What Can You Say?


Genesis 38:1-30 
http://www.esvbible.org/Genesis+38/

You know how I always want you to go and read the Biblical text before the devotional thoughts? Well, the story today is just so twisted and shameful that it’s hard to do that. But – the Bible is nothing if not unflinchingly honest, so make sure you read this tale of sex and deception today. You may not necessarily be uplifted, but you will be informed.

So Judah turns out to be a less than honorable person after all but God does use him (and now his son Perez) as links in the chain of the genealogy of Jesus. I guess if God only used people of honor, integrity, and faithfulness as the descendants of Jesus, He would have never been born. As in the previous story of twins (Jacob and Esau) the younger of the twins (Perez) actually is the choice of God for the role of leader and link in the line of Jesus. Of note is the fact that Tamar is not named as a “Canaanite woman” so it is most likely that she was a Hebrew. Judah, while not choosing a Hebrew woman for himself apparently chooses one for his son.

Just as with the story of Dinah and the Shechemites I am amazed by the fact that God doesn’t sugar coat these stories. They are honest and gritty. Sinful humans are a mess and we live messy lives. God has chosen to reach down into that mess and bring His grace and mercy. We don’t deserve His intervention in our lives but He brings it to us out of His love for us. Even in the midst of deception and shame grace always wins out and God’s plan goes forward. As I think about this story and the never failing grace of God today I am reminded of an old hymn. These are the lyrics for the chorus:

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin
Julia H. Johnston ©1911 CCLI#551204

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