Little Known Bible Stories #4: That Weird Family

   The following story is very short but is probably the first "little known" story that I found and fell in love with. It changed my perspective on how God views our family traditions. For some reason, I thought traditions were not important. I also thought that there is one set of rules for everyone to follow. For example, I presumed that if my parents said it is wrong to go to the theatre, then it must be wrong for everyone. Of course, I was just a child when I made these presumptions. As a teenager, I went through the natural stage of questioning everything. The Bible has always been my standard, so that was my source for sorting it all out. When I came to this little story I realized that different families have different beliefs about what is okay to do, and what isn't. That doesn't necessarily make some families better than others. And, if we do things the way Grandpa taught us, it might not mean we are stuck in a rut and backward. This story takes place in Jeremiah 35.
 
   Jeremiah came from a family of priests. He knew God's laws. He knew the prophecies of old. He knew there were a whole lot of things that the people of God were doing wrong! God had been speaking to Jeremiah for some time. He had given him messages to tell the people of Israel. God was very upset. His people were hard-hearted and rebellious. Judgment day was coming!

   One day God gave Jeremiah an assignment that didn't seem as depressing and embarrassing as some of his assignments had been. He was to find a certain family and invite them over. There was a little room off the temple just for these kinds of meetings. The room was comfortable and it was even well stocked with wine. They could have a few drinks and Jeremiah could get to know them a little and maybe figure out why God wanted him to meet them. They were known as the Rechabites! Jeremiah didn't seem to recognize the family name. They weren't a very well known family. But, he asked around and found a few of them right there in Jerusalem!

  Jeremiah escorted them into the room he had prepared. God had told him to offer them jugs of wine, so he gladly did. He was being very hospitable. He sat down and waited.
There was an awkward silence. Would it be rude to take a drink before his guests? Oh, maybe they were waiting for him. He took a sip. Still, they sat there. Not one of them touched their cup. What was going on? Finally one of them spoke up. He explained that their family doesn't drink wine. The patriarch of their family had taught them never to drink wine, or plant vineyards, or build houses. They were nomads.

  We have always obeyed our father. They explained. Except, we are in Jerusalem right now because of the war. But, we will go back to our tents as soon as it is safe to do so.

 "Did ya' hear that?!" God asked Jeremiah.
  "The Rechabites obey their father. They do everything he commanded them to do!"
  "Why can't my people obey me like that? Why is it that they do the opposite of what I tell them to do?"

I presume Jeremiah was pretty impressed. He probably felt honored to have met the Rechabites. He sent them away sober and with a blessing. God promised that their family would always have at least one man who was God's kid, forever!
  Somewhere out there, is a Rechabite who loves God with all his heart. Maybe he lives in a house now, or maybe not. Maybe that person is you, or me. Or, maybe we can just learn from this story. Maybe when we look at people who say something is "wrong" because that is what they were taught. Instead of trying to convince them that it is really okay to drink and live in houses, maybe we can encourage them and say, "Good for you for honoring your heritage! I respect your beliefs. May God bless your family!" And then we should look up at our heavenly Father and ask Him if we are listening to Him as well as our friend is listening to their earthly father's rules.

  Oh, I wanna be a part of the family! -the family of God.
How about you?

Little Known Bible Stories #3: Don't Mess With God's Girl

Don't Mess With Tamar

   Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah. King David was one of her descendants. This, of course, means that she was also an ancestor of Jesus Christ! I guess Judah probably thought it was just a coincidence that he chose her as a wife for his firstborn son, but it appears that God is really the one who chose her. Not only that, but God seems to have been really protective of how those boys treated sweet Tamar.

   I picture her as kind of quiet and easy-going. It seems like she just went along with things the way they were, for the most part. I'm sure you know girls like this. A girl who is really kind and patient and puts up with all kinds of things. Then, all of a sudden she does something. Maybe it is kind of extreme. Maybe it seems out of character. But, as a friend of hers, you can't help but smile and say, "Good for her! It's about time!"

   This story takes place in Genesis 38.

   Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and little Shelah. Er was of marrying age, so, as the custom was, Judah picked out a pretty girl from the area. Her family agreed to the marriage, and Tamar joined Judah's family.

   However, as I said, God had His eye on this girl. These tough shepherd nomads were no match for the King of Heaven! It wasn't long and Er did something God didn't like. What was it? Had he mistreated Tamar? God called him "wicked" and it wasn't until after he got married, so it sure sounds like he wasn't kind to her.

   Poof!

 He was gone! 

Out of the picture! 

Dead.

   According to the culture of that day, Tamar was Judah's responsibility. The custom was, that if a married man died without children, his younger brother (or another relative) was supposed to give her a child. It kind of sounds weird to us today, but it was very much like what surrogate moms and sperm donors do today.  So, after the days of mourning for Er were over, sweet, easy-going Tamar married Judah's second son, Onan.

  The deal was that they would have a child together, who would inherit Er's portion of the flock of goats, or family fortune. This child would care for Tamar in her old age.

  Well, Onan went in unto her all right, but he "spilled his seed". Oops! The petri dish dropped. Oh well. Sorry, Tamar. No baby. No inheritance. Onan did his duty, she didn't get pregnant, now he could go on his way.

  Nope! God sees even in secret! He knew Onan's heart. Tamar was too gentle to say anything. God was fed up with Onan too! No one treats His girl like that and gets away with it! Making babies is a serious business. Each person has a place in God's plan. Tamar was supposed to have children. God planned for her line to lead to His Son. A line of Fathers who would teach their children to love God with all their hearts! A line of Mothers who would teach their daughters to love God first! Godly women who would lead to Mary the mother of Jesus.

