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BIZARRE INTERRUPTIONS

[Scheduled Reading: Genesis 36-42]

There are some strange stories in the Bible.

As you read certain accounts you might even wonder, “Why is this story here?” 

Often, it’s simply because of God’s pattern of tracking The Seed—the family tree from Adam to Christ. 

This happens just as we’re getting settled into the life story of Joseph. Then a bizarre interruption appears for Bible readers. (Welcome to Genesis 38).

Jesus came from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah... then baby Perez, the child of Tamar. 

And who exactly was this mother, Tamar? Well, it’s quite a story! 

Perez was conceived when his father, Judah, visited a pretending prostitute, who unbeknownst to him was his daughter-in-law, Tamar! 

The short story is this: Judah’s first two sons were killed by God because of their wickedness (not a very impressive parenting legacy). 

According to tradition, Judah was expected to commit his third son to the widow of his deceased sons. (Tamar was the widow to the first son, and then the second son.) 

In this way, the Israelites fulfilled the duty of keeping the family name alive. 

But Judah and Son #3 (Shelah) did not cooperate. So in God’s divine and seemingly odd ways, He arranged for Judah an encounter with a lady disguised as a prostitute – who turned out to be his daughter-in-law, Tamar! 

I know. Surprise! 

Through Judah, Tamar had twin boys. The oldest, and the one in the line of The Seed, was baby Perez.

Stories like these show God’s amazing sovereignty… and His desire to reveal for us the genealogy of Jesus Christ.