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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