One of the greatest stories told beginning in childhood, is the story of Joseph. Remember Joseph and the beautiful colored coat? Joe is the one who was dearly loved by his father and didn't have a problem parading around in front of his smelly, ornery, filthy, hotheaded brothers. Not real bright. And of course you probably know that story didn't go so well for Joseph. As a matter of fact, it went real bad, real fast. In Genesis 37-43 we see the whole story of Joseph. All the way from painful tears to tears of joy. But an interesting thing happens right smack dab in the middle of this story. It's one that not many of us are familiar with. Not exactly one we want our kids coming home talking about.
"What did you learn in Sunday School today?"
"We learned about Tamar sleeping with her brother-in-law and his sperm being spilt and then her acting like a prostitute and...and getting pregnant by her father-in-law."
"You learned WHAT?!?!"
We'd probably go home and wash our kids mouth, ears, eyes, and anything else out with soap.
But interestingly enough that story is right there in the midst of this archaic tale of one of the greatest leaders recorded in the Christian church. And I couldn't help but wonder...why?
You see, the first time I read this story, I had just learned my husband had given his love and devotion to another woman. Talk about hurt, humiliation, rejection and pain, not to mention fear of what would happen to my family. And as I was staying with a precious friend of mine for a few days just to get away and grieve, the Lord brought me to this part of scripture. And this dreadful, disturbing,...weird story spoke volumes to my soul. You see, this lady, Tamar...she felt everything I felt...and then some. She felt the hurt of, number one being married to a hellion...let's face it, this man was no saint. The Lord took him OUT! That's how horrible he was. Can you even imagine? Then she had to sleep with the brother-in-law and he cheated her out of the one thing she needed in order to be held in good standing with society. A child. He used her. And then he died. How humiliating on several different levels. THEN if that's not bad enough, she keeps getting rejected...and rejected...and rejected. She knew her father-in-law, Judah, was just blowing smoke. He had no intentions of letting his younger son sleep with her and take a risk of being killed - at this point she also had a reputation of men dying once they've slept with her. Things definitly weren't looking up. Then she's got the fear of how the rest of her life will be. No one wanted her. She was alone. BUT GOD...what a great phrase. It turns everything around. BUT God...He saw her. He saw all the wrong done to her. He didn't forget her. And he blessed her with a child. He redeemed ALL her pain, rejection and insecurities. But there's more to this story. It doesn't end here.
Fast forward to the end of the book of Ruth. Remember HER story?? She was part of the deal when Boaz bought the property from Naomi. He took Ruth and became her husband. Well...look down at chapter 4:11-12. After Boaz announces that he is taking Ruth as his wife "the elders and all those at the gate said, 'We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom TAMAR bore to JUDAH."
Did you get that??? TAMAR...to JUDAH. These are the same two that we just discussed. The two that had such a weird, disturbing, yucky story. These are the two that are being used now in this story as a compliment! They were a blessing! AND the even better part is this. Verses 18-22 tell of the family line of Perez. Perez begat Hezron who begat Ram who begat..........Obed the father of Jesse and Jesse the father of DAVID. Remember who is in the lineage of David?? Our very own Saviour!! Jesus!!! Do you see the redemption here??? Our Jesus, our saviour...he came from this stinking story of hurt, rejection, pain, humiliation and fear. BUT GOD changed it around and brought us salvation. ONLY HE CAN DO THAT.
So if you're struggling with much of the same feelings that Tamar felt, don't lose sight of the fact that Our Redeemer sees, He cares and He wants to make beauty from your pain. What the enemy meant for evil...Our God can trump it and cause it to bring blessing. It may not seem like it now, and it might be after many long days, weeks, months, even years. But if you let God be God, and deal with all the "stuff", He can and will make your life something beautiful.