Daily Treasure

“And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more” (Genesis 38:26).

We see in this verse a picture of repentance. First, we must acknowledge our sin like Judah did. This didn’t mean Tamar was blameless. Judah took responsibility for his action and never slept with her again. Tamar went through the rest of her pregnancy and had a very rough delivery as we will see in tomorrow’s devotion. I read in one commentary that her travail may have been a means of correcting her for her sin.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for local WAC groups as they evaluate the previous year and set new goals for 2009.

“When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff” (Genesis 38:25).

Tamar had planned ahead for today’s confrontation. Judah had to face the awful truth of what he had done. The things he had carelessly pledged were undeniably his personal items. He had to own up to the fact the child Tamar was carrying belonged to him. It was bad enough he sought comfort from a harlot but how shocked he must have been to learn the woman was his daughter-in-law!

To close today’s devotion I would like to use a quote the deacon of my church has often used, “Sin will take you deeper than you ever wanted to go, keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay and will affect more people than you want it to.” Why is it we have to come to that point before we decide to turn our lives around? Tomorrow we find Judah finally decides to do something smart.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Rusty and Brenda Carney and daughter Grace as they depart for missionary service in Japan.

“And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar, thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also behold, she is with child by whoredom, And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt” (Genesis 38:24).

Judah was now head of the tribe and had the right to pass judgment on Tamar. Judah, who was not blameless by any means, was quick to judge Tamar harshly. He wasn’t aware of all the facts and he was ready to say, “Let her be burnt.” How often are we quick to judge without knowing all the details?

Tomorrow we will see what is often referred to as a “plot twist.” Judah will be confronted. He is in for a big surprise!

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for single missionaries; they daily face unique challenges.

“And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not” (Genesis 38:20).

Tamar accomplished what she needed to do. The time for disguise was over so she went back to wearing her widow’s clothes. When Judah’s friend went to find the “harlot,” she had vanished! She would appear in a few months but not at the city gates by Timnath. She would be brought before Judah without the veil unable to cover the fact she was now pregnant. She was no “harlot.” She was Tamar and she was with child.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Together in the Word writers as they complete and submit Bible studies.

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God would supply funds to erase the large deficit in FWB Home Missions.

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Mick and Rachel Donahue and toddler son, Keith, as they return to Spain for a refresher language course. This will be Keith’s first time in Spain.

“And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him” (Genesis 38:18).

Before Judah went to lie with Tamar, she more or less asked him the title of today’s devotion. It was going to cost Judah not only a kid from his flock but there was also a pledge involved. To make sure she got what he promised, he had to hand over some personal items that could easily identify him if necessary. He gave this “stranger” his signet, bracelets, and staff. Right now I don’t think Judah is aware how deep the trouble is that he’s getting himself into. Tamar has just secured her levirate rights!

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for WNAC office staff as they set goals for 2009.