Journey Day 21

It's incredible to me how God uses weak and flawed people to further his kingdom! Look at the story of Tamar and Judah. Judah's heart was hard towards Tamar. He promised to give her his youngest son once he came of age. Years passed and Tamar grew older and father from child bearing age, and Judah never came with his son. You can see how this would be frustrating for Tamar, because she knew that the son was old enough, so when she was informed that Judah would be passing through, she began to scheme and plot. She waited on the side of the road for him in veiled disguise...aka she was dressed like a prostitute. He didn't recognize her and propositioned her, "Come now, let me sleep with you."(Genesis 38:15b) She asked him what he would give and he said a young goat. Back then this was big money! She asked that he leave her his seal and cord and staff as collateral until the goat arrived. Judah agreed, they did the dirty and as Genesis 30 tells us, "She became pregnant by him." When Judah heard her eggo was preggo, he declared she be burned, because she must be a prostitute! (Oh the irony!) Luckily Tamar was a very bright woman and had thought ahead! She pulled out his belongings and says, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are." Judah realized what happened and finally in a moment of conviction says, "She is more righteous than I." Let's be honest here, prostitution really isn't the best way to go about getting what she was rightfully hers, but God knew her heart and he blessed her because of her faithfulness! She is a part of the line of Jesus, and I feel like that says something! God used her in her weakness to bring about the birth of the Savior of the world! He even changed Judah's heart and used him! Jesus is often referred to as the lion of the tribe of Judah. Despite all Judah had done God forgave him, and used him! Think of the story of Rahab, a prostitute! She wasn't just pretending to be one to get a baby, she really was a prostitute! However she has faith in God, and helped his men and was rewarded greatly! She is also a part of the lineage of Christ! If we look through all of Jesus's ancestors, we discover a flawed group of people, with one thing in common, faith in God and his goodness. If God can use prostitutes and schemers to bring about the birth of his Son who saved the world, how much more can use us and our faults to show the love of Christ to his beloved and lost children. My life verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." The best part is that God's track record reflects this verse, his power is always shown to be perfect in our weaknesses. What a relief, God longs for perfection from us, but he knows we are flawed and cannot be, so he extends us mercy and grace in our life. What an encouragement these stories can be!