by John O’Malley
“And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman” (Ruth 4:12).
Tamar’s story was not one of which little girls would dream. Her story was more of an ugly reality. Yet it directly affected this moment in the gate of Bethlehem-judah.
Tamar married a man named Er; his father was Judah. Er was a wicked man, and God killed him. So, following the same principle which Boaz now followed, Judah told his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar. Through a most humiliating experience to Tamar, he refused. As with all selfish and mean acts, the Lord observed this. He slew him like he had slain his brother Er.
Judah told Tamar to wait at her father’s house until his other son, Shelah, grew up. He would then have his son follow the same principle to raise up seed for the family name not to be extinguished. However, Judah did not honor his word. Tamar, through an act of deception, was found to be with the child of Judah, her father-in-law. When it was discovered, Judah confessed that Tamar had been more righteous than he had been.
Tamar, though scarred by the events of being married to a wicked man, rejected by another, and refused by yet another, sought to make sure that family name of her husband was not extinguished. She gave birth to twins, whose names were Pharez and Zarah. According to the census of Israel in the book of Numbers, the population of the sons of Judah, including the house of Pharez, grew to over 76,500. The house of Pharez would not have existed, nor could all of Bethlehem-judah’s citizens gathered to witness Boaz—the grandson of Pharez, four generations removed—redeem Ruth.
The words of the townspeople were more than just matrimonial blessings. They were reflections of faith in a God who brought justice to injustice. They believed in a God who accepted those who were rejected and refused. They had confidence that God could bring fruit to any barren womb. They knew that all things work together for good for those who love God.
The people of Bethlehem-judah spoke as if the matter of a son born to Boaz and Ruth was settled. They wanted the house of Boaz to be like the house of Pharez. Their knowledge of the past gave them their faith for their present. These children of Israel knew the painful story of the house of Pharez and its vague similarities to Boaz and Ruth. Yet their reflections of faith gave them comfort and challenged them.
The people of Bethlehem-judah knew that what God had done before He could do again. They knew God could give seed to Boaz through the fruit of Ruth’s womb. They knew God honored those who honored His Word. What have you seen God do in the past? Have you developed your faith to the place where you can take God at His Word? Pause a moment today. Look for the reflections of faith in the pool of your life’s experiences since Calvary. Whatever you are facing today, do not let it get you disheartened. Turn your heart around and trust Him!
Think about it...