“Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron”
Matthew 1:3 (NIV)
Tamar is the 1st of 3 women named in our Lord’s genealogy, a 4th woman is mentioned but not named. The account of Tamar and the line of Judah continuing into the future is one of several accounts in the bible that record women backfilling for men not willing to live righteously.
Judah followed Esau’s sin of marrying an ungodly woman, who produced 3 sons for him. Er was wicked, God put him to death. Onan wouldn’t honour God by producing offspring for his father’s line thru Er’s widow, so God put him to death. Judah loved his 3rd son more than he honoured God, so he sent Tamar back to her parent’s home. If a woman hadn’t acted, the line of Judah would have ended. But as Judah said; “she is more righteous than I” and when you read what she was willing to do in order to see Judah’s line continue into the future, you just have to respect her.
Scandalous? Yes.
Brazen? Yes.
Humiliating? Yes.
Demeaning? Yes.
Righteous? Absolutely!
Will we see all of the people from Matthew’s genealogy in heaven? Not likely. But I am expecting to see Tamar. And when I do, I want to say thank you to this lady, who despite being in a powerless position- took action that continued Judah’s line into the future, that brought us David and then brought us Jesus the Messiah who is the power of God for salvation.
Thank you God - for the women who step up, when the men flake out.
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