The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 38:24,
"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!'"
Judah got a wife, Tamar, for his first born son, Er. Er was "wicked in the Lord's sight" so he put him to death. Judah then had his second son, Onan, take Tamar to raise up offspring for his late brother. However, we read, "But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death also." Verses 9-10. Then we read that Judah deceitfully kept his third son, Shelah, from Tamar for the same purpose because he feared Shelah might encounter the same fate as his two previous brothers. This was a wrong by Judah to Tamar who was innocent of the first two brother's deaths.
Tamar got what was due her by impersonating a temple prostitute by disguising herself and laid a trap for Judah. Judah employed her and she became pregnant by her father-in-law. Then we read the above in verse 24.
Some commentators appear to miss the driving cause of the whole event we read of in this chapter (Judah not doing right by Tamar in keeping his third son, Shelah, from her), and focus entirely on the issue of adultery/prostitution. I'm not quite sure why they miss the point that Judah arrived at, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." Verse 26. Fascination with the titillating?
"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!'"
Judah got a wife, Tamar, for his first born son, Er. Er was "wicked in the Lord's sight" so he put him to death. Judah then had his second son, Onan, take Tamar to raise up offspring for his late brother. However, we read, "But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death also." Verses 9-10. Then we read that Judah deceitfully kept his third son, Shelah, from Tamar for the same purpose because he feared Shelah might encounter the same fate as his two previous brothers. This was a wrong by Judah to Tamar who was innocent of the first two brother's deaths.
Tamar got what was due her by impersonating a temple prostitute by disguising herself and laid a trap for Judah. Judah employed her and she became pregnant by her father-in-law. Then we read the above in verse 24.
Some commentators appear to miss the driving cause of the whole event we read of in this chapter (Judah not doing right by Tamar in keeping his third son, Shelah, from her), and focus entirely on the issue of adultery/prostitution. I'm not quite sure why they miss the point that Judah arrived at, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." Verse 26. Fascination with the titillating?
Nonetheless, as I read the story, I can't help but wonder if Judah's judgment of Tamar in her appearance of engaging in prostitution by condemning her to be put to death had less to do with the supposed prostitution (afterall, was he not engaging temple prostitutes himself?) and more to do with removing her so he would not be publicly condemned for not doing right by Tamar in giving her to Shelah. Was Judah's judgment of Tamar really justice? Or convenience for him?
Just thinking out loud here...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment