Tamar’s Righteousness Rewarded

Genesis 38:24-26

And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

Judah, the son of Jacob and Leah, married the daughter of a Canaanite whose name was Shuah. He had three sons Er, Onan and Shelah through her. Er who was wicked in the eyes of God was married to Tamar. Because of Er’s wickedness the Lord slew him. Judah asked his second son Onan to marry Tamar. Onan knew that he did not want to give his seed to his brother and spills his seed; therefore God slew him for dishonoring Him. Judah requested Tamar to remain a widow until his youngest son grew old enough. But he forgot to give Tamar as wife to Shelah when it was time.

Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shuah passed away. Judah went with his friend Hirah the Adullamite to shear his sheep at Timnath. The word reached Tamar that her father-in-law was going to Timnath to shear his sheep. She dressed as harlot by covering her face with a veil and sat on the roadside of Timnath. Judah noticed her and thought her to be a harlot and lied with her. Tamar asked what he would give her. Judah promised to send a kid from his flock. Tamar requested for a token until the kid reaches her. Judah gave his signet, a cord and staff. Tamar was impregnated by Judah. Judah sent a kid with his friend Hirah, the Adullamite and Hirah could not find the harlot because Tamar went back and dressed as a widow.

Judah got to know that his daughter-in-law played the harlot and was with a child; Judah did not realize that she was his harlot and was infuriated with the news and was determined to burn her. When Tamar was brought before Judah, she said (Genesis 38:25) “By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.” Immediately Judah recognized the tokens and repented of his unrighteousness and said (Genesis 38:26), “She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son.” Tamar really wanted children of her own and Judah failed to keep his promise.

Tamar gave birth to twins, Pharez and Zarah. Through Pharez her first born, the mighty king of Israel, David was born. Ruth 4:18-22 says, “Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” Matthew 1 speaks of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:1 says, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Pharez the son of Tamar is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Savior of the mankind.

Judah says that the righteousness of Tamar was more than his own righteousness. In other words, Tamar’s act was justified. She was married to Er, a wicked man and Onan, who defiled her and now her father-in-law did not keep his word to marry her to his third son Shelah. But the Lord God dealt with her kindly and rewarded her. Her reward was that she bore a son who was later in the genealogy of King David and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Man might forget to keep his promise but God’s promises will never fail. Tamar waited patiently until Shelah grew up, but her own father-in-law betrayed her. She was faithful in that she did not marry another man and waited patiently in hope of getting married to Shelah. God humbled Judah and blessed Tamar by this whole incident. In I Samuel 26:23, King David tells King Saul, “The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.” Yes, the Lord rewards us for our righteousness and our faithfulness. He sees the heart of every man and woman. May the Lord help us to be committed righteous men and women!

Tomorrow: The Narrow Way vs. the Broad Way (Ruth vs. Orpah)