Genesis 38
Genesis 38
There are many reasons why I think this chapter is included in Scripture. One of them is to display God’s sovereignty over even bad situations to accomplish His plans and purposes.
This chapter covers the repeated victimization of Tamar by the family of Judah. She first marries his oldest son who is so evil that God strikes him dead. The second son meets the same fate by doing what was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Do we think these were loving men and that these were good marriages? Do we think that Tamar felt loved and valued enough to want to marry the third son?
No. It is clear that these were not godly men who would have truly treated her well. However, it is implied that being a burden to her father’s house was worse. She is willing to go along with Judah’s desires for her so that she could have offspring since it was clear Judah was not going to give her to his third son. I don’t believe she thought that the third son was more righteous than the first two, she was just that desperate.
I am by no means saying that Tamar is blameless in all of this. But I am saying that in the end Judah declares her as more righteous than him, when oftentimes we tell the story with Tamar being the sole source of the blame. Stories like this make us uncomfortable because there is no clear good guy and bad guy. It is a mess of sin affecting and hurting others, broken people, and desperate responses. But God is working even in the midst of this crazy passage.
She conceives through her encounter with Judah, and has twin sons, the older of which is in the line of Jesus. There are five women named in the family line of Christ, and Tamar is the first. God used Tamar, who undoubtedly suffered through these events, to bring the Messiah to earth to ultimately rescue His people.
We don’t know what the rest of Tamar’s life was like. Maybe it was smooth sailing after the birth of her sons, or maybe she endured more hardships. But her story of fighting for herself and, unbeknownst to her, fighting for the Messianic line to continue, is recorded in the Bible. We are meant to see her story and learn.
We may never know why we suffer in this life. But God promises that He is sovereign and has a purpose for everything that we endure. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
How does knowing God is sovereign over every individual comfort you?
By: Kaitlin White
There are many reasons why I think this chapter is included in Scripture. One of them is to display God’s sovereignty over even bad situations to accomplish His plans and purposes.
This chapter covers the repeated victimization of Tamar by the family of Judah. She first marries his oldest son who is so evil that God strikes him dead. The second son meets the same fate by doing what was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Do we think these were loving men and that these were good marriages? Do we think that Tamar felt loved and valued enough to want to marry the third son?
No. It is clear that these were not godly men who would have truly treated her well. However, it is implied that being a burden to her father’s house was worse. She is willing to go along with Judah’s desires for her so that she could have offspring since it was clear Judah was not going to give her to his third son. I don’t believe she thought that the third son was more righteous than the first two, she was just that desperate.
I am by no means saying that Tamar is blameless in all of this. But I am saying that in the end Judah declares her as more righteous than him, when oftentimes we tell the story with Tamar being the sole source of the blame. Stories like this make us uncomfortable because there is no clear good guy and bad guy. It is a mess of sin affecting and hurting others, broken people, and desperate responses. But God is working even in the midst of this crazy passage.
She conceives through her encounter with Judah, and has twin sons, the older of which is in the line of Jesus. There are five women named in the family line of Christ, and Tamar is the first. God used Tamar, who undoubtedly suffered through these events, to bring the Messiah to earth to ultimately rescue His people.
We don’t know what the rest of Tamar’s life was like. Maybe it was smooth sailing after the birth of her sons, or maybe she endured more hardships. But her story of fighting for herself and, unbeknownst to her, fighting for the Messianic line to continue, is recorded in the Bible. We are meant to see her story and learn.
We may never know why we suffer in this life. But God promises that He is sovereign and has a purpose for everything that we endure. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
How does knowing God is sovereign over every individual comfort you?
By: Kaitlin White
2 Comments
Such excellent insights! Thank you for this perspective Kaitlin
Really good read today, Kaitlin. I am comforted by God's sovereignty because I know how wicked is the heart of man. It comforts me to know that an all powerful God of justice and love is in charge.