Lessons From The Women Of The Bible (Series 2)

The #beinspired Series continues with the story of another woman in the Bible. If you missed the first series, catch it here. Journey with me through the life of Tamar...

Gen.38: 6-11 - Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight; so the LORD put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight; so he put him to death also.

Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up." For he thought, "He may die too, just like his brothers."

So Tamar went to live in her father's house.

The Journey of Tamar is indeed an interesting one, it re-emphasizes the fact that God is always on the lookout, He is always on alert, constantly looking for people who are totally committed to Him.

2 Chro. 16:9a "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him..."

The meaning of Tamar is Date Palm, which is a symbol of hope and fruitful expectations, but alas! for Tamar, fruitfulness was not to be! Despite being married to a Son in the lineage of Jacob, Tamar didn't have a pleasant family life as a young married woman. Having lived all her life with her parents, she was whisked away to the household of Judah to marry his son, Er, who was popular for his wickedness. Young Tamar, who would have had high hopes about married life and dreamt of enjoying the love of a husband found herself in a predicament- dealing with a wicked husband and his early death without leaving behind an heir for his family.

In line with the Levirate law, she was to be married to the next surviving brother to her late husband.

In her innocence, she was presented to Onan as wife to produce a heir for her late husband, but like his brother, Onan was deceitful and he also got his judgement by death.

At this time, Judah was grieving over the past as well as the present, and he was gripped with fear of the future. This innocent young woman became a widow twice in the prime of her youth.

She got tagged with the caption 'Lethal woman', treated with deception and contempt by the household of Judah, due to their loss.

What was the hope of this young widow who had a double loss?

By the views of man, a lethal woman had no heritage, she was dangerous and should be kept at bay. No one thought about how she would have felt, losing her husband and his brother through no fault of hers, yet be called lethal. In the midst of all these, she was returned home and would have died as an unproductive widow, but GOD HAD OTHER PLANS.

God had other plans

The righteousness of Tamar became revealed when God's prevailing mercy showed up over her destiny. All the while that Tamar was in the household of Judah, she must have known that he had a different God, and must have called upon the name of the God of Judah because God obviously heard her cry. Tamar waited to see if the God of Judah will judge righteously between herself and Judah.

The conception of Tamar occurred when after several years of waiting to return to her father in law's house, and it soon became obvious that Judah was not ready to give his last son to fulfill the levirate law towards her, and so she made the decision to fight for her right.

The popular opinion regarding women like Tamar was for them to remain in that state till death. Tamar, however, had deep loyalty towards this family who didn't love her, yet it was her desire to produce the heir who would continue the lineage. Although Judah had one more son, his character couldn't be too far from his last two brothers and so he may not have been able to fulfill that assignment, more so, God who already knew that Judah's lineage was the lineage of Jesus, had other plans.

Proverbs 16:2 "People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives"

Tamar arose in courage and endurance and asserted her rights. She recognised that fact that it was her right to become a mother, despite the shadiness of Judah and all the sufferings she endured in that family. She veiled herself and positioned herself in the pathway of Judah, pretending to be a harlot. Judah as against his sons performed the Levirate rights towards her, not for Incest, but to fulfill the law as stated in Deuteronomy 25:5-10

LESSONS:

1.It is not abnormal for those who ought to love you to hate you. Be secure in the assurance of God's love. When you feel lonesome, remind yourself that God's love for you is not based on your actions, but He loves you eternally. The love He has for you existed long before your birth.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave..."

2. Tamar did not give up hope while she waited to be recalled, neither did she opt to go into prostitution just to spite those who left her or labelled her as lethal.

3. God deals with the heart of man. God saw that the sons of Levi were not qualified for the royalty of the blood of Jesus, hence, He approved a different channel for Perez (an ancestor of Jesus) to be born.

4. Suffering plays a vital role in our walk with God. Jesus said 'in this world, you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world'; your response to suffering should be by endurance rather than murmuring.

5. The better channel for carrying your burdens is now by the shoulder of Jesus Christ. Trying to formulate strategies by yourself could be disastrous. Matthew 11:28 says 'Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest"

6. Those that the world seems to regard as sinful may not be sinful before God after all. It's not about physical looks but how God sees. What qualifies anyone as a vessel to achieve God's purpose is innate, God sees beyond the physical eyes.

7. God is just in all His ways. He calls the unqualified and qualifies the called. Realise that you may have been condemned by men, but God does not condemn you. Ruth 4:12 "And may the lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah".

8. Being unpopular is tough! Standing against general opinion is difficult but sometimes that is what you need to do especially when you have a nudge in that direction. Don't be afraid of the views of others rather cooperate with the nudging that God puts in your heart. He has a plan!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you," says the Lord, "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope"

WHAT MUST YOU DO AS A HEIR?

God has a plan for you and you cannot fulfill His plans outside Him! Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour ensures that you do not walk alone, nor carry your burdens alone. It is Gods desire that He fights your battle, vindicates you and takes you to His purpose. Will you cooperate with Him?

#faith #covenant #tamar #womenofthebible

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