Genesis 38: 24-26 - 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.
The story of Joseph is interrupted for a quick side note
about the continuation of the messianic line through Judah. The short version
is that he allowed his flesh to get the best of him after his wife died and fell
to temptation. He did not realize he had
actually slept with his daughter-in-law Tamar. She presented herself that way
to trick him…for he had broken his promise to her to give her in marriage to
his youngest son…as was the custom when brothers died and left a widow.
We could discuss the horror and dysfunction of this
family. Tamar’s first husband died
because he was so wicked. His brother
died because he spilled his seed on the ground instead of allowing Tamar the
child she deserved to carry on the family line. Tamar’s sin was great….tricking
her father-in-law out of bitterness and spite to get what she wanted. Jacob was
seeking comfort and release from prostitutes.
They were definitely no model of how to live a righteous life.
But my spirit felt a twinge of that good old grace and mercy
that only God can give when Judah poured out his confession and released Tamar
from the death he had requested. God even used this family in their repented
state to carry on the line of David that would eventually produce our savior Jesus
Christ through her son Perez.
I loved this quote from gotquestions.org. It said…. “God’s purposes are accomplished
despite our unrighteousness.” Just read the 11th chapter of Hebrews
and you will see example after example of sinners that God convicted and turned
faithful.
It is a great reminder to me to not point fingers at the sin
I see in others. Someone once said…that
when I do that there are 4 other fingers pointing at myself. Jesus was the only
one who had a right to throw any stones…and he chose to drop his in favor of
mercy and grace.
Father…thank you for your perfect son who died on a cross to
give me salvation…the gift of mercy…and the grace that allows me to ask
forgiveness for my sins. Forgive me for the times that I have forgotten how you
forgave me…and judged others. Help me to
always see that others sin in no different than mine. Help me to always see sin as Judah did and
confess it as soon as you bring it to conviction. Amen.
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