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 KJV
Matthew uses this incident in his genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:3). Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Tamar was his daughter-in-law! She was married to his firstborn, and his second-born, and was promised to his third-born, but he never fulfilled the promise, leaving her barren and in shame. So Tamar dressed the part of a harlot and Judah not recognizing her went in and slept with her, and she conceived and gave birth to twins. Out of that act of immorality came the seed through which Messiah would come. Now, doesn’t that make you stop and wonder why? I can only think of one reason, to clearly show that the Messiah would not be the product of man’s effort, but God’s grace!
Lord, I am amazed at Your grace. Judah was deserving of the same punishment he had angrily pronounced on his daughter-in-law. Yet, You used this dark moment of his life in the line of the Savior. What a fitting illustration that You came to save sinners.
