Judah & Tamar

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:04 Speaker 2: I will name you Judah. Praise this time. I will praise God. I will praise God for you, little one. 00:00:13 Speaker 3: And all your brothers. 00:00:16 Speaker 2: You are a gift and a treasure. 00:00:19 Speaker 1: Ah Judah, Now there's a name. What will become of usley child? 00:00:26 Speaker 4: Who will you become? 00:00:28 Speaker 1: Jacob expanded his lineage larger than his forefathers could ever imagine, eleven sons to bear the promise given to Abraham and Isaac. Yet the house of Jacob had a foundation built on pettiness, favoritism, and jealousy. Jacob did nothing to thwart the coiling weeds of discord choking out the life of his wives and children. What's keeping us from just putting an end to him? Are we really going to wait for father to die and give his entire inheritance to the youngest? 00:01:02 Speaker 4: Would father real they do that? Of course he would. Father was the youngest. Remember he sympathized us with the boy Look at the coat he's wearing. When has father ever given you something of that? 00:01:18 Speaker 1: Much worse, they hated Joseph for his favor and were trapped in a prison of jealousy. Sensing the danger, Joseph stepped back, but the brothers had surrounded him. 00:01:30 Speaker 4: Where are you running off to your baby brother? 00:01:34 Speaker 1: Are you afraid? Tears streamed down Joseph's face. He couldn't speak, he could barely breathe. Judah threw him the gast of rocks. 00:01:45 Speaker 4: Tell me, Joseph, in all your dreaming, did you ever imagine this? 00:01:51 Speaker 1: The Ishmaelites turned their attention to Judah. He sauntered to their camels and began to stroke their noses. 00:01:59 Speaker 4: Lying in a just north of here, there was a young young man. He's seventeen. He's strong, lean and able to work. What will you give us for? 00:02:20 Speaker 5: The Bible tells us the truth, the dirty, imperfect and ugly truth, And today's stories a tale of truth and of deceit, lust and desperation. Shelloh, my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel, i'm ya l extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and you're listening to the Chosen people. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through israel story, we find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. Now let's begin. What do we do when betrayal and redemption walk hand in hand? Today we will meet Judah, the man who strayed, and Tamar, the woman who defied her Fate and the too will collide in a narrative both haunting and profound. Their choices, their struggles, their sins, and their redemption give us deeper truth about the human condition. This Bible story, inspired by Genesis thirty eight, is one of humanity. It's messy and chaotic, desperately reaching for meaning, and it's a story of our God, who, despite our failures, will bless those who seek him. 00:03:48 Speaker 1: This episode of The Chosen People with Yile Exstein contains explicit content that may be triggering for some listeners and inappropriate for young children. Listener discretion is advised. Judah sat on the jagged ledge of the canyons, gazing out over Dothan. Dawn painted the valleys below. The wind whispered softly, caressing his weathered face as he watched the sun ascend over the valley, casting a golden hue upon the rugged landscape. Two days had passed since he had seen his younger brother Joseph, beaten shackled and carted off like chattel to the slave markets of Egypt. Despite the object of his jealousy being gone, a profound restlessness gnawed at his soul. He was the fourth born of God's chosen people, favored among his brothers, yet an abiding shame haunted him. Joseph was gone, but his father's disdain for him persisted. He found no favor, no love, no affection to replace the dreamer. 00:04:56 Speaker 4: Huh, there's no place for me in the house of Jacob. 