We’re going to take a bit of a commercial break from our storyline involving Joseph. Today’s reading centers on one of Joseph’s brothers, Judah. Not the oldest of Jacob’s sons, but one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ. What surprised you about this story? Feel free to share in the comments.
We learn a little about the law at that time and expectations of how the inheritance of a family line works. Judah’s oldest son marries Tamar but they have no children. By custom, the next brother in line will then be with his deceased brother’s wife to give his brother an heir. It’s an interesting arrangement, but here Judah’s second son wants nothing to do with this custom. Because of his disobedience, his life ends, too. Now the poor bride is left husbandless again.
There was another brother, but he was too young for marriage. Judah didn’t want another son to die. Little did Judah know it was not because of Tamar his sons died but because his own sons were not God-fearing and followers of the law. Hopefully, Shelah will behave more as God intends. Interesting that God just wiped these two men off the face of the planet for not being obedient.
I suppose it’s examples like this that make people wonder about God. They see him as an angry and mean God. When we look at it from a different angle, it’s not all bad really. We know how God can control a situation. Now we should want him in our lives making things happen for good. We need to be more obedient children so we can be safe from an early demise.
The whole prostitution story was a bit surprising, too. Talk about double standard. It’s okay for Judah to take advantage of a woman, but it’s not okay for the woman to have been doing the same. There was more to this story. I don’t think it was ever intended that the father of the dead son be the one to give his son an heir. In the scheme of things, he would only be producing another sibling. In this case, there will be twins. But God will use it.
There is a lot of deception going on here. Judah never intended to give Tamar another chance. Tamar wasn’t going to remain childless and had devised a plan. Yet by her actions Judah sees her as righteous, following through with the order of things in terms of the inheritance. It seems God is in the business of cleaning up our messes. It’s a good thing, because we can really mess them up on our own. We can make some wrong choices along the way that really muck up the waters of life. We can only be blessed then when God intervenes to make the water clear again.
Are you being obedient to God? Don’t just let this question go past. How can you do a better job of listening and living the way God wants you to live?
Let’s pray. Lord, I come to you and ask that you cleanse me from my sinful thoughts and doubts. Restore my faithfulness to the degree that I trust you for everything. Forgive me when I try to take back control of things. It is so much better when I let you take the lead. Refresh me and give me clarity on who I should talk to and what I should say. Bring to me those people who need a word from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen
