Awkward #3 | Pastor Bill Meiter | April 28, 2024 | Arizona Community Church | https://az.church | Online giving: https://az.church/give

HOW AWKWARD MOMENTS CAN BECOME SPIRITUAL MILESTONES!
HOW ONE MAN’S FEAR LED TO AN INCREDIBLY AWKWARD ENCOUNTER

TODAY’S PASSAGE
Genesis 38:24-26 ESV… About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

JESUS IS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
- One of the most majestic titles given to Jesus is Lion of Judah… Revelations 5:5
- Judah was one of the 12 sons of Jacob and was even called a lion…Genesis 49:9
- Judah was one of the primary conspirators involved with selling Joseph… Genesis 37:26-27
- Just how flawed Judah was can be seen in his treatment of Tamar… Genesis 38:24-26

JUDAH’S MORAL SHORTCOMINGS
- Judah had three sons… Er, Onan, Shelah. The first of which married Tamar… Genesis 38:2-7
- Levirate marriage: If a man dies without having any children of his own… his unmarried brother would bear children with his widow… to provide an heir for the deceased individual… Deuteronomy 25:5-6
- Onan would not fulfill his responsibilities… Genesis 38:8-10
- Judah tells Tamar to return to her father and wait for Shelah to grow up… Genesis 38-8-10

TAMAR’S CUNNING PLAN
- Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute… Genesis 38-13-18
- Tamar exposes Judah as the father of her children… Genesis 38:24-26

FEAR IS OFTEN THE SPRINGBOARD INTO AWKWARD MESSES
- King Saul let fear create an awkward mess… 1 Samuel 15:13-24
- The fear of man is a snare… Proverbs 29:25
- Peter let fear create two awkward messes… Luke 22:33-34; Galatians 2:11-13
- Would you still come to church if you had to pass through protestors to get onto campus?

HOW GOD REDEEMS JUDAH’S AWKWARD MESS
- This is a turning point in Judah’s life! Judah becomes a changed man… Genesis 44:33
- It is through the line of Perez that the Messiah would eventually come… Matthew 1:2-1
- It is the Lord who will deliver us from our fears… Psalm 34:4
- Commit your fears to the Lord and seek to walk in faithful obedience despite what might be going on around you!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. How did Judah fear create an awkward mess?
2. Has fear ever created an awkward mess in your life? When?
3. Why was Tamar more righteous than Judah?
4. What fears can you commit to the Lord this week?

TN: Good Came From This?