Daily life with Jesus by Grahame Howard: Hypocrisy, lies and Disobedience

"So Judah said, 'Bring her out and let her be burned.'" v24 Genesis 38 NKJV

Judah was one of Joseph's brothers credited with saving him from death and persuading his brothers to sell him into slavery instead. Acting on impulse and lust, Judah married a Canaanite woman called Shua, thus disobeying God's word in Deut 7:3. God had forbidden intermarriage with Canaanites because of their Pagan religious practices. However, this did not deter Judah at all. Shua gave birth to a son called Er. Er finally married a woman named Tamar. However, Er was evil in God's sight, so the Lord ended his life. The custom was for the next son in line to marry the dead brother's wife and have an heir. However, Onan, Judah's second son was given Tamar. However, he didn't want an heir and when he had sex with her, he emitted on to the ground. This displeased God who ended Onan's life too v9-10.

Now the custom was for the next available son, who was Shelah, to take up this role. However, Judah feared losing another son so, he told Tamar to go home to her father until Shelah was old enough to marry. This was a lie; Judah had no intention of this happening and Tamar realised this too

Later, Tamar found out that Judah was going to have his sheep sheared a little way away from where they lived. Tamar changed her widow's clothes and dressed like a harlot with a veil over her face and she waited for Judah by the wayside. When he arrived, having a reputation of being a lady's man, he told her he wanted to have sex with her. In return, he promised her a young goat, but for her own peace of mind, she asked for his signet ring, cord and staff, which she would return later. When this was over, she went back home and dressed as a widow again. Later when Judah sent someone to deliver the goat and claim his belongings, the Woman could not be found. He put this down to just one of those things.

Months later, Judah was told that Tamar was with child and in labour. He screamed out, 'Bring her out and let her be burned.'" v24. But Tamar was very clever and holding up the ring, cord and staff, she said, 'By the man to whom these belong, I am with child - please determine whose these are.' Judah could not back out of this one. He was caught out, hook, line and sinker. He would be the father of twins v27-30.

Just look at the way Judah was acting, going to put to death some girl who had been with a man and yet, he was guilty of adultery too. Not only that, he was guilty of disobedience for marrying a Canaanite woman in the first place.

Listen, we can so easily lose our credibility by taking our eyes off God and doing our own thing. Yes, this was in OT times but, it was still breaking God's laws and it was still irresponsible behaviour, the type of behaviour that sticks to us like glue. Many, many leading Christian men and women have had their ministries ruined by such things. Jesus forgives that's true, but people's memories of such things are very good. Don't be a part of this type of thing. Be careful, where you go, what you say and who you spend time with - alone. Hypocrisy, disobedience, adultery, fraud, tax evasion etc etc. They all taint our testimony. Be very careful, because there's a schemer on the loose seeking who to devour. Get you armour on.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle

Check it out

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2