grace without borders: Tamar

    Matthew 1 is a passage that details the genealogy of Christ. Among the many names that have been mentioned, are the names of five women you wouldn't expect. They are not your average 'perfect' ladies, most of them if not all, would probably have been evicted from today's church, rediculed and mocked. however, God used them in His plan of bringing forth the Messiah.

    The first woman to be mentioned is Tamar. Her story is in Genesis 38. She was the daughter-in-law of Judah, Joseph's brother. Judah, was Leah's son, Jacob's first wife. He went and married the daughter of a Canaanite man and they had three boys. He found a wife for his firstborn, Er, a girl by the name of Tamar. Er turned out to be wicked and God killed him. Tamar was now a widow and according to their custom, Er's brother, Onan, had to fulfil his duty by sleeping with Tamar so that she can have an offspring for Er. But what does Onan do? He slept with her then poured his semen on the ground. At this point Tamar must have felt used, abused, pained and tortured. Again, this was wrong in the eyes of God and so He killed Him too. Tamar was now a widow for the second time and still without a child. I wonder what must have been going on in her head.

    The youngest son Shelah was supposed to fulfil his duty, but Jacob did the math in his head and figured that at this rate, he would lose the only son he had left. He told Tamar to go back to his father's house and live as a widow until Shelah grew up. But no, Judah did not intend to lose the only son he had left. Let's step into Tamar's shoes, you got married then your husband died. You've gone back home a childless widow. Your parents are probably ashamed of you and everyone else must think that you are cursed.

    Back to Jacob. A long time later, Jacob's wife died and after grieving her death, he went up to Timnah with his friend to sheer sheep. When Tamar was told that his father-in-law was going to Timnah, she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil and sat at the road to Timnah. Judah passed by and saw her. Thinking she was a prostitute he asked her to sleep with him. Tamar asked what she'll be given in return and he said he'll send her a goat. She asked for a pledge and Judah gave her his seal and cord and his staff. Judah slept with her and she got pregnant. When Judah sent a goat so he could get his belongings back, he was told that there had not been a prostitute there.

    Fast-forward three months later, Judah received word that Tamar was pregnant. In anger, he ordered that she be burnt. But  Tamar sent a message to Judah that she was pregnant with the owner of the seal, cord and staff. I can only imagine the shock on Judah's face as he held those things in his hand. He had been unfair to Tamar. He had lied to her. Tamar gave birth to twins,  Perez and Zerah and the Bible says that Judah never slept with her again. Perez went on to be one of the forefathers in the lineage of Christ.

 The story of Tamar is a picture of God's redemption. Salvation has been extended to all regardless of our past and the scars that we have, whether they have been inflicted on us by ourselves or others. as women, we may have past experiences that have left us wounded. habits and patterns that have eroded our relationship to our Saviour and finding our way back feels close to impossible. These experiences have led us to create barriers to protect ourselves from being hurt. this passage though reveals the nature of God. the extent He goes to defend us even when we are not walking with Him and the love He has extended to us though we do not deserve it.

Up next is the story of Rahab. A story of grace and faith in action.