“And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath†(Genesis 38:14a).
Meanwhile, Judah’s wife has died. Tamar hears Judah is going to Timnath to shear sheep. There would be some type of party following the shearing. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute, hiding her identity with a veil as was the custom of women. Tamar was sitting at the city gates and when Judah stopped to talk to her, she persuaded him to lie with her. He didn’t know this was his daughter-in-law but that didn’t mean he was right in what he was doing either.
I want to digress just a moment to point out something I read as I was preparing today’s devotion. Deceiving with garments was done two other times before this one. First when Jacob deceived Isaac with a garment and then Judah, himself, helped deceive his father, Jacob, with a garment, making him think Joseph was dead. Today, Tamar has deceived Judah with a garment. Judah is now reaping what he has sown!
Back to the story. Things aren’t always what they appear to be. Judah thought he was going to be spending time with a harlot. Instead, it is going to cost him plenty for seeking pleasure with his conniving daughter-in-law!
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for couples in the Belo Horizonte Church (Brazil) who are facing marital and/or financial problems.