00:05:00 Speaker 1: As the harsh eastern sun rose, Judah turned his gaze towards the land of Tymna. Rising from his purge, he began the journey eastward, a trek he had made many times. Tymna, where he traded and grew close to a certain a Dlamite named Hera. The village lay in the midst of verdant pastures, where herds of goats and sheep grazed. Small mud brick homes dotted the landscape with wisps of smoke curling into the air. Judah neandered through the village, a place both beautiful and treacherous. Beneath its charm lurked dark rituals and sacrifices unbelownst to him. Judah was walking into a den of serpents. Yet among the Adalamites he felt a sense of belonging. They were earth bound, worshiping their immediate needs, unburdened by divine purpose. Judah felt liberated from his father's oppressive expectations and reveled in the freedom to act as he pleased. That night, he sat by the fire with Hera. The portly, wealthier Dulamie, treated Judah to a feast of meat and fine wine. Their laughter echoed into the night as they gorged themselves. Judah leaned back, tossing stones into the fire and watching them burst from the heat. Hera regarded him through the flickering frames, a smirk playing on his lips. 00:06:32 Speaker 6: I hear your father lost a son. 00:06:36 Speaker 1: Judah's eyes, glazed with wine and hatred met hearers. He scoffed, taking another swig from the jar beside him, Spitting into the fire. He watched the flames flare up. 00:06:50 Speaker 4: Yeah, Joseph, Ah poor boy was devoured by beasts. 00:06:57 Speaker 6: Oh you don't seem to grieve by us. But I suppose your father has many sons to spare and no doubt it means more inheritance for you. 00:07:11 Speaker 1: Judah waved a dismissive hand, scoffing once more, he rubbed his eyes, looking up at the stars. His father often spoke of Abraham's promise that his descendants would outnumber the stars. 00:07:25 Speaker 4: Great grandfather was chosen by God to create a legacy, and my grandfather after him, and my father after him. Me ow. However, there seemed to be no favor for any of us brothers, especially after Joseph was. 00:07:50 Speaker 6: Taken taken, I thought you said Joseph was devoured by beasts. 00:08:00 Speaker 1: Ignored the question, stumbling to grab his cloak. He regained his footing, his face flushed from over indulgence. 00:08:08 Speaker 4: Mark my words. I will make a name for myself and my father will bless me. 00:08:16 Speaker 1: He walked off into the village, dim torchlights, guiding his way to the well. He tripped, grunting as he hit the stone and leaned over to draw some water, splashing his face. He looked up at the stars, wondering if God would ever speak to him as he had to his father. 00:08:34 Speaker 4: Where is my favor? What is my lazy? 00:08:41 Speaker 1: Only silence answered him, scoffing, Judah continued down the path. He paused, seeing a young Canaanite woman leaning against her home, her hair draped seductively around her curves, her eyes shining like the moon in the darkness. Forbidden or not, Judah approached her with drunken confidence. 00:09:03 Speaker 4: Who are you? 00:09:05 Speaker 1: The woman turned with initial fear, then let her guard down once she saw Judah's face. Judah was a familiar sight in Timner. Everyone knew the sons of Jacob. They were brash, good looking, and brave young men who had slain the sons of Shechem. 00:09:21 Speaker 2: Either I am a daughter of shure Eva. 00:09:27 Speaker 4: Oh, what a beautiful name. What are you doing out this? Wait? Eva? 00:09:35 Speaker 2: You know what I'm doing here looking out at the sky, enjoying the last of the warm summer air, awaiting company. 00:09:44 Speaker 1: There was a seductive quality to her voice. Judah felt chills crawled down his spine. He looked at her with selfish longing. Suppose Judah couldn't feel the satisfaction of his father's approval or the sense of purpose from God. Perhaps a night of indulgence would fill the void. They spoke into the night and eventually were entangled in one another's arms. The next day, Judah paid for the right to take her as his wife. The two of them journeyed back to Jacob and the rest of Judah's family. As they approached the tents, the brothers could see the woman on Judah's arm. Judah looked for his father, eager to get a rise out of him. 00:10:29 Speaker 4: Father, I have returned from Timna with a wife. Will you throw us a feast? 