Tamar - In Your Face

Genesis 38:24-25 About three months later Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant." Judah said, "Bring her out and have her burned to death!" 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. And she added, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are."

Now, I must say that Tamar must have either been really thin, wearing really tight clothing or having a very big baby - because she's not even three months yet and the grapevine is already spreading its way to Judah's house.

It was not commonplace to burn an adulteress to death at this time. Burn her skin - mark her - scar her - but not death. However, Judah is still all up in arms about his duty to supply her with his youngest son - which he still does not want to do. What a perfect way to get Tamar out of the picture than to have her put to death for sinning against his oldest son.

I wish I could have been there to see the look on Judah's face when he got the message Tamar sent. I would have been like "nanny, nanny, boo, boo" - I just don't think that's what this messenger did though. Judah was shown his seal and cord and staff (driver's license - remember) and his sin of that day - three months ago - hit him like a ton of bricks.

For those of us that are dealing with people who have wronged us, this is a perfect example of how God works out things for those that are faithful to Him. His promise is one we can stand on - even when it looks as if all hope is lost...