Noticing Tamar

Judah didn’t recognize Tamar when he turned aside on the road to Timnah.

He hadn’t noticed her for years. After giving her two wicked sons, he sent her back to her father’s house and wrote her off as an inconvenience (Genesis 38:1-10). Concerned that she might bring misfortune on his third son, he deprived her of the right of redemption through Shelah (Genesis 38:11).

Tamar waited alone, and Judah went on his way.

Until, as a widow, he walked on the road to Timnah (Genesis 38:12). When Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute in the “open place,” Judah took notice (Genesis 38:14). At once, he “saw” her—only because she offered him something he wanted (Genesis 38:15). 

Months later, when she was found to be pregnant, Judah again wanted to burn up her memory (Genesis 38:24). But when he realized the lengths that his daughter-in-law had gone to earn her redemption, at last, she had his full attention:

“Judah recognized them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.’” (Genesis 38:26)

Tamar would have her redemption. Through Judah, a son was born: Perez, the child who “broke out” in bright hope out of a hopeless situation (Genesis 38:27-30).

Centuries later, a descendant of Perez saw a widow like Tamar, sitting out in the open. Unlike Tamar, she was not in disguise. Both her widowhood and heritage as a foreigner were on full display.

Still, Boaz chose to identify with her at the city gates. Whereas Judah called for Tamar’s destruction, Boaz called for Ruth’s hand in marriage. And because Boaz saw the unseen woman, God brought the line that led to David (Ruth 4).

Indeed, the Messiah would come through Perez—the son of a woman unnoticed. 

Jesus, son of Tamar, would always take notice of the oppressed hiding in the shadows (Matthew 1:3). He turned aside to the blind. He reached his hand to the poor. He put his seal on those without status. His whole life, Jesus gave everything to those who had nothing to give.

Tamar was spared an unrighteous death. But Christ was put on the stake for crimes he did not commit. He was cast out of the city gates so that outcasts could be brought in through faith. 

Do you take notice of those who have nothing to offer you?

Or do you, like Judah, only turn aside to those who have something to give? 

Followers of the Messiah take on the inheritance of Boaz and Perez. We “break out” of the worldly pattern of selfish seeing and notice the Tamar of today, waiting for redemption in the shadows of sorrow.