Denver Seminary

 It is never a good thing to leave evidence in the hands of someone who can incriminate you at a later time!  …. but if you do, pray God forgives you and uses it to fulfill his greater purposes. 

While married to Tamar, Judah’s sons Er and Onan die.  Grieving over his loss, Judah withholds his third son Shelah from his daughter-in-law, thinking he would at least keep his last heir alive.  Judah may have thought that Tamar was cursed and caused his sons to die but the narrative tells us otherwise.  Er “was wicked in the eyes of the Lord so the Lord put him to death” (Genesis 38:7) and “what he [Onan] did was wicked in the eyes of the Lord so the Lord put him to death” (38:10).  Er and Onan brought about their own demise.  No blame is ever place on Tamar. 

Humiliated and sorrowful, Tamar returns to her father’s house as a widow.  Many years later, she finds out that Judah who withheld Shelah from her is coming to a nearby town. She dresses as a street prostitute, covers herself up and tricks Judah into pledging some of his personal belongings for a later payment.  He gives her his most precious treasures: his seal (credit card), his cord (driver’s license) and his staff (passport). 

Three months later, Tamar is pregnant and accused of prostitution.  She is brought before Judah who quickly condemns her to death (thinking he would finally get rid of her completely).  But to Judah’s surprise, Tamar produces the evidence he left behind months earlier and turns the tables on him.  Ashamed, Judah falls to his knees, repents and declares Tamar more righteous than he.  Pregnant with twins, Tamar gives birth to Zerah and Perez who later appears in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1:3, Luke 3:33).  Dead sons, spilled seed, lies, prostitution, manipulation, and yet God fulfills his redemptive plan and prepares the way for the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5). 

Moral of the story – your credit card will show up somewhere! … and pray that it does so you can repent and ask God to use your entire life (the good, the bad and the ugly) for his glory!