   Onan wanted the inheritance to himself. He took advantage of Tamar but didn't provide for her. 

Too bad. 

He lost it all! 

Now, he gets nothing! 

Poof! Dead! 

Thanks, God! (Onan was kind of a creep.)        

 Judah seemed pretty oblivious to what is really going on.
     "Ummm, okay, sorry about that Tamar. Don't worry. I will take care of you. You can stay here, as a widow until the kid, Shelah is grown. He will give you a son."
  So, Judah gave her a nice comfy tent, and probably a goat, or two and a maid and a couple of chickens and ... conveniently 'forgot' about her.

  A few years went by and Shelah is a fine, strapping young man looking for a bride. Tamar sees this. She knows she has a right to have a child by Shelah before he starts his own family. Again, weird, I know, but it is how they took care of their own. An old woman without kids to care for her would have a very rough life in those days. Tamar isn't old yet, but she knows that once Shelah gets married, it's just a matter of time and she will be begging for bread. Judah had promised he would care for her. But, Tamar would probably outlive Judah. Who would want to marry a middle-aged woman whose first two husbands had died?

  Good old Judah hadn't really forgotten. He was just scared. Er and Onan had both died shortly after marrying Tamar. Judah needed security for his old age. If Shelah died, his line would end! There would have been one less tribe in Israel. No King David. No Mary. No Jews!!!! History would have looked so different! Of course, he didn't know all that. He didn't even know what terrible husbands his sons were. So, he began making preparations for his youngest son's wedding.

   Well, needless to say, Tamar was feeling pretty desperate. There weren't sperm banks back then, but the law did allow for the woman's father-in-law to donate in extreme cases. So, here she was. A last-ditch effort to have the child that she must have known God promised her.
  She knew Judah was shearing sheep in a specific area. Tamar also knew those guys didn't have a whole lot of self-control on those long, lonely treks in the wilderness. So, she kind of disguised herself and sat down near a desolate intersection and waited. Sure enough, here came Judah, full and happy from shearing sheep.
  Never being the kind to really think things through, he followed his heart. He stopped and asked this mysterious lady if she would give him a good time. She would be paid. He would send her a little kid from his flock.

  "What will you give me as collateral?" she wisely asked.
  "Oh, yeah. Whatever you choose."
  "Okay. Give me your signet, bracelet, and staff."
  Now, Judah may not have been the most civilized, but he was a man of his word. He presumed to get all those things back the next day. He planned to send her the best kid of the flock. He wasn't a bit worried as he agreed to her demands.
   They had a one-night stand. He treated her kindly. She conceived. Everything worked beautifully for our hero. She went back home and changed back into her clothes. Shelah could marry whomever he wanted to. But, there was one problem. Prostitution was illegal!

   Judah and his mysterious prostitute could legally be stoned to death. But, as usual, Judah was unconcerned. Most people just kind of laughed it off in those days. -kept it all hush-hush. What you don't know, won't hurt ya. Judah sent his servants to pay the prostitute. They went to the area and asked around, but no one knew of any prostitute around those parts. Judah really needed his stuff, but he was also pretty embarrassed. He told his servants just to forget about it.

    Then, a few months later an announcement was made. Widow Tamar was pregnant! She played the harlot! Judah, being the head of the clan, was presented with the information.

"Who? Tamar? Oh, um, yes. Prostitution is against the law. She should be killed." Judah was probably a bit relieved to be rid of her finally.

Wise, quiet Tamar was ready for this moment.
When the servants came to escort her to be stoned she had one request.
"Show these items to Mister Judah. Tell him these belong to the father of my child."
Tamar knew Judah well enough to know he would do the honorable thing.
The servants presented Judah with his staff, his signet, and his bracelet! "These belong to..."
"I know." Judah interrupted and broke down.

"Set Tamar free! She is righteous! This is all my fault. I didn't have Shelah marry her like I was supposed to. She really didn't have a choice. She did right. I did wrong. Those belong to me."
Of course, the servants knew that. No one was really mad at Judah because the law did allow him to go in unto his daughter-in-law in such instances. All other times it was considered incest, but, as I said, there weren't sperm banks and everyone seemed to need to have kids in order to survive old age.

 Judah only went in unto her that once, but God blessed Tamar. She had been married twice. She bare two sons! Perhaps one inherited Er's portion and one inherited Onan's. Tamar was no longer alone!

   Her boys were definitely part of the family! At the time of their birth, little Zarah stuck his hand out of the birth canal. The midwife tied a string around his wrist and then, he pulled his hand back in. Tamar push again and out came a little head and soon a screaming little, red-faced baby slipped out
... minus a string around his wrist.
Did it come off?

  Nope.
Out popped little Pharez, sporting the string, already glaring at his wee brother!

It would be generations before a "Man after God's own heart" would be born into this wild family. His name was David. He became Israel's most beloved King. He had a daughter. Do you know what he named his little princess? Tamar! After the woman who became the matriarch of the tribe of Judah.

  It was again many generations before a baby boy was born who did not come out fighting or mad at the world. This child was called the Prince of Peace!

  All of this was realized because a dear young lady was patient and let God fight her battles when she could do nothing to defend herself.  But, who also, stood up for justice when she knew she was being treated unfairly.
  So, if you have been made to feel like you should meekly accept abuse:
             - may God, in one way, or another, destroy your Er's and Onan's
              - may you have the courage to confront your Judah's
             - may you be blessed with a double blessing for all the trials this broken world has dealt you!

Don't be afraid to reach out! There are laws in place to protect you!

God bless!