We will begin an unconventional Christmas journey on the 4 women who brought us the Savior. These four women gave us hope for our future by passing down the lineage of Jesus: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba.
These women were real, they were misunderstood, and they were just like you and me.
When you think of Christmas, you probably think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her profound faith and calling. But today, let’s look back in the Old Testament at the women who God used to bring Jesus into the world.
As you look into their lives, through the words of the Bible, I pray that you will be restored and renewed to persevere in your faith.
Women are needed in the ministry just as much as men. These women proved that God would use anyone to carry out his mission as long as they are available to him.
Who was Tamar?
Before we continue, let’s clarify which Tamar we will be looking at here today. There are 3 different Tamar’s recorded in God’s word:
- Tamar, the name given to David’s daughter. (2 Samuel 13)
- Tamar, the name given to Absalom’s daughter, in honor of his sister. (2 Samuel 14:27)
- Tamar, the young girl who married Judah’s son. (Genesis 38)
We won’t be looking at the two in David’s line. We will be looking at Tamar, whose story is found in Genesis 38.
Most likely, Tamar, a young woman, had no say in the man she was to marry, but she knew what was right according to the law on her behalf.
There was no mention of Tamar’s family; the bible tells us that Judah chose her to be his first son’s wife.
Being a wife comes with complications of its own, but Tamar had other problems. Tamar must have noticed that her husband, Er, was evil.
Imagine living in a time where you had no rights or say as a woman and having to remain married to someone you not only didn’t love but ill-treated you?
Tamar’s Story
Er was so wicked that God killed him. Because of Tamar and Er’s marital covenant, the family was required to provide Tamar with another husband. So, Judah’s s second son, Onan, became Tamar’s second husband.
Onan knew if he gave Tamar a child, it would be in honor of his brother, and so during sexual relations with his wife, he refused to give her what she needed to get pregnant. God was displeased with him and killed him also.
Appeal to mothers
Now ladies/ mothers with sons or daughters, would you want to give your third and last son to Tamar to be her husband?
Without hesitation, you’re all probably saying no way. Judah and his wife didn’t know why their first two sons died, but they wanted to protect Shelah.
So, Judah told Tamar to wait until he had grown up, and then he would give her to him. However, he really had no intention of doing so.
What would you have done?
Tamar story cont.
Can you imagine the evil things said about her and to her?
The people in her community probably labeled her a witch, and she became a woman scorned and rejected.
Twice married and promised a third husband but rejected by her family-in-law, leaving her own parents to wonder what they did wrong.
Despite her situation, Tamar never lost hope.
The Plan
Tamar wasn’t naïve. She realized that Judah wasn’t planning to give her his youngest son to marry, so she conducted a plan. One that she thought up when she heard where her father-in-law was going.
What she did may not be right, but in God’s just estimation, she was more righteous than them. Tamar could have gotten depressed, decided to lose all hope, and even consider suicide, but she never gave up faith. She disguised herself as a harlot and slept with her widowed father-in-law.
She was very meticulous and asked Judah to give her some important items to save herself when the time came.
Beauty from ashes
Out of the ruins of desperation. Tamar conceived out of deceit and fornication, and God blessed her womb with twin boys, Perez and Zerah. God blessed her and gave her solace.
She was able to secure her and her children’s future through one desperate and risqué act.
God used Tamar’s firstborn son, Perez, to begin the Messiah’s line, who is the light and savior of the world.
Through the mess of Tamar’s marital life, she became the ancestral grandmother of Jesus.
The Lord saw her plight and rewarded her diligence. When Judah realized what had happened, he had to humble himself, comprehend his error, and add her to his family.
Our God doesn’t need help to fulfill his plans, but Tamar acted out on faith, and faith without works is dead. God could have used so many others to pass down the Messiah’s line, but he chose Tamar.
This Christmas season, continue to praise God as you remember Jesus’ birth long ago. God can use you once you avail yourself to him.
Prayer for Today:
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for your goodness, grace, and mercy that has extended to me despite my failures and flaws. I avail myself to be used for you in any capacity. I want to have faith like Tamar and a spirit of perseverance never to give up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scriptures for Today:
This is the first in a series of 4 posts. Look out for the other lady that was apart of the line of Jesus. Check out my previous post about some biblical characters and questions I’d like to ask them. If you’d like to read about Ruth, Rahab, or Bathsheba, you can go from here.
If you have anything in common with Tamar, let me know in the comments. What are your plans for this Christmas season?
Please leave a comment letting me know how you celebrate this spectacular time of year.
My friends, like always, thank you so much for stopping by. I love you with the love of Christ. Have a Christ-filled merry Christmas.
Keneesha 🙂
