Tamar

So this past week I was reading about Tamar. Her life, what we know of it, was a very interesting one. Tamar was married to Judah's oldest son. God saw that the oldest son was wicked so God killed him. So after that the culture said that the next son was to carry on the line of the husband that passed away. Well the second son did not want to do that so when Tamar and the second son had sex he "spilled his seed" on the ground. That is wicked in the Lords eyes so the Lord killed him too. Then Tamar was supposed to be given in marriage to the third son when he became of age. So Judah sent Tamar back to her father's house to live until the third son became of age to marry. So Tamar went back to her father's house and lived dressed in widow's clothes.

In this time frame Judah's wife had passed Judah went through his time of mourning and then procedeed to bring his sheep to the shearers. Tamar heard about this and also heard that the third son was of age to marry, and Judah had not sent for her.

So Tamar dressed in clothes that covered her face, and made her look like a shrine prostitute. She stopped Judah, who wanted to have blessing on his crops and flocks, and in that culture having sex with a shrine prostitute made the men feel like they are going to be blessed by the gods. This just shows that the peoples faith was not in the One True God but in many gods. So if one did not answer your prayer then you would have the "assurity" that one of them would.

So Tamar got pregnant by Judah, all to secure a son for her first dead husband, and she got items of Judah's that would not be mistaken for any one else's items. After she got those items she went back to her father's house and changed back into her widows garments. When Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant he wanted her killed. So to ensure her life she sent word and items to Judah and told him that I am pregnant by the person that owns these.

At once Judah knew hat Tamar had doen a more righteous thing than he had done by with holding his third son from her.

So now my question is. Why did Tamar not get punished by doing something that was morally against God. I was wondering what I was supposed to learn from this story. At first glance it almost looks like if some one else wrongs you it is ok to take matters into your own hands. But if you are taking matters into your own hands how is that relying on God and waiting on Him and His plan.

Can't wait to see what I will learn from the next woman from the Bible.