.jpg)
Tamar
Christmas the Whole Story
“This is how the Birth of Jesus Took place…”
Matthew 1:18.
These are the introductory words to what is to many, the familiar Christmas story…with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Wisemen, Shepherds and Angels.
But Matthews account of the Birth of Jesus doesn’t start until about halfway through the first chapter. He chose rather, to start with a long list of names. Names spanning centuries of Isreal’s history. History rich with stories that show God’s mighty hand and divine plan. History full of promises and mighty acts and sordid scandals. It’s almost as if Matthew is saying, “This is how God has worked to get us here…to the birth of Jesus.
Matthews audience was VERY Jewish. They would have known the stories that went along with every name mentioned. And they definitely would have noticed the inclusion of 4 names in particular. These names were completely out of the ordinary and jump off the page as though they were highlighted.
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and the Wife of Uriah (Bathsheba). No other list included women. So why would Matthew?
I believe each of these women tell us something about the Condition of the people or the Character and plan of God or about how Jesus IS the Messiah they have been waiting for.
Tamar is the first woman mentioned. We can find her story in Genesis 38. It’s a scandalous affair of a woman who had lost 2 husbands and been promised a third by her father-in- Law Judah, as was the custom of the day. With every passing year, Tamar grew increasingly desperate., isolated, alone and childless. She was losing hope.
And as the years ticked by, nothing changed…Judah had forgotten his promise or had chosen not to keep it.
In a similar way, at the time of Matthew, Isreal waited! Year after year they waited. Had they been abandoned? Had God Forgotten his Promises to them?
Tamar chose to take matters into her own hands, trying to secure her own destiny, disguising herself as a prostitute and tricking her father-in-law Judah into getting her pregnant. When Judah found out she was pregnant he was outraged…not knowing that he was in fact the father. It was a public disgrace and Judah condemned Tamar to death for this dishonor.
Isreal did similar things, taking matters into their own hands and going after the other gods around hem that offered pleasure, power or success but left them enslaved and empty. When they acted this way God referred to them as having prostituted themselves to other gods rather than trusting him.
When Tamar confronted Judah with the fact that He was the father, Judah replies, “You are more righteous than I…since I did not fulfill my promise.”
By including Tamar in this list of names I believe Matthew is saying to this waiting Jewish nation… All the promises God made throughout the generations will come true; God is always faithful in keeping his promises…. even to people who are deeply flawed.
Promises made at the beginning of time to Adam and Eve… “that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.” Promises to Abraham that “through his offspring the whole world would be blessed.” Promises to Isaac and to Jacob and even to Judah, who was told that from his line “a king would arise that would rule over all people.”
God is faithful in keeping his promises.
So…
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful…”
Hebrews 10:23
If you are desperate and tempted to do something that you know may not be right, but you feel might alleviate the pain of loneliness or waiting…Trust God…. He who promised is faithful.
If you are in a long season of waiting. Don’t lose heart God hears you and sees you…He who promised is faithful
If you feel broken, ashamed or lost…Christ came to seek and save the Lost…He who promised is Faithful
This Christmas don’t lose hope! …. He who Promised is Faithful.
“And this is the promise that he made to us…Eternal life.” 1 John 2:25 And this life is in His son Jesus who he promised from the very beginning for our salvation, and he came…See…He who promised is faithful