Judah & Tamar. Er and Bathshua. Well, now that we’ve had time to digest this incredible story of how God provided for the future let’s back track a bit. We’ve all expressed how we somehow relate to and understand Tamar’s plight. But, what about the bad guys in this story? How do each of us relate on some level to Judah, Tamar’s mother-in-law, and gasp! even Er?
My answers below:
Judah: Judah and his brothers sold their baby brother into slavery! so, it’s safe to say he was running around with a very guilty conscience. Judah was haunted by what he and his brothers did to Joseph. “Help me, brothers! Help me!” seemed to be forever embedded in his mind. I know how it feels to want to do something over to make things right. Judah felt doomed.
Bathshua: Yeah, she’s a monster-in-law all right but God used her to give Tamar tenacity and the capacity to love the unlovable. For sure Bathshua is the poster girl for constant complaining and discontent, yet she’s far from alone. If that’s what complaining sounds like, even slightly, then I’ve gotta plug into the Lord more: Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Er: A difficult man. A mean guy. So mean in fact God had to put an end to him, which was sad for Bathshua and kept that cycle going. I wonder what would’ve turned this man toward God?
