Why not.. all this happening with his older bro Reuben who should have known better? Well, Reuben stubbornly opted to cover his sin instead.
“Judah identified them and said, ‘She (meaning his daughter in law, Tamar) is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not know her again.” (See Gen. 38:20-26) #emph.mine. Muse on...
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 1 Corinthians 11:31“Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that region, Reuben (Jacob’s 1st born) went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.” Genesis 35:21-22Reuben, “Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence..” Gen. 49:1But Judah judged himself. Why wait and have God’s judgement arrive instead? And God changed him into a great man.
- Be brave in getting honest (Gen. 38:20-26).
- Be humble, faithful, selfless, godly, a wise witness and example of good character.
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13)
God does care about you, about how you are / live.. and about good works -- yes, about them being on the right side of your born again experience, not merely before trying to earn your salvation. Ain’t gunna happen--it’s religious.
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Lk. 16:10)
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Lk. 16:10)
“A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.” (Pro 14:5)
"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Lk. 16:11). Hey, remember how the Father and Jesus are faithful (1 Co. 1:9, Deut. 7:9), and Moses was, (Num. 12:7).
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Lk. 16:11)
“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Co. 4:2)
“And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'” (Lk. 19:17)
Moses did not fully share all things regarding Tamar’s plan and seduction of her father-in-law. Think about it, she really was after all the victim in this story though she did all that she could possibly do to faithfully bear a son for her dead yet ungodly husband, Er. Genesis 38 really condemns Judah, implying at least that his passive sin partially justifies Tamar’s non-passive acts.
Judah’s years of wickedness is plain. He defied his forefathers’ wisdom (24:1–9; 26:34–35; 28:1–2). He became yoked in marriage to a Canaanite (38:1–3). He showed no drive to properly give Abraham offspring and ignored a helpless widow when he withheld his son Shelah from his daughter-in-law (38:11, 14b). He actually made Esau’s errors (26:34–35; Heb. 12:12–17), for he married a pagan-chic and later lustfully played the fool in seeking after a prostitute (Gen. 38:15–19; Prov. 23:27). Judah also felt eye-for-an-eye justice when Tamar’s deception of him involved a goat and clothing (38:15–26) since he earlier deceived Jacob with these things (37:29–35).
Think about how Jacob deceived using goat skin.
This reveals Judah’s own evil acts. In 38:20–23, he sent his friend with a goat to pay his debt to Tamar and retrieve his own seal and staff. Both of these would bear his identity / name, and he would have been embarrassed if they were found in a harlot’s possession. This potential embarrassment, with no hint of remorse for his wicked lust, moves Judah to stop looking for Tamar lest his sexual dalliances become publicized. Would he forever hide, conceal, cover his sins?
Nope. He’d be exposed, for he wouldn’t expose himself.
Not surprisingly, Judah is way stricter, tougher, harsher with Tamar for her alleged immorality than he is with himself for his own perverse sins (v. 24). Tamar was factually and technically betrothed to Shelah (v. 11), and her apparent adultery merited execution under the proper conditions (by stoning, not more painfully by fire).
Why are we typically so quick to judge and much harsher on those people who do the same sins we do?
Yet Judah changes his tune when Tamar produces his staff and ring as proof that capital punishment rightly applies to him as well (Deut. 22:22–24). She was ready for him.
Judah now sees his own refusal to give Tamar a husband for the sin that it really was. He made it clear that Tamar was more righteous than he because his refusal to get to her a husband had literally pressured her to take matters into her own hands. And she took such drastic action. (Gen. 38:25–26).
This son from the chosen line, Judah, has put his duty off. He has cared so little to live according to God’s holy promise (15:1–6) and give Abraham many well-taught grandsons. By contrast and great risk to her own life, Tamar has acted to increase the patriarch’s progeny even though she was not brought up knowing this Lord of truth, justice and super kind love.
Study through, prayerfully muse on, meditate upon:
What did Judah’s disobedient refusal to give Tamar a husband show? He revealed that his faith was really weak (James 2:14–26). Let God save and strengthen you!
We likewise show our faith to be weak, lacking, yes wanting when we passively or actively sin against the Lord. Why are we more concerned about offending other people these days..like the snowflakes with anything we believe.. than offending God with sin. Let's be bold in Christ.. yes, become more concerned with offending Him in sin, than offending any human-beings.
Like Judah, we would be wiser to become willing to confess our own sins before God and others whom we trust when the Spirit convicts our hearts. Fast.. when the Holy Spirit pricks our consciences. Truth and God’s grace should win inside of us. It should so far prevail with all of us, even today, so that we should never become too embarrassed or feel ashamed to quickly confess em... before God and the whole world. All those sins with which the seeing God charges us. Choose to trust Jesus today!
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it." Luke 9:24
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it." Luke 9:24
I've never regretted that day in the Spring of '77 in Newport Beach area when I decided to repent and trust Christ as my Savior. Not one day, and really don't mind sayin' it. Jesus Christ has all the way been good to me!
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