00:10:35 Speaker 1: His brothers snickered at the sight of her. Knowing her reputation, Jacob to grieve to care dismissed Judah's announcement with a weary sigh. 00:10:48 Speaker 6: Congratulations, Isaac, no ruber Ah, Judah, do what you will, son. 00:10:57 Speaker 4: I do not care. 00:11:00 Speaker 6: One of the servants kill a calf in your honor, I argue in my tent. 00:11:05 Speaker 1: Judah's face hung low. Simeon nudge Judah. 00:11:10 Speaker 2: Well done, Judah, a beautiful bride from the alleys of rat country. 00:11:14 Speaker 1: Come, let's drink and feast. Judah felt the weight of his father's indifference, the sting of his own foolish choices. Judah was accustomed to the cold side of Jacob's shoulder, but this time the air seemed different. If Judah was to live without the light of his father's gaze. Then perhaps it was time to make his own light. 00:11:37 Speaker 4: Oh, make myself a great nation. Father, you'll see. 00:11:44 Speaker 1: Judah and his wife built their dwelling close to his family and bore a son. They named him Er. Judah looked at him as the pride of his life. He held him in his arms and looked up to the skies. 00:11:58 Speaker 4: This will be my legacy. 00:12:01 Speaker 1: There was still no voice speaking to him from the heavens, no whisper of approval or promise of prosperity, just the vast darkness staring blankly. 00:12:11 Speaker 4: Down at him. 00:12:12 Speaker 1: Judah looked down at her and stroked his little head. 00:12:16 Speaker 4: You will make me great. I will be even greater than my father Jacob. I will be greater than Joseph. 00:12:26 Speaker 1: Judah and ever had two more sons, Onan and Schella. The boys grew under the legacy of Jacob and the influence of their Canaanite mother. They heard tales of their grandfather's divine wrestling and the promise of a mighty nation. Yet their mother's earthy customs swayed them, something their father did very little to combat. As the three boys became men, their attention to honor waned and dissolved into nothing. They did as they pleased and cared very little about the legacy of their forefathers. Years passed. Judah walked with her in the coolness of dusk. It was an important night for ear. Judah regarded him, scanning him up and down. The young man, long and lean with light curls, reminded Judah painfully of Joseph. 00:13:19 Speaker 4: Where is he now? I wonder is he still alive? 00:13:25 Speaker 1: Judah shook the thoughts from his head and gestured to. 00:13:28 Speaker 4: Her, are you nervous? Why should I be? Doesn't mean anything. It's the beginning of your legacy. 00:13:35 Speaker 1: You sun like grandfather who cares about legacy. Judah rolled his eyes, frustrated. He had arranged for her to marry Tamar, a beautiful, fiery, young Canaanite woman, but ERR's interests lay elsewhere in the streets of Tymna. Judah saw his younger self in her and felt sickened. 00:13:57 Speaker 4: Be mindful of your purpose in this family. You have a responsibility to carry on my name. 00:14:04 Speaker 1: Er Apathetic shrugged off his father's words. Judah's hopes for divine favor seemed futile as his son disregarded their legacy that evening, Er and Tamar were wed under a canopy of lanterns and stars. The entire family was in attendance. They danced around the fire, laughed, and feasted into the night. Judah looked over to his father, yearning for a nod in his direction, a congratulation, a gesture of approval. However, Jacob did not pay attention to him or the celebration. Instead, he held his new born son in his arms. Jacob and Rachel had since bore another child, Benjamin. He looked at Benjamin with the same favor and love as he once did Joseph. Judah was too tired to be jealous. He had poured all of his wrath out on Joseph. When Joseph if was carted away bound by rope, a part of Judah was left with him. Now, he was weary from all the bitterness that consumed him day and night. He looked at his sons dancing by the fire with his brothers and sisters. For a brief moment, Judah was at peace, but only for a moment. Tamar watched her groom lean against the cistern of wine, scooping up another cupful. He was in a drunken stupor. She walked up to him and grabbed his hand. She tugged and forced a smirk. 00:15:36 Speaker 3: The guests are leaving, Shall we retreat to our bed? 00:15:40 Speaker 4: Go there yourself. 00:15:42 Speaker 1: Headed to the city, Er stumbled down the dirt path leading to the city, leaving Tamar alone on her wedding night. More wine and prostitutes awaited him. Indulgence had become a religion for her. He thrashed about in the village with little consideration for his wife or family. 00:16:03 Speaker 4: Not only this, but he. 00:16:05 Speaker 1: Would harm the people he came in contact with. He was eager for a fight and cared very little about anyone but himself. His heart was consumed by evil. Although God was silent to the family of Judah, he was still present. He was watching the family devolve into madness. However, even amid brokenness, he had a plan for Judah. This plan, however, would not be carried out by a wicked man like Earth. After a night of drunken rampaging, Er stumbled back home. He walked through the fields of grain, eager to ravage Tamar before falling asleep. He didn't get that far. Er tripped and fell into the nearby stream. He fell face down into the water. Blood dripped from his forehead. Er turned onto his back, unable to prop himself up. The liquor in his body made him warmer the inside, numbing his extremities to the freezing water. It slowly, steadily drained the life from him. Er lay there with his head dripping blood. It flowed into the water, making the stream turn red. He stared up at the stars, remembering the stories his grandfather told by the fire. He wouldn't get to hear those stories again. As blood left ERR's body, he grew colder and colder. He closed his eyes and fell asleep into the darkness. Thus Judah's legacy teetered on the brink, shrouded in silence and shadow, as the stars looked down with unfeeling indifference. Judah and his brothers labored under the harsh sun, digging a grave for earth. Their mournful chance echoed across the plains, old songs of sorrow carried by the wind. Tamar stood apart, cloaked in the black robes of widowhood. The breeze tugged at her garments. As the family gathered around HER's grave. Judah took onan aside, their steps slow and heavy as they walked away from the others. 00:18:14 Speaker 4: You know what the custom is, or none, you will take Tomor and de bed and give her a son on behalf of your brother. That way she does not go childless, and our legacy will continue. 00:18:26 Speaker 2: So I'm to marry Onan's widow, and the son she bears won't even be my own. 00:18:31 Speaker 4: I'll pass. You will do what you must for our family's legacy or none. Our greatness is at stake, Your greatness. 00:18:40 Speaker 3: You mean I'm being damned to be my dead brother's stud. 00:18:45 Speaker 1: Very well, father, I'll mount the mayor, as is my duty to this great legacy you talk so much about. Like his brother, Onan cared little for legacy. Yet he found Tamar's beauty eluding. Seeing her as a prize rather than a duty, he approached her with feigned gentleness, kissing her hand and whispering sweet nothings into her ear. That night, Onan took Tamar to his bed, and his initial tenderness was quickly overshadowed by lust and selfishness. When the moment came, he spilled his seed on the ground, refusing to give Tamar a child. He knew that whatever child she would bear would not be his own, but ers. He used her for his pleasure, leaving her empty and humiliated. Content with his own selfishness, Onan left Tamar alone in bed and departed to go drink. Tamar lay in bed, tears streaming down her face, her heart breaking under the weight of her unfulfilled desires. She returned to her tent, sobbing uncontrollably. God looked upon her compassionately, but his gaze upon Onan was wrathful. As Onan staggered beside the stream, a jar of wine in hand, the skies erupted in lightning. 00:20:07 Speaker 4: Oblivious to the. 00:20:08 Speaker 1: Divine fury, Onan's heel caught on a rock, and he fell backward into the stream. His head struck a stone, killing him instantly. The stream once again ran red with the blood of Judah's son. Onan's body was discovered, and Judah found himself once more surrounded by his brothers standing over a grave. Onan was buried beside earth, and Judah's head hung low in despair. His dreams of building a lasting legacy were slipping away. He had aspired to be the favored son, the bearer of God's promise, but was met with silence and death. Judah pounