Can God keep his promises when we fail? It’s a major question in the book of Genesis, and even throughout the whole Bible. A popular question about the problem of evil is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But in this sermon on Genesis 38, the story of Judah and Tamar, Pastor Luke asks a twist on that question: Can God do good things through bad people? Or, will God keep his good promises when we fail so bad? Pastor Luke looks at the answer to that question under three heads: Our sin seems to endanger God’s redemptive purposes; God works through what is sinful and shameful to accomplish his glorious redemptive purposes; we can now boast in our weakness, trusting that our darkest moments are a part of Christ’s redemptive story.

Part of a series on the book of Genesis.

From Sunday Worship, August 31, 2025.

-------------------------------

Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

What parts of Judah and Tamar’s story are the most shocking to you? How does this chapter challenge the idea that God only works through “clean” situations or morally impressive people?

Where in your own life have you assumed “God can’t use this”? How does knowing that Jesus willingly entered the family line of Judah and Tamar impact the way you view your own failures?

How might you share your story (even the messy parts) in a way that points to Jesus as the hero?

Take some time to pray that God would use the weak and messy parts of your life for his glory. Confess your sins and ask for power to live in the hope of God’s redeeming grace.

-------------------------------

allsoulspca.org

All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.