Lessons from Judah and Tamar for Today’s Faithful
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a challenging yet powerful passage from God’s Holy Word: the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. Let us begin by affirming that every word in Scripture is God-breathed, inspired by the Almighty for our instruction and edification, as we read in 2 Timothy 3:16: " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ." This story, though it may unsettle us, is included in the Bible for a purpose—to teach us about sin, judgment, righteousness, and the boundless grace of our redeeming God. A Tale of Sin and Consequences The account opens with Judah, a son of Jacob, stepping away from his family and marrying a Canaanite woman—a choice that went against the clear guidance given to his forefathers (Genesis 24:3, 28:1). From this union come three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er marries Tamar, but his wickedness is so great that God strikes him dead (Genesis...