“Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.” Genesis 38:6 (NKJV)
Growing up I never remember having heard the story of Tamar. I think I was in my teens reading the Bible through with a one-year plan that I came across this story in Genesis 38. Let’s get the setting of the story.
Judah married Shua and they had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er married Tamar. God killed Er because he was wicked. Judah told Onan to go to Tamar to give an heir for his son, Er. Onan didn’t want to have a son of his be the heir for Er, so he didn’t complete the task. Because of this, God killed Onan. (Genesis 38:7-10).
Judah has one son left but he apparently was considerably younger than his brothers. Judah sent Tamar back to her father’s house to live as a widow until Shelah would be old enough to marry. As time went on, Judah’s wife, Shua, passed away. Shelah was grown and still Judah had not given him to Tamar to marry.
Tamar heard that Judah was going to Timnah to sheer his sheep. She cast off her widow garments and dressed as a common harlot and covered her face. When Judah saw her, he propositioned her. He told her that he would give her a goat if she would come and be with him, but he didn’t have the goat with him. He told her he would give her his signet, his cord, and his staff to keep until he could bring her the goat as surety.
Tamar went back home and put on her widow garments again. However, she had gotten pregnant from her time with Judah. In the meantime, Judah had gone back with the goat to get his signet, cord and staff, but couldn’t find the woman he had slept with. The people of the town told him that they had never had a harlot in their town. So Judah went back home confused.
About three months later Judah was told that Tamar was pregnant and she wasn’t married. Judah said to bring Tamar to him with plans to burn her to death. She brought the signet, cord and staff and asked Judah to determine who they belonged to. Judah acknowledged that they belonged to him and that she had been more righteous than he had been.
What lesson or lessons can we learn from this story? Tamar was the innocent person throughout the story. Judah was the one arranging the weddings and had not disciplined his sons in the way of the Lord. It matters how we bring up our children and if we fail in their upbringing, the consequences can come back to bite us!
Another lesson is from Tamar’s perspective. She did not contest Judah’s decision for her to marry Onan after Er was killed by God. She did not contest being sent back to her parents’ home after Onan was killed by God. There will be times when I need to accept the culture I live in as long as it does not go against God’s laws.
However, she did not need to stay in the background and be totally forgotten. After Judah’s wife passed away the requirement for having a child to carry on Er’s heritage fell back to Judah. God honored Tamar’s actions by allowing her to get pregnant with Judah. There may be times when I need to take action in some situations. However, I need to be sure that I have done all I could do to stay within God’s plans before taking any additional action.
Listen to the Booth Brothers as they sing “God Understands.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 1/17/24, 6:00 am