Torah Portion Vayeshev (And He Dwelt)
Greetings Friends and Readers!
I have been reading in Genesis 38 and making what I call "notices." If you are following the Torah cycle, you may be interested in connecting some dots with me. Now...it's possible that I'm reaching and stretching. Feel free to disagree with the placement of my dots, but either way we will be seeking the scriptures together, and that is always fruitful. Come Seek With Me!
Here are the scriptures I will reference:
Genesis 38
Ephesians 1
Matthew 1
Matthew 13
John 14
In Genesis 38, we see that Tamar had a problem. She had been left a widow in her father's house and denied her rightful inheritance. Judah had not given her his son, as was his responsibility.
If we look at this next part with "Western" eyes, we miss out. In the Western mindset, Tamar is a "woman of ill repute." But let us put on our Ancient Eastern mindset glasses. Without a husband and/or son, in the Ancient Eastern economy, Tamar was destitute. She would have no way to support herself. Her economic and social status would have been rock bottom within her cultural construct. And who was responsible for this? Who held Tamar's life in his very hands?
Judah
Judah had no intention of giving Tamar his third son Shelah, and she knew it.
So Tamar made a desperate plan.
It was the only option she could think of to survive. And in order to obtain it, she willingly put her own life in jeopardy...knowing that she may indeed die, but having faith that she just may be saved.
She dressed in disguise.
She asked for a seal.
She held on to it for dear life.
When Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant, he called for her death by fire.
But Tamar had a surprise. A seal.
While she deserved death...there was one man who could save her.
Judah
With his seal
The ending of Genesis 38 tells us that Tamar was indeed allowed to live and gave birth to twins, one of which is included in the genealogy of Yeshua! Guess who else is listed there?
Very few women are written into the genealogy of Yeshua, but Tamar's name is present.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Much like Tamar was chosen to have her name written down in the lineage of Messiah Yeshua, we too were chosen to be "in Messiah" before the foundation of the world.
Much like Tamar was sealed with Judah's seal, cords, and staff, we too are sealed with The Holy Spirit.
Much like Judah was the guarantor of Tamar's inheritance, Judah's offspring Messiah Yeshua IS the guarantee of our inheritance!
While we deserve to be bundled up and burned...
Like Judah first thought to do to Tamar...
The gift of the Holy Spirit
By the righteousness of Messiah Yeshua.
We are His possession. He will bring us into His dwelling place and provide for us. Just like Judah brought Tamar into his home and provided for her.
HallaluYAH!
Is it a perfect fit? No. "Types" never are.
Does it give a hint of something to come? I think it does.
What do you think?
I always love it when you...
Come Seek With Me!
Note: Credit is due to Christine Miller and her book, Finding Messiah in Torah, published by Nothing New Press. It was this book that originally helped me connect Genesis 38 to Ephesians 1 which led to the other connections. It follows the weekly Torah cycle and has been a great resource to me. Highly recommend.
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