prophecy

Tamar’s Story (Er)

Tamar became one of the family when Judah arranged her marriage to his eldest son Er. The Bible tells us Er was wicked so God took his life. In Deuteronomy 25:5-10 God’s law directs the second brother to marry the widow. Their first son would carry on the name of the deceased and provide for the widow. God made special provisions throughout the law for widows.

Tamar’s Story (Onan)

Judah initially followed the law by having his second son Onan marry Tamar. Onan married her but refused to father a son he could not call his own. It displeased God and He took his life also. Judah had one more son and therefore instructed Tamar to go to her father’s house and live as a widow until he was grown, but he feared Shelah would also die.

Tamar’s Story (Shelah)

After Judah’s wife died, Tamar learned Judah planned a trip to Timnah. Seeing Judah had not provided Shelah as a husband, she took the opportunity to disguise herself as a prostitute and received his pledge of payment. In time she bore twins and when Judah heard he wanted her burned alive because of the disgrace to his family because it. Then he learned the truth. He confessed that she was more righteous than he.

Here is the story of Tamar and Er, Onan, and Shelah. In part two we will reflect on why it troubles us and what we learn about God.

Christmas cannot be held in one day. The decorations, the concerts, the get-togethers, expand into a week or month long season. In God’s plan, Christmas is eternal and involves the prophecy, the fulfillment and the promise.

The Prophecy

The salvation being brought to us through the gift of Christmas comes as a fulfillment of prophecy. Peter writes how the prophets inquired and searched diligently about this salvation. The Spirit of Christ within them created a mystery involving the time, the sufferings of the Christ and the glories to follow. Through revelation they understood that it was not for themselves, but for those who would hear the preaching of the gospel through the Holy Spirit. Not just the prophets, but angels also, longed to look into the mystery.

The Fulfillment

Then came the fulness of time. In the small town of Bethlehem, as Micah had prophesied, to the virgin, of whom Isaiah spoke, came the fulfillment. Paul in his letter to the Galatians writes, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (and daughters).” Still, in all the wonder and amazement from the prophecy to the fulfillment, there remains the promise.

The Promise

Finally the promise comes through the fulfillment. Jesus bonded with humans growing up in a family and then as an adult, He developed deep friendships with his disciples. His love for them meant He would die a cruel, untimely death in order to keep them from the curse of eternal damnation. In His prayer to His Father, He pleaded, “Father, I desire that they also whom you gave Me, may be with Me where I am.” Jesus promised the disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you, … I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am you may be also!” The promise is there for all who believe to receive. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His own. He will return to take them home where He is the Light, there is no longer separation, and there are no longer reasons for tears. In God’s plan, Christmas is eternal and involves the prophecy, the fulfillment and the promise.

Tamar (Part One)