottom line does it exceed? Originally, she was someone else's daughter-in-law, but she slept with her father-in-law, and she only did it once and became pregnant. Do you think this is magical? It's very magical. If it weren't for God's work, it wouldn't be so magical. What does the Bible say?

Now Tamar heard it said, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. (Genesis 38:14)

Judah's work is also difficult to do, letting Shelah marry Tamar can catch up with his mother's age. Shelah can't marry a wife who is the age of his mother. Judah is also very upset, his work is not easy to do. It doesn't matter if it's not easy to do, Tamar found that her father-in-law went to Timnah to shear sheep, Tamar invented a new method: pretending to be a prostitute, and then don't want anyone who comes to her, just look for Judah. Judah suddenly got excited that day, because his wife had been dead for a long time, and he had no married life. He didn't know what medicine he had taken that day, maybe he was given some medicine when he went to the restaurant.

As a result, this excitement came and it was troublesome. He just happened to meet a prostitute, and he didn't know that the prostitute was Tamar. He thought it was just a prostitute, so he solved his physiological needs first. One is to solve physiological needs, and the other is to solve God's promise. How can it be so coincidental? I don't believe Judah has the habit of prostitution. Judah's brain was not very good that day, and as a result, he was dizzy and did such a thing with his widowed daughter-in-law, and he became pregnant all of a sudden. These are all magical things, even if it exceeds the moral bottom line, you must obtain this dream.

Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. (Genesis 38:18)

If Tamar didn't understand God's will, would she do this? If she did this, she would be cursed, would Tamar do it? Everyone must not think that the curse is against morality, the curse is against God's will. Tamar's understanding of God is beyond ordinary people. Her understanding and knowledge of God is not ordinary, otherwise how could she hold on for so long. I believe Tamar knows the stories of Rebekah, Sarah, Rachel, Leah, and Jacob like the back of her hand.

What was the result for Tamar? She obtained God's promise, and obtained the pregnancy and birth of a son from Judah. Everyone must not think that this is a moral bottom line, you must know that there is no problem with a single woman and a single man getting married? No problem, the husband is dead and he becomes a free person. We even think that pretending to be a prostitute is a moral bottom line, pretending to be a prostitute is a new method invented. I am so emotional that Tamar understands God so well, Tamar's understanding of God and her faith in God surpasses ordinary people. Tamar got a son from Judah, how good is this!

Everyone must not think that her previous father-in-law is still her father-in-law, now they are two singles. Compared with the professors of the seminary, my interpretation is also quite innovative. They think that Judah has fallen, but I think that Tamar has obtained her dream. Joseph and Tamar have done some things beyond what ordinary people can imagine for their dreams. If you don't pretend to be a prostitute, how can you get a child, maybe this thing will come to me, and I really can't surpass it.

Brothers and sisters, running this spiritual promise and pursuing the qualification to make a covenant with God is not an ordinary person. We inherit this kind of thinking, inherit this kind of concept, and now we start running this heavenly road, no longer sticking to small things. We begin to put down all kinds of sins that entangle us and the worldly worries that entangle us. When we start running this heavenly road, there are many ways. In addition to the methods of Joseph, Tamar, and Jacob, God has thousands of ways. But you and I must have such faith, know God's will, and run this heavenly road.

I thank God that God created Chinese Mingding Destiny through me in this generation, restored the gospel preached by the Apostle Paul again, restored Tamar's dream again, and restored Joseph's pursuit and Jacob's pursuit. Let us regain God's will, let us be praised in heaven when we run this heavenly road. Knowing that Tamar's story is being spread in heaven, whenever our God is mentioned in heaven and on earth, Tamar is mentioned.

Tamar gave birth to Shelah and Perez, and Tamar has a share in the genealogy of Jesus. Therefore, the Bible does not write that Judah obtained Shelah and Perez, but that Judah gave birth to Perez and Shelah from Tamar and entered the genealogy of Jesus Christ. At that time, she didn't know whether she would enter the genealogy of Jesus, but you and I must know that what they are pursuing is the eternal and unfading glory. It is a tragedy that a dream of eternal life cannot surpass the moral bottom line of this life.

There is nothing more important in this world than having a dream of eternal life. What else can stop us from obtaining this heavenly dream? If you ask me, why does the Bible talk about Joseph and suddenly talk about Tamar? Because they are all people who are running forward with heavenly dreams. These people are amazing, let us all give Joseph a thumbs up and give Tamar a thumbs up. Let us have the same pursuit, although we cannot appear in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, but we can enter the kingdom of God, we can be praised in the kingdom of God, and God will surely praise us.

I have a dream in me, maybe one day I will return to heaven, return to God, and we suddenly find that at this time when we are, our story is already being spread in heaven. There are many angels applauding for us and giving us thumbs up, because there is a group of people who are willing to pay the price for such a dream, even if they shed tears, even if they work hard, they cannot deprive us of the qualification to pursue heavenly dreams. God has a wonderful arrangement, I believe wonderful things will happen, and beautiful things will be accomplished, because we have already obtained God's promise. May God manifest His glory through you and me in this generation. We are people who have a covenant with God, how wonderful this is. May God bless everyone!

Genesis Chapter 38 Scripture

38:1 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to the house of an Adullamite named Hirah.
38:2 Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua; he took her as his wife and went in to her.
38:3 She conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.
38:4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.
38:5 She bore still another son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
38:6 Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
38:7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her; raise up offspring for your brother.”
38:9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He slew him also.
38:11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son is grown.” For he thought, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
38:12 And in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
38:13 Now Tamar heard it said, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
38:14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.
38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.
38:16 Then he turned to her by the road and said, “Come, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
38:17 And he said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”
38:18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
38:19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.
38:20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.
38:21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside at Enaim?” And they said, “There was no harlot here.”
38:22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘There was no harlot here.’ ”
38:23 Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat, and you have not found her.”
38:24 And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; and indeed she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”
38:25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please examine these: Whose are this signet and cord, and staff?”
38:26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.
38:27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.
38:28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”
38:29 But it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.
38:30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.