Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"After a long time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him. When Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep," she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, "Come now, let me sleep with you." "And what will you give me to sleep with you?" she asked. "I'll send you a young goat from my flock," he said. "Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?" she asked. He said, "What pledge should I give you?" "Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand," she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow's clothes again. Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. He asked the men who lived there, "Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?" "There hasn't been any shrine prostitute here," they said. So he went back to Judah and said, "I didn't find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, 'There hasn't been any shrine prostitute here.' " Then Judah said, "Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn't find her." 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 given the name Zerah." Genesis 38:12-30
Tamar had been reduced to permanent widowhood. She realized this as she waited and waited for Judah to make good on his promise to allow her to produce a son through his youngest son Shelah after he got older. Well, Shelah grew up and Judah did not make good on his promise. You’ll remember that two of his sons, Er and Onan, died while having relations with Tamar but their deaths had nothing to do with Tamar and everything to do with the wickedness of the sons. Judah didn’t understand this and thought he could protect Shelah by putting off off Tamar. I’m sure he never expected Tamar to display incredible resiliency and perseverance in her desire to receive what she saw as rightfully hers. In this scripture passage, we see where Tamar is able to regain her dignity and her special place in God’s almighty plan.
First, Tamar poses as a prostitute and lures Judah into having sex with her. Our scripture begins with the death of Judah’s wife so he no doubt missed her companionship and intimacy as he unknowingly propositions his own daughter-in-law. And although Judah didn’t know who he was dealing with, Tamar certainly knew all about Judah, especially his penchant for not telling the truth. Anticipating that he might not send a young goat from his flock in exchange for sex and to prevent him from trying to deny having sexual relations with her, she convinces Judah to make pledge. Scripture tells us he gave his seal, cord and staff to Tamar as a sign of his pledge. It was only then that Tamar slept with him and became pregnant by Judah.
Under the obligation of his pledge, Judah did send the goat for the prostitute only to find that he had been fooled because no prostitute existed at least there wasn’t one at the time. But three months later, Judah is told that his daughter-in-law was a prostitute and had gotten pregnant. Not knowing that Tamar was the one he slept with, he ordered Tamar burned to death. What an embarrassment it must have been when Tamar holds up the seal, cord and staff, saying that the father of her child was the owner of these items. Recognizing what had happened, Judah states, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." In other words, Tamar was determined to see that she had a child to carry on the family name and lineage, whether Judah was going to help her or not. And she succeeded.
Tamar’s actions were part of a broader plan that God had set in motion. Had it not been the will of God, she wouldn’t have been successful luring Judah to her and she certainly would not have become pregnant. But all of this was His will and then some. You see, one of the twins born to Tamar and Judah, Perez, became part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. (see Matthew 1:3). And you’ll notice that Tamar is listed as well…reward for her unwillingness to give up in the face of adversity.
Question: Have you ever run into obstacles as you set forth to accomplish God’s will? Have you encountered a person or person who seemed intent on keeping you from accomplishing what God wanted you to achieve? If so, draw inspiration and strength from Tamar…a woman who displayed dogged determination and unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling God’s plan and joining the family tree of Jesus.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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