Mar 20

Genesis 38:1-30
Memorise Galatians 6:7
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked"

The account again switches to an incident that happened between Judah, his sons, and Tamar his daughter in law. It is a sordid and twisted affair of betrayal, broken promises, deceit and adultery. Yet it was chosen to be included in God’s inspired canon. Why is that so? Let us read on.

And so Judah had three sons, and the first married a woman named Tamar. He was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and so the Lord slew him (Genesis 38:7). As was the custom in those days, Judah’s second son was then given to Tamar in order that he might raise a son in his first brother’s name. However, he refused to do so, and so the Lord slew him as well (Genesis 38:9-10). Seeing Tamar as a sort of a jinx, Judah then sent her back to live in her father’s house, though promising his final son Shelah to her when he was old enough to marry (Genesis 38:11). However when Judah failed to keep this promise, Tamar sought to take matters into her own hands. She dressed herself up as a harlot and enticed Judah to sleep with her, not knowing who she actually was. She then took his signet, bracelet and staff – objects that were proof of his identity, as a surety for the payment that he owed her for her services. From that encounter, she became pregnant. When this was made known to Judah, he called for her to be burnt! However, when she presented evidence that the child within her was actually from Judah himself, he realised his sin, and acknowledged that “she hath been more righteous than I; because I gave her not to Shelah my son” (Genesis 38:26). He himself had sinned too for succumbing to the temptation of a harlot, and furthermore she was in a sense ‘justified’ for resorting to these tactics in order to bear a child. This is not to say that Tamar was entirely guiltless in what she did, but compared to Judah’s sin, she was ‘more righteous’ than him. The remaining verses tell of how from this union came forth a pair of twin sons, Pharez and Zarah. In time to come, we would learn that Pharez would be of the Messianic line, from whom King David and the Lord Jesus Christ would one day descend from (Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:3).

So what can we learn from this whole event? Of course it is a negative example that we would learn not to emulate. But we also see that it is in spite of man’s sin that God continues to work. Man may act in the most carnal and sinful way, but God’s providence continues to shines through and will fulfil His plan. God is infinitely wise, and makes no mistake.

Thought: God’s is faithful even when man is unfaithful.
Prayer: Lord, may I learn to trust in Thy faithfulness and sovereignty.