Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, was part of the lineage of Christ. As much as Judah was not the “ideal” man, neither were his sons (in their treatment of her) …God had the last word over her life.

Even the mistreatment of Joseph along with the grief of Jacob, his father, (resulting from Judah and “the brothers”), was not in vain. God had the last word… raising up Joseph to be great and forgiving- a type of Christ himself.

I love the analogies throughout the Bible using birth as a way for God to bring forth His word, everlasting. #bornagain

What is it in our own lives that seems unjust, unfair or plain old mean? Don’t forget that God will have the last word. If we fall on Him, we may experience brokenness, but with merciful healing. If He falls on us (meaning the Son of God, chief cornerstone of God’s church and plan for mankind), it will be destruction.

How wonderful to have a chance to believe God’s word and trust His provision for us. -Teresa

p.s. Remember how much God loves the Son, just as Jacob loved Joseph. Do not despise His gift to the world but be found “in Him”, through faith (Philippians 3:9).

Genesis 37:26-36; 38:1-5

²⁶ Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?²⁷ Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. ²⁸ Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels^[c] of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes³⁰ and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” ³¹ Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. ³² And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” ³³ And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.³⁵ All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.³⁶ Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Judah and Tamar

38 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.² There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, ³ and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. ⁴ She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. ⁵ Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah^[d] was in Chezib when she bore him….

Vv.26-30 (parenthesis added)

²⁶ Then Judah identified them and said, “She (Tamar) is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

²⁷ When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. ²⁸ And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” ²⁹ But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez.^[h] 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.