FLOODS OF FAITH PUBLISHING PRESENTS

JUDAH’S PARDON

FROM THE DESK OF REV. JOAN KREMPEL

GENESIS 38

At times I arise from my study chair and pace the floor asking, “Why, Why, Why?” Sometimes the answer is given, and sometimes the answer is “Keep digging.” Such was the case recently as I was studying (again) the sons of Jacob. I came to the part where Judah was tempted and deceived by Tamar. I backed up and re-read the account of Judah’s family life, went all the way through to the birth of the twins, then rose from my chair, “Why, why, why?”

There is only so much digging one can do. The teaching Holy Spirit knows that and when we reach the point where we just cannot get it, He fills in some of the blanks and waits to see how we will deal with that. If we are open and willing to explore ALL the facts, He can help us to understand. If we close our minds and willingness to reason some points and insist on concentrating on just one facet, He cannot reach us with any real answers. I am learning over and over again that God never judges a person on just one point. Sometimes there is a much larger picture than meets the eye and all things have to be carefully considered. He taught me years ago not to snap to an opinion to quickly, but to investigate.

On this particular day I began taking the entire story apart. I stepped into the shoes of every character involved and walked their distance in the spirit while listening for any corrective input from my indwelling teacher. When it was over I was so high in the Spirit all I could do was walk the floor and praise Him, shouting, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Finally, I understood, and it wasn’t at all what I had gleaned from just reading the account. This is one of the sweetest lessons I have learned about the nature of God. And it is one of the most profound teachings I have received on His never-ending mercy.

I am so excited to be writing this down to share it with you. So before you decide you don’t need to hear this story, or don’t want to hear it, let me encourage you to stick around for five minutes and hear me out. It will give you new insight into the very heart of the Father. I would also encourage you to read the entire Chapter 38 account yourself.

Judah was the 4th son to be born of Jacob by Leah. When he was grown, he journeyed into Addulam, a Canaanite town some 15 miles northwest of Hebron.to visit Hireh, an Addulumite acquaintance. Judah was the shepherd of many sheep and this took him from pasture to pasture. Hireh would join Judah’s group and in time become his trusted servant. While there, Judah’s eyes fell on the daughter of Shuah, a Canaanite, and it must have been love at first sight for he wasted no time in marrying her. In due course of time, she bore him three sons, Er, Onan and Shelah.

I’m sure that Judah was a good provider and an attentive and generous husband  but he didn’t do so well in winning his lovely wife over to Jehovah for she retained her strong Canaanite alliances and these pagan influences spilled over into the lives of their sons. Perhaps Judah was too busy being the sheep-herding business man to notice, or too much in love with his wife to make a fuss. In either case, the contented head of this household did not diligently monitor or challenge the spiritual persuasions of his sons and it would prove to be his second big mistake. It serves to remind us that occasional input teachings cannot stand against the stronghold temptations of a cleverly constant opposition. This is why we are admonished in the Word to keep our mind stayed on Christ, and pray without ceasing, for the wiles of Satan are constant and without mercy.

When Judah’s eldest son Er was of age, Judah chose a wife for him and her name was Tamar. But Er did live wickedly before the Lord and the Lord slew him and he died. As was the Near East custom in those days, Judah then gave his second eldest son, Onan, to be a husband to Tamar and raise up children to his dead brother, Er. (This practice was later incorporated into the laws of Moses) Unfortunately, Onan was not a happy camper. He married Tamar to honor his father’s command but he refused to give her seed, spilling it on the ground.  His attitude and actions displeased God so God slew him also and he too, died.           

This left the youngest son, Shelah and he was still too young for marriage. So Judah encouraged Tamar to return to the house of her father and live there until Shelah came of age at which time he would take his brother’s place as the seed bearer for his brother’s children. Judah  knew in his heart that he had no intention of giving her the only son he had left, for fear that he too would die. It would work itself out. Meanwhile he had a few years grace and time could often be a very good friend.

Judah’s first mistake was in marrying a Canaanite. His second mistake was in allowing her to exercise full spiritual training of his sons. His third mistake was in suggesting that Tamar live with her father until Shelah grew up. This kept her in bondage to Shelah and Judah’s promise. He could have easily and lovingly released her to find a new husband closer to her own age, as a much wiser descendant named Naomi would do for Ruth in centuries to come.

Shelah grew to manhood, and Judah’s wife died. During the mourning period he comforted himself then returned to his business. By now he was a wealthy man and Hireh was his right hand man. Shelah was now of age and Judah would have to teach him to appreciate and take care of the inheritance that would one day be his.  Shelah was all the family he had left and he would inherit everything he had. So Judah made his decision to protect Shelah and put Tamar out of his mind...This would be Judah’s fourth mistake - breaking his promise to Tamar, his daughter-in-law.    

In the meantime, Tamar waited. She knew that Judah’s wife had died, and she also knew that Shelah was now grown. She had been there, at the funeral, and nothing had been said to assure her of Judah’s promise. Of course, it had not been a proper time to discuss such things, so she waited, and she waited, and she waited. One day, a friendly neighbor rather innocently announced to her that Judah, her father-in-law was on his way up to Timnath to shear his sheep. Tamar saw this as an opportunity. She knew by now that he was not going to give Shelah to her and she felt like a woman scorned, robbed and cast aside. She carefully planned her move.

All this time she had worn her widow’s mourning clothes. She was older now, to be sure, and her biological clock was ticking by rather quickly and soon would be running down.  The townspeople too knew that Shelah was grown and she could see the questioning in their eyes. She would have to take action and this might be her last chance. If the promise was not going to be honored by the promise giver, she would have to step out and take it. If it was not coming through Shelah, then it would be required of the man who was now the promise breaker, the man at the top. Before this day was over he would willingly give her his own seed. She would have to deceive him but, in her mind,  she would surely  be justified in doing what she was about to do.

She took off her widow’s clothes, put on the clothes of a harlot, put a veil over her face and wrapped her face with her clothes to disguise herself. Then she sat down  by the road to Timnath, in front of a place she may have rented for the day, and she waited. She did not have to wait long for Judah came up the road, saw her sitting there and thought she was a prostitute. He promised to send her a young goat back with his servant once he reached Timnath, but she wanted a pledge of his word. She asked for his signet ring, his bracelets which were golden cords, and the staff he carried. They would be returned when the kid arrived. He agreed.

Judah could easily give these things for a few minutes of her favor. They were only things and could be replaced if need be. Of course, they were of far more value than the kid she had agreed to, but then, he would trust her word to him to return them. He did not know the woman he was negotiating with was Tamar. And Tamar knew how good his word had been. So Judah’s fifth mistake was in committing adultery with his daughter-in-law.

Tamar conceived and three months later the secret was out. Judah was in the town and, being well respected and honored by the town leaders, had a great deal of clout there. Someone told him that Tamar had played the harlot and had conceived. She was three months pregnant. He didn’t think fast enough. He didn’t connect the time span with the woman who had run off with his signet ring and staff and disappeared before Hireh returned with the promised kid. He did not connect the two but immediately pointed the accusing finger and said, “Bring her out to be burnt.” Well, they brought her out alright, but she didn’t fight them, she simply produced the ring, the bracelets and the staff she had hidden in her clothing, and said, “The man to whom these things belong is the father of my conception.” 

Wow! Now poor Judah was in the fire. He had been ready to have her burned at the stake for her adultery. But Godly repentance overtook him and he confessed, “Surely, she has been more righteous than I.” 

What a moment! So much to take in,.so much rushing through his mind...HE had committed adultery with Tamar...HE was the father of her conception - HE was going to be a father again. - He had deceived just as he had been deceived - He had accused and now he stood accused, and in all of this, she was more righteous than he was. She had confessed her own deception and she had shown great courage in what she did. If her veil had loosed or her covering fallen, he would have had her burned or stoned on the spot for her harlotry. He had been so blind,  so proud, so selfish and so unjust.  She had bravely taken what he had so cowardly denied her. He would assume responsibility, and he would care for her and the child, but he would never touch her again...

They had both sinned. God considered it and looked deep into their hearts. He had done this at the time of their transgression but now, their confessions and their mercy for each other had moved His heart. Neither had been guilty of malice or hatred. Neither was vindictive. Both had been terribly wounded over the deaths of Er and Onan and now both were going to suffer shame for the rest of their lives, all because they were hurting so...

So the Father of Mercy and the Restorer of  souls was glad that He had allowed the conception and that He had in fact, multiplied it. They would be the children Tamar had been promised, and they would replace the sons Judah had lost.

We do not know if Tamar died or if she turned the boys over to Judah after they were weaned. We only know two things for sure: Tamar was not listed among the sixty-six family members who went with Jacob down to Egypt, but the twin sons, Pharez and Zareh  accompanied Judah and Shelah. We know they were raised in a Godly camp for Pharez (meaning “breakthrough”) would become the royal seed bearer. Judah would become the father of the tribe of Judah, spiritual Israel. “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (Messiah) come...” (Gen.49:10)

When Jacob handed down the prophetic blessings to his twelve sons and their tribes, just before he died, he said that Judah was a lion’s whelp (a lion’s cub, young but with a mighty roar, therefore a prey. - Gen.49:9)  Centuries later Judah would have a descendent named David who would become the King of Israel, and  some 1,900 years after the going down into Egypt, a descendant named Jesus Christ would spring up as Shiloh, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This Lion, full grown and with all authority, would become King of Kings and Lord of Lords and he would sit upon the throne of David forever...