Daily Devotions
Genesis
"And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments." Ezra 9:10
Text: Genesis 38:1-30
ASKING FOR A PLEDGE
Tamar had her reason to ask for a pledge. Judah had once pledged Shelah to her but he had broken that word. She was determined to teach Judah a lesson. Steeling herself further, she asked for the following.
“So she said, ‘Your signet and cord, and your staff
that is in your hand.’
Then he gave them to her, and went in to her,
and she conceived by him.
So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil
and put on the garments of her widowhood.”
GENESIS 38:18b-19
With cold calculation, Tamar exacted her revenge against her father-in-law! She sought to bear children through Judah!
HONOURING OF THE PLEDGE
Judah had promised to pay a young goat for the services of the harlot. He sought to keep his word.
“And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend
the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand,
but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of the place, saying
‘Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?’
And they said, ‘There was no harlot in this place.’
So he returned to Judah and said, ‘I cannot find her.
Also the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.’
Then Judah said, ‘Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed;
for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.'”
GENESIS 38:20-23
Every attempt was made to honour the pledge given to the harlot. Judah did not want “to be shamed” if he had not paid the harlot the fee due to her! All attempts to locate her had failed. The locals declared that there were no harlots in that area at all! Judah determined that he would set aside the goat for her, believing that she would come and claim her fee at her convenience.
BAD NEWS
The months passed, and soon bad news was received. Apparently, Tamar had conceived during this period when she was supposed to be a widow.
“And it came to pass, about three months after,
That Judah was told, saying, ‘Tamar, your daughter-in-law
has played the harlot; furthermore, she is with child by harlotry.'”
GENESIS 38:24