Meet a contender wrestling with cultural inequality to secure her inheritance. Tamar would not be denied life, dignity, and destiny.
Tamar is the first woman listed in the genealogical record of Jesus the Messiah. What merited Matthew’s inclusion of this incredible woman?
God intends for man to take his place as defender, protector, and provider of his household, walking faithfully before Him. What happens when men stumble and lose their way? When deliberate choices to abandon personal identity, home and family invade, then what?
Judah
Genesis 38 begins with the words, “at that time“.
What time is “that time”?
“At that time” when Judah was involved in a jealous conspiracy to kill his own brother, eventually selling him into slavery. It was “that time” when lies couldn’t conceal sin or soothe a father’s grief. “At that time” when guilt haunted and self condemnation screamed.
“At that time,
Judah left his brothers
and went down to stay…”
Genesis 38:1
Little words containing enormous ramifications! Judah “left”! Running away from his family, he hoped to escape himself. He “went down” the well-travelled road ultimately leading to dead ends.
Judah withdrew from more than his family, however. He crossed God’s boundary line of protection by marrying a Canaanite woman.
Together their marriage produced three sons: Er, Onan, and Selah.
Tamar
Tamar enters the picture as the wife chosen for Er. Er was “wicked in the LORD’s sight“, so wicked God “put him to death.“ (38:7). Are there any willing volunteers to take Tamar’s place? Instead of the fulfillment of a little girl’s dream of happy marriage, Tamar found herself in a painful nightmare.
Judah instructs his second son to fulfill the Levirate marriage requirement to ensure the continuation of his brother’s family line and protection of his widow. Onan also was “wicked” (38:10). He was all too happy to use Tamar for his own sexual pleasure while refusing to fulfill any obligation to her, his family or God.
Stubbornly refusing to face his own sinful heart or the blatant wickedness of his sons, Judah casts all blame toward Tamar.
Sin is never “private”! Its twisted deception infects and affects everyone!
“Live as a widow
in your father’s household
until my son Shelah grows up.”
Genesis 38:11
A hollow empty promise, to be sure! With a word, Judah cut Tamar from her inheritance pushing her out of his sight — a widow, childless and vulnerable.
Her story unfolds like a soap opera! Tamar waits! Years pass! Still, she waits.
Tamar means date palm, the ultimate symbol of life and productivity. Her confinement concealed the true destiny and calling within her name! Would she settle as castaway? Would she bare the burden of another’s sins in powerless obscurity?
Life
How long the wait was, we are uncertain. The Bible simply says,
“After a long time,
Judah’s wife … died.
When Judah had recovered from his grief,
he went to Timnah…”
Genesis 38:12
Judah too had experienced great loss; no one dare minimize his anguish and grief. However, he gave himself permission to “recover from his grief.”
His daughter-in-law was granted no such grace!
Because of Judah’s unwillingness to give his youngest son Shelah to Tamar, he alone could fulfill the Levirate Law. With courage and boldness, Tamar veils herself and waits by the road, risking all to defend her family rights.
“When Judah saw her,
he thought she was a prostitute,
for she had covered her face.
Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law,
he went over to her by the roadside and said,
“come now, let me sleep with you.”
Genesis 38: 15-16
Judah’s journey took him further than he ever thought possible! The cost was incalculable!
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go,
keep you longer than you want to stay,
and cost you more than you want to pay.”
— R. Zaccharias
This account of Judah is nestled within Joseph’s larger story. A young goat’s blood was given to convince his father of Joseph’s staged death. Now Judah reaches into the flock a second time to mask another dark deception.
The Pledge
Judah promises a goat as payment for her services — a payment woefully lacking! Not searching to satisfy lust or fleshly desire, nor seeking revenge for gross injustice and mistreatment, she asks only for what is due her.
Boldly she claims her inheritance!
“What pledge should I give you?”
“Your seal and its cord,
and the staff in your hand,” she answered.
So he gave them to her…”
Genesis 38:18
The seal was a symbol of a man’s identity marking his personal worth, while the attached cord symbolized the binding of two things together. The staff in Judah’s hand was far more than a walking stick! It was an emblem of his authority, like a royal sceptre. It was probably hand carved; the length carefully etched with the names of his ancestry.
Yet Judah willingly placed everything into the hands of an “unknown” woman! For one moment of sexual pleasure, he yielded his identity, authority and generational inheritance. Astonishing!
Judah later sent his friend with the goat to pay the woman and retrieve his pledge. Unable to find her, his friend returns empty-handed.
“Let her keep what she has,
or we will become a laughingstock.”
Genesis 38:23
“Let her keep what she has?” Judah flippantly disregards the value of what has been lost. Nonetheless, words prophetically spoken.
Tamar’s Honour
Tamar became pregnant in the encounter. The life growing within her forming the connecting link between Abraham and Jesus. The promise protected in her womb outweighed any treasure in her hand!
“The “widow” is pregnant!”
Years of suppressed resentment and anger burst forth from Judah with hot volcanic force,
“Bring her out
and have her burned to death.”
Genesis 38:24
What could satiate a man’s tormented mind and heart? Public disgrace? Cruel aggression? Murder?
Tamar’s godliness shines through in polar opposite,
“As she was being brought out,
she sent a message to her father-in-law,
“I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said …
“See if you recognize whose
seal and cord and staff these are.”
Genesis 38:25
Tamar’s strength of character and honour toward a man unworthy of such kindness overcomes. No public accusation of his failure! No shaming the guilty or demanding justice! Tamar privately presents the evidence and leaves the result to God.
Destiny Secured
Judah is humbled by Tamar’s integrity, wisdom, and bravery.
“…She is more righteous than I…”
Genesis 38:26
Within her, Tamar carried a double portion — two sons! One of them, Perez, would carry the DNA of his courageous mother who refused to forfeit her destiny. The DNA of a woman worthy of inclusion in the bloodline of the Messiah!
Tamar spurned the victim’s stool! She disdained the wicked example of those around her. By living above reproach, she saw fulfillment of her destiny. Without compromise, she humbly followed the God others openly rejected.
Her reward? Her name forever written in God’s record of great women.
Tamar modelled godliness in ungodly circumstances. Will her example of contending for inheritance be duplicated in our day? Who among us will choose integrity and honour in the face of injustice? Who will lay claim to the spiritual blessing available for this and future generations?
Is there anyone who will stand against the cultural currents bringing Christ to the world today?
Tamar presents a challenge worth considering!
