Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 38 which covers Judah’s strange and unrighteous relationship with Tamar. Here is a link to that chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38&version=NASB
I quote the following verses.
“1 And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named him Er. 4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan. 5 She bore still another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she bore him.
6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life.” Genesis 38:1-7.
“27 It came about at the time she (Tamar) was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.” Genesis 38:27-30.
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First, we can see and understand from today’s Scripture that problems could arise and did arise for Judah because he married a Canaanite. From prior Scripture, we see the care that Isaac took to insure that his son Jacob (Israel) would not marry a Canaanite. Genesis 28:1-5. From prior devotions, we gathered Scriptures about the Lord’s commands and warnings.
“… the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them (foreign wives), nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods. …” 1 Kings 11:2.
“The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. ” Judges 3:5-7.
But, second, we can also see and understand from today’s Scripture how Jacob’s fear and lust and perhaps other shortcomings contributed to Judah’s problems.
Nevertheless, the Lord was gracious to deliver Jesus through this line of descendants. “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.” Matthew 1:1-3.
We see this “Nevertheless” of God’s grace throughout Scripture.
“21 Blessed be the Lord,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.
23 O love the Lord, all you His godly ones!
The Lord preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:21-24.
“21 When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
22 Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:21-24.
“6 We have sinned like our fathers,
We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.
7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;
They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses,
But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name,
That He might make His power known.” Psalm 106:6-8.
“43 Many times He would deliver them;
They, however, were rebellious in their counsel,
And so sank down in their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless He looked upon their distress
When He heard their cry;
45 And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.
46 He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors.” Psalm 106:43-46.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 