Lesson_67_Judah_and_Tamar.

Genesis 38 pauses the story of Joseph to tell us what is happening back in Canaan with his older brother,

Judah. This is a messy, scandalous chapter. Judah fails to keep a promise to his widowed daughter-in-law,

Tamar, refusing to give her his youngest son in marriage (as was required by ancient law to protect widows).

Desperate and facing starvation or exile, Tamar disguises herself, and Judah unknowingly sleeps with her.

Months later, when Judah finds out Tamar is pregnant, he hypocritically orders her to be burned to death for

her sin! But Tamar produces Judah's own signet ring and staff-proving he is the father. Judah is broken by his

own hypocrisy and publicly admits, 'She is more righteous than I.' Today, we explore the devastating effects of

broken promises, the ugliness of hypocrisy, and the courage it takes to admit when we are wrong.