In the message, “The Downfall Of Judah’s Family: Part 1“, we went over many sinful acts that were performed by the hand of Judah and his sons, because of a lack of good parenting and no trust in God. The first issue was that his sons were not raised in the Lord and therefore, there knowledge of what was right and wrong was skewed. Because of this, Judah’s first son was very 1“wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.” (Genesis 38:7) The second issue was that Judah told his second son to marry his first son’s wife, after he died. This advice turned against him however, since God slew him because of what he did. It says that 1“when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.” (Genesis 38:9,10) Now, the third issue is that Judah didn’t care that he was married, but desired to have sex with a harlot, which turned out to be the same daughter in law, Tamar, that his first two sons were with. The story continues and says that Tamar 1“put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.)” (Genesis 38:14-16) These three issues were not only wrong in the sight of God, but also ruined Judah and his families lives forever. It is written that Judah ended up losing two of his sons and a daughter.
What I just went over is not just something that happened long ago, but also what happens in our day in age as well. There are times that men and women lust after their family members spouses, especially when they are young and newly married. Because of these lustful thoughts, very bad things happen because of this, that involves flirting and adultery. Growing up, I saw men divorce one woman, and then the next year, marry that same woman’s sister. You may have also heard of this and men marrying their brother’s wife after his brother ends up dying. Lastly, many married men and women are involved with looking at pornography, visiting strip clubs and going on the streets looking for prostitutes. I mention women, since some of them are also involved with watching pornographic videos as well now, many times with their husband. As you can see here, this problem is not only in the past, but in the present time as well. The same types of people that had issues with sexual sin and lust then are here today as well, even among so-called Christian families. This is so sad, since these people’s lives are on a pathway to hell, if they do not wake up to their sins and repent. Lastly, please listen to what Jesus said on this matter. He said, 2“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27,28) Please take this message to heart and learn from the mistakes of Judah’s and don’t follow in his footsteps, but confession your sins openly to God today. Allow Him to change your sinful lifestyle and give you new desires to follow Him and do what He says.
Let us pray:
Lord God, I pray that people will wake up to their sins, starting today. May they acknowledge how far they have strayed from Your presence and desire to confess them openly to You in prayer. As I pray this prayer tonight, I know that there are many people living in sexual sin, which involves lust, flirting, adultery, fornication, homosexuality and pornography. These things are ruining their own lives and their families also and they don’t even realize it. The life they once knew with You is devastated because of these wicked and abominable sins that surround their lives. They do not even realize how You feel towards them, when they are doing this. This makes me very sad to see these people stumble and fall throughout their life, because of their bad decisions. It doesn’t have to be like this and instead, these people are intentionally walking on a path of destruction, which only leads to hell fire. Truly, Lord, they are wasting their time on earth by not allowing You to help them change their lives. So what we need is conviction in their souls that what they are doing is wrong. Help them see this fact, that they may know how much it hurts You, others and themselves, because of what they are doing. May they experience Your wrath in the moment of their reflection upon You, our mighty God. Then, will they see what they have done and ask for forgiveness. I know that You are there, waiting for people to turn to You. I also know how merciful You are, when we do repent and give You are our whole hearts. There is no more pain or anguish, but only love and joy. Thank You Lord for forgiving me of all my sins. Your compassion is never ending. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Genesis 38 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
14 And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
2Matthew 5:27-32 (KJV)
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
