Family. We are each born into one. Each family tree has good wood, and some not so good.  We all probably have some in the family tree that are either the focus of the gossip around the holiday table or that we’d prefer not to mention at all.  

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Jesus, too, had a family tree. Seems a bit crazy when we know he is the Son of God. Short family tree there! But Jesus was also part of a human family tree. According to Middle Eastern tradition, lineage is traced through the father’s side of the family. While Jesus is the Son of God, the Bible is also very clear that he is of the lineage of Joseph, the husband of Mary – and what a line it was! Check out Matthew 1, where you’ll also recognize quite a few salty or sultry characters. Jacob – known for stealing his brother’s birthright. David and his son Solomon – who was born to David and Bathsheba after David had killed Bathsheba's husband. You may have thought that Jesus’ family tree would be pristine and perfect – guess again!

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And so, maybe our family trees aren’t something to be afraid of or apologized for – what if God has something else in mind besides perfection? Restoration.

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Today, we are going to focus on Judah. You’ll find him at the top of Jesus’ family tree and listed in Matthew 1:2. Clearly, God had a reason for including Judah in the line of Jesus – and yet, Judah was far from perfect.

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You are probably familiar with the story of Joseph – favorite son of Jacob; set apart with his coat of many colors; dreamer of prophetic dreams; hated by his brothers; sold into slavery in Egypt; rose to prominence in Potiphar’s house; falsely accused; years in prison; restored by interpreting Pharoah’s dreams; became second in command behind Pharoah and successfully led Egypt through a famine. I highly recommend reading Genesis 37-45 for a drama that rivals any work of fiction!

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Getting back to Judah, he was the fourth of the 12 sons of Jacob. When the drama unfolded and his brothers wanted to kill Joseph, Judah swayed the brothers and protected Joseph’s life by suggesting, “What will be gain if we kill our brother and hide his body? Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not harm him. After all, he is our brother” (Gen 37:26-27 CEV). Whether this was to preserve Joseph’s life or to gain from getting rid of him, we know that Judah changed Joseph’s trajectory at this moment. Instead of dying, Joseph was sold into slavery and off to Egypt. Judah and his brothers lived for over 20 years with the weight of their actions.  

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During that time, Judah moved away from his family and became the father of three sons of his own. His firstborn was so wicked that “the Lord put him to death” (Gen. 38:7). The rest of Genesis 38 details the story of Judah and his sons – and his daughter-in-law Tamar. It is an R-rated story full of deceit, sex, and ultimately twins conceived in deceit. It’s quite a read! Judah did not make wise choices, acted deceitfully, engaged with someone he thought to be a prostitute, and was found out. But his response seems to show a change of heart. He didn’t continue to deceive – he acknowledged his sin; he called Tamar more righteous than himself. And Judah is the man God chose for Jesus’ family tree. Interesting.

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The next we hear of Judah is as he and nine of his brothers are off to Egypt to secure food for their family during the severe famine. The only brother remaining at home with Jacob is Benjamin, the youngest. Again, a drama unfolds in Genesis 42 where the brothers interact with Joseph – though they don’t realize who he is to them. Joseph, though, is fully aware and questions them about their father and family. After the first trip, Jacob is unwilling to let Benjamin go until Judah takes personal responsibility for Benjamin on the trip. When they meet with Joseph again, Judah steps forward to stay in place of Benjamin. These are our verses for today. Judah has changed; his worst moment has been redeemed, and it enables restoration with Joseph. God is in the business of taking us from our lowest and restoring us.  

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God desires to redeem and restore. Judah is a messy branch on Jesus’ family tree – but he is still connected. God redeemed Judah’s story so that ultimately Judah is remembered more for his part in Jesus’ lineage, and for leading the tribe of Judah, than for his personal failures. Jesus is even referred to as the “Lion of Judah” in Revelation 5:5. Only God can write such a story of restoration!

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So, don’t be afraid of the messes in your family tree. Maybe God is waiting to restore your family after first restoring you. God is not seeking perfection; He is not afraid of messiness. God wants to use you – to redeem your failures for His purposes.

What failures or lowest moments do you wish were hidden so that you aren’t “that” member of the messy family tree? Do you trust that God can redeem those – whether they are “big” or “little”? God is in all the details of our lives. Allow Him to show you where you’ve fallen short and then accept His grace and redemption. He has more for you than you can imagine!

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If you need someone to walk through this journey with you, connect in your life groups or call the church office. We weren’t meant to walk alone.