Genesis 38
After introducing the “Joseph story” in Genesis 37, there is a cutaway to one of the most sordid stories in the Bible, and another illustration about the fact that the Bible isn’t and never has been a book about “GOOD” people and “BAD” people, it’s a book about BAD PEOPLE, period. And, a really, really GOOD GOD who will stop at NOTHING to pursue the objects of HIS reckless love, radical grace and undying affection.
Here’s the story. Judah married a Canaanite and had three sons by his Canaanite wife. The first son married a girl named Tamar, but was such a bad dude that God judged him and he died.
Judah commands the second son to honor his brother by marrying his brother’s widow and having children to carry on his brother’s name. This is a concept known as Levirate marriage. It later gets described in Deut. 25:5–6. Onan, the second son, is more than willing to have sex with Tamar, but not so willing to have children by her… The details of this interaction are so sleazy, that for people who think the Bible is a “nice, tame book,” they’ll be surprised that it’s gets included in Scripture — we’re talking the holy Word of God. God ends up judging the second son. Onan dies, as well.
This concerns Judah. Evidently, he thinks to himself that Tamar must be some kind of a black widow. So, he encourages her to go back to her father’s house, under the understanding that when his third son, Shelah, is old enough, he’ll send for her, so that they can get married, too. Privately, however, Judah has no intention of letting his youngest son marry this black widow named Tamar.
Some time passes. Judah’s wife dies. He decides to visit a friend in a nearby town. Tamar hears about the fact that Judah is on the way to this town, so she puts on a veil and places herself in his path. Maybe she’s just hoping to remind him of his promise and responsibility.
But upon entering the village, Judah mistakes his own daughter-in-law, who is wearing a veil, for a prostitute. He propositions her. They have sex. She ends up pregnant. He later hears about her pregnancy and orders her execution. Then he finds out that the baby is his… The execution is off… Judah repents. Tamar ends up giving birth to twin boys… You sort of scratch head as if to say, “What was that about?” Because this is not REALITY TV. It’s not an episode of Maury or Jerry Springer. All of this is in the Bible.
Why? What is the point?
As I mentioned, Tamar gave birth to twin boys. The first of these “illegitimate” boys was a guy named Perez who would become like the great, great, great, great, great grandfather of Boaz, who would marry a girl named Ruth, another Canaanite (she was a Moabite). Boaz and Ruth would become the great, great, great, great grandparents of King David, who would totally blow it by sleeping with another man’s wife, a woman named Bathsheba. They would later have son named, Solomon. And, incredibly, all of these really “interesting” — totally broken, completely jacked-up, sinful and wrecked characters — get included in the family line of JESUS, our Messiah. (See Ruth 4; Matt 1:5)
The point?
None of these “seedy” characters “deserve” to be included in the family line or genealogy of Jesus! None of them! But they ALL are! Why?
So God could demonstrate that it is not and never has been about our supposed “goodness” or superior morality when it comes to the kinds of people He chooses and uses. It is always and forever about His RADICAL GRACE, RECKLESS LOVE and RELENTLESS MERCY.
God doesn’t call, use or anoint those who “deserve” it. He calls, uses and anoints those who, despite their sin, failures, brokenness and blemishes respond to His GRACE.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. —Proverbs 28:13 ESV
Thank You God for your RADICAL GRACE, RECKLESS LOVE and RELENTLESS MERCY broken, messed up, totally jacked up, sinful people like Judah, Tamar, Ruth, David, Bathsheba, and…me. Amen.