A Woman God Can Use - Part 2

Let’s take a closer look at these women mentioned in Matthew 1.  The first woman mentioned was Tamar.  Her story is found in Genesis 38.  She was a Canaanite woman that married two of Judah’s sons.  Eventually, she posed as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law Judah and became pregnant with twins.

How could God use a woman like Tamar?   Her story sounds pretty awful by our standards today.  But actually, by ancient Hebrew standards, her actions were legal and considered moral.  According to the Levirate Law, a child born of marriage to the brother of a dead older brother was the heir of the dead husband. He was also the heir of his real father. In this way, family property was preserved and consolidated. It was not only a disgrace for Tamar not to have a child, it meant that she had no way of providing for herself.  She had no property or inheritance without a son. 
Judah had promised her his youngest son Shelah after the other two older sons had both died, but Judah did not keep his promise. Even though Tamar had to trick Judah into producing an heir with her, she was doing the right thing.  Judah eventually called her “righteous” (Genesis 38:26) because he knew that he was the one that actually was in the wrong.    
Tamar was a strong woman.  She was widowed twice, publicly embarrassed by her 2^nd husband’s actions and sent back home to her parents to live in disgrace.  Instead of feeling sorry for herself and just accepting her life as it was, she took action and God worked all of it out for her good.  He blessed her with two sons, one of which was included in the direct lineage of Jesus.

What can we learn from Tamar?   She knew her rights, and she acted upon them.  As children of God, we are co-heirs with Christ and we need to know our rights!  We need to act on them!  We don’t just sit back and wait for God to bless us, we need to get out there and bless others.  We must study the life of Jesus, and pattern our lives after His.  He used His authority and so can we!  No matter what life throws at you, know that ALL of it will work together for your good if you are a child of His.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:28-31 NIV