Jesus could have chosen anyone to be a part of His human ancestry. For reasons known only in the mind of God, He chose Tamar to bear the son who would carry on the royal line of Judah. God wove their son Perez into the lineage of Christ until the kingship finally reached the One to whom it ultimately belonged (see Gen. 49:10). After four hundred years of silence, God finally spoke, choosing to begin the New Testament with these words:
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar . . . (Matt. 1:1–3)
Etched in the Lineage of Christ
Can you imagine your name being etched in God’s eternal Word, let alone in the lineage of Christ? During Tamar’s lifetime, no one would have envied her. Many would condemn her. Perhaps one or two had pity. Hers was a life that otherwise would have disappeared in the pages of history, but God had a different plan.
When did you first become aware of God’s presence in your life? Since that time, what difference has it made:
-
- to you?
- to your family?
- to friends and others in your social circle?
Consider what your life might look like today if God had not stepped in. Take a few moments to give Him thanks for His presence in your life.
“. . . all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.” —Psalm 139:16 NIV
You just read another “sneak peek” into my new Bible study, TAMAR: Rediscovering the God Who Redeems Me. For a limited time, you can get a FREE COPY when you purchase 5 books – plus FREE SHIPPING! Now is the perfect time to plan your next group study!Â
P.S. If you missed the Livestream with me and best-selling author FRANCINE RIVERS, you can catch the replay on my YOUTUBE channel. Enjoy!
Copyright © 2021 byShadia Hrichi. Published by Leafwood Publishers. #Tamar #TamarBibleStudy #WomensBibleStudy #GodRedeems #ShadiaHrichi #BibleStudy
Shadia. What an absolutely astounding study on the life of Tamar. So inciting and thought provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this so much that I had to order your book and I plan to journal in it when I go through the study a second time! Sad you don’t ship to Canada but I was able to acquire a paperback copy from Amazon. Hope to also add your Hagar and Legion studies to my 2022 list! Thanks for all you do to inspire and encourage us to live louder for God!