Saturday, August 30, 2025

What A Mess

 

As riding the Bible adventures of the book of Genesis, I came across chapter 38 and didn’t realize I was about to be taken on a very messy ride.

It’s the story of Judah and Tamar, one of those stories that sounds more from a soap opera script then Bible.  In those days childless widows were sometimes obligated by law to marry their deceased husband’s brother to ensure their deceased spouse lineage and property. Widows, can I get an amen that this is not so today 😊

Tamar was a widow in those times where she was looking to keep her deceased spouse lineage for continued support.  Yet Judah refused to the marrying of  Tamar by delaying the levirate marriage to his youngest son, Shelah, for fear he would die. This left Tamar vulnerable as a widow.  Here is where the story feels like you’re reading a soap opera script.  Tamar wanting her justice so she disguised herself as a prostitute and ended up having sexual relations with Judah when he traveled to Timna.  She had Judah provide his signet as proof of what happened when she became pregnant.   Do you have your popcorn out 😊.  At first Judah wanted her killed for such accusations until he saw her proof.  Then it darns on him that he failed to provide for Tamar as her father-in-law.  He admitted that Tamar was more righteous than he was and it lead to his repentance.  What’s even more extraordinary is out of all this mess came redemption for Judah, justice for Tamar and she ended up being part of Jesus family tree. 

Selah

In reflection, I begin to have thoughts about myself and my own family.  On paper there is a lot of messes going on that makes me have the “I wish” moments at times.  Yet I was encouraged to know that God can take our messes and have his purpose within them.  God’s light shines best through our flaws and scandalous situations.  The mess does not have to be the end of our story, but the beginning of our redemption in Him.

So, for those of you who feel like Sig in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy movie by saying “This galaxy is messed up” 😊 Remember that God is even in the messes that only He can clean. 

Be Encouraged.

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