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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 306

"Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful." Nehemiah 9:31

Text: Genesis 38:1-30

SELF-RIGHTEOUS ANGER

When Judah heard that Tamar was pregnant, he became incensed. His reaction was swift and terrible.

“So Judah said, ‘Bring her out and let her be burned!”
GENESIS 38:24b

Should she be burned because of her harlotry? Why then did Judah seek out a harlot? Self-righteousness can be so perverted!


TAMAR’S DEFENCE

Tamar must have anticipated all that Judah would do to her. Thus before she was sentenced, she announced (denounced?) the identity of the person who made her pregnant.

“When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying,
‘By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.’
And she said, ‘Please determine whose these are –
the signet and cord, and staff.'”
GENESIS 38:25

The evidence she produced was irrefutable. Judah was convicted! He had no right to condemn her!


ADMISSION OF WRONG

Judah’s self-righteous attitude disappeared immediately and appropriately.

So Judah acknowledged them and said,
‘She has been more righteous than I,
because I did not give her to Shelah my son.’
And he never knew her again.”
GENESIS 38:26

Tamar could not be condemned! If she was guilty, than Judah was even more guilty! Judah admitted his wrongdoing. He knew that he had withheld Shelah from marrying Tamar!


TWINS FROM TAMAR

In time, Tamar bore twins. The birth was reminiscent of the births of Esau and Jacob.

“Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth,
That behold, twins were in her womb.”
GENESIS 38:27

Things had not turned out well for Judah! He had lost not only his wife and his two sons, he fathered the sons of Tamar! His folly and sin would stigmatise his character. Only an all-merciful God could still love him and forgive his sinful ways!