Tamar’s Redemption

The story of Tamar in the Bible is not one that is taught or preached about very much. She was married to Judah’s son Er, wicked in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD put him to death. Judah told Onan, Er’s brother to sleep with Tamar to give offspring for his brother, but he failed to provide the expected son. Then Judah promised his younger son Shelah to Tamar, but he didn’t keep his promise. What was Tamar to do? Live as a widow all her days? No. She put a veil over her face and posed as a prostitute on Judah’s way into the town of Timnah.

Judah slept with Tamar and she became pregnant. Incest is a sin in any culture, but Tamar felt forgotten, and she resorted to this indecent act to bring her the sought after family offspring. Judah promised her a young goat, but she asked for something in pledge. Judah gave her his seal, cord and staff. When he found out Tamar was pregnant, he ordered her to be burned to death, but she sent him the seal, cord and staff and said, “See if you recognize these” (Genesis 38:25). He did recognize them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” Tamar bore twins and named them Perez and Zerah.

Redeemed, Not Abandoned

The lineage of Christ – the part that says, “Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar . . . ” is recorded in Matthew 1:3. At first glance, it looks like God rewarded Tamar for her scandalous act. That is not the case. He rescued a courageous woman who could have been forgotten and used her for His divine purpose. Was her act any more a sin than Rehab’s sin of lying to protect the spies in Jericho? Or Abram’s sin of lying to the Pharaoh about Sarai, his wife? Or David’s sin with Bathsheba? No. God can use evil for good. When I think how unjustified this seems, I am reminded how God took the sin of my past and still uses it in my testimony to witness to other women who might feel despair and loneliness. At first I was not comfortable sharing my testimony, but I have grown thankful for all the things that have led me closer to Jesus.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord God, for stories of courageous women in your word that encourage us to be transparent before others so they might relate to your amazing love. In Christ’s precious and powerful name, Amen.

Exiled but Not Abandoned

This is a picture of modern day Baghdad, Iraq, near ancient Babylon. Jeremiah warned Israel to return to their God or be exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. They put their confidence in the beautiful temple in Jerusalem instead of God and refused to listen to Jeremiah. Israel reminds me of myself – a hard learner. She had been oppressed by Egypt, Persia, Assyria and Babylon. Like Israel, I have chosen my ways over God’s ways too many times, but fortunately I was not exiled to another country.

Not Abandoned

God used Nebuchadnezzar to discipline His people, but He never left them alone. I believe Israel believed what He said in the past applied to them too: “Be courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). This promise applies to us today in our world too.

God said, “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. You will call to me and come and pray to me.'” (Jeremiah 29:10-13).

Israel Thrived

Do you wonder what it might have been like to be in exile? Where would Nebuchadnezzar put all the Israelites? On the poor side of town? In the suburbs? This is what God said: “The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive'” (Jeremiah 29:4-7).

After seventy years Israel was released by King Cyrus to return to her homeland. However, a generation had passed, and most of the exiles did not return to Jerusalem.

Prayer

Blessed are you our Lord God, King of the universe who loves and cares for His people, thank you for all you do for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.