TAMAR
by Joyce Carr Stedelbauer
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A camel caravan swayed on the horizon out of the rising
sun as Abraham answered God’s call. Years later the rope that
bound the wood onto Isaac’s young back rubbed his shoulder raw-
red. Together father and son climbed the rocky path to Mt.
Moriah’s crown where one future day, God would raise an alter’
cross where all mankind could be redeemed.
Squabbling twins, name Esau and Jacob. were born to
Isaac and Rebekah.
The first came forth red all over like a hairy garment.
But the Lord had said, ….the older shall serve the younger.
Genesis 25
Jacob labored long for his Rachel and finally the last two of
his twelve sons were born of her, heralding the twelve tribes of
Israel. But Benjamin’s bloody birth cost the life of Rachel on the
road to Bethlehem , the very village to also be the birthplace of the
coming Christ Child. Her tomb is still there today, guarded by
Israeli soldiers.
Two nations lay in the loins of Esau and his younger
brother, Jacob, whom God renamed Israel,
You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel.
Genesis 32
The human stain seeps like disease from generation to gen-
eration. A little-known woman name Tamar found her place in
the amazing list which Matthew records of the birth – cords tether-
ing Jesus to Adam.
The Holy Scripture reminds us that
Sin is a disgrace to any people.
Proverbs 14
Sin cannot be revenged or removed, only forgiven. Though
Tamar was dishonored by Judah, he admits she is right in her claim
and she is given the high honor to be an ancestor of Jesus the
Messiah.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I, Tamar, am not proud of what I have done,
you must understand … not proud of what I have done.
A desperate situation and I was justified.
You ladies alone today have other options –
savings – jobs – an acceptable place in society.
I was an outcast, a foreigner, twice widowed.
My father-in-law, Judah, son of Leah and Jacob.
reluctantly promised his youngest son
to care for me, as Hebrew law provided.
Judah reneged on his word – marriage or care,
would have let his son’s memory die with no heir.
I had no other choice.
Drying tears, I painted my eyes with kohl,
my mouth red with berry juice,
plaited ribbons in my hair,
humbling myself to sit near the city gate
with other ladies of the night.
It was degrading, a miserable experience,
I prayed as I waited ….
Judah came along as if he owned the road.
Smiling shyly at him – he turned –
hesitated but a moment –
came back to me.
Armed with the law of protection,
I demanded his ring before he took me.
Some months later he denied my claim
until I held out the dishonored ring.
Judah crumbled like a clod of dirt on the road.
Somehow out of His infinite goodness
God allowed me to birth twins sons
from the house of Judah, Messiah’s branch,
and the rest is His Story.
Reference: Genesis 38
Used with permission by Joyce Carr Stedelbauer from her book “Have You Seen the Star?”
TATE PUBLISHING, LLC
127 East Trade Center Terrace
Mustang, Oklahoma 73064
www.tatepublishing.com
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Christian Poems