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Read: Genesis 38:1-30
Have you ever been in a situation wherein, we are being asked to admit
something you have done so shamefully? Or were you asked by a friend a very
intriguing question that it will reveal something so shameful about you? We
have all known that Judah was whom the family line of the Son of God came
from, out of the 12 sons of Jacob. Yet it just amazed me, personally, how his
(Judah) story was introduced in the bible.
In reading Genesis 38, one word that we could say about it is ‘shame’. Jacob’s
story began when he left home then later married and bore sons to a Canaanite
woman (who is unnamed).
Let us take note that during those times, it is very unrighteous for an
Israelite to marry a Canaanite woman. Then later, he would not let his
daughter-in-law be with his youngest son, Shelah, whom he promised her to
marry when Shelah gets older.
And this roused the desire for Tamar to trick his father-in-law for she wanted
to have a child. According to what we read, Judah hired a prostitute (not
knowing it was his daughter-in-law) and again, it was said according to
commentaries that these prostitutes are present in Baal temples during those
times.
We will not pinpoint mistakes in the life of Judah or how Tamar gave birth to
Perez, whom we will read in the book of Ruth wherein the name of King David
began, so on and so forth.
What we will focus on tonight is the leveling-up or shall we say maturity in
the life of Judah after this very chapter.
Judah is the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. We are all familiar that Jacob has
a favoritism issue amongst his children and that he favors his sons with
Rachel (Joshua and Benjamin) more than anybody else.
In this chapter, as I read and meditate upon it, one verse that struck me the
most is verse 27: Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous
than I since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her
again.
Admitting a mistake is never easy. Even in our own household, we cannot simply
admit that we broke a plate or a glass nor, can we admit that it was you or I
who took the slipper of someone you live with nor, can we say sorry to simple
mistakes.
Imagine the life of Judah after this humiliation – whenever people would see
him or Perez and Zerah, they would recall what happened. We may not know what
exactly took place after this but, in Genesis 44:18-34, we see in Judah’s
story is how a changed man he became after this circumstance in his life. We
are not making Judah the hero of this story but rather, God’s
providence.
You see, brothers and sisters, we will never see what will happen next but
under God’s care and protection, we know that our destination is secured and
that victory has been won. It will always make us realize how much a filthy
and the undeserving person we are for us to be able to fully embrace what God’s
love is.
May we all find that ‘resting place’ in God alone by meditating upon His word
every single day.
Let us fall in love with God more and more each day!
Photo by: Rachel Claire
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