“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.“

James 1:17 

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November 27, 2025 

Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that you enjoy a wonderful holiday, giving thanks to God for all the “good and perfect gifts” He has given. 

 It may not be the most obvious passage to read on Thanksgiving, but today we continue learning about Tamar, Jesus’ many-times great grandmother. Let’s look for God’s good gifts and reasons to be thankful even in this complicated story.  

About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” 

Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” 

As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” 

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. 

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez. Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah. 

Genesis 38:24-30 

We pick up Tamar’s story as her difficult circumstances and poor choices come to a climax. Tamar’s pregnancy has become apparent, compounding the cultural shame of her widowhood and previous childlessness with a charge of prostitution. The truth isn’t that much better, though, as her deception of Judah is exposed. At the same time, Judah’s sins are exposed when his sexual immorality with a “prostitute” and his neglected duty to Tamar become clear.  

Once their sins are exposed, we reach a turning point. God chooses to bless Tamar and Judah with not just one but two sons. Twins! A double blessing. Although they did nothing to deserve this blessing, and quite a bit to deserve the opposite, God graciously gives these good and perfect gifts to Tamar and Judah. Despite their deceptive and sinful efforts to orchestrate this situation and control the outcome, they could never have done what God did. The situation has been redeemed! And through this redeemed situation comes our Redeemer! Jesus! Only God could turn this story around for good.

Friends, God wants to expose our sin and our bad choices, too. Not to condemn us, but to forgive us and redeem our broken circumstances for His glory and our good! Will you trust our wonderful Redeemer to do this?  

Praise the Lord, my soul; 

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 

Praise the Lord, my soul, 

    and forget not all his benefits— 

who forgives all your sins 

    and heals all your diseases, 

who redeems your life from the pit 

    and crowns you with love and compassion, 

who satisfies your desires with good things 

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

The Lord works righteousness 

    and justice for all the oppressed. 

He made known his ways to Moses, 

    his deeds to the people of Israel: 

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, 

    slow to anger, abounding in love. 

He will not always accuse, 

    nor will he harbor his anger forever; 

he does not treat us as our sins deserve 

    or repay us according to our iniquities. 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 

    so great is his love for those who fear him; 

as far as the east is from the west, 

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 

Psalm 103:1-12

Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • How have you responded when your sin has been exposed?  
  • Have you allowed God to redeem your life of sin?  
  • If so, give thanks this Thanksgiving for Jesus, your Redeemer! 
  • If not, what is holding you back from trusting Jesus as your Redeemer?   
  • If you decide to trust Jesus as your Redeemer today, please let someone know about your decision: a friend or someone at Wheaton Bible Church. Or check out this additional resource: https://peacewithgod.net/. 

 Church Reading Plan: 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Peter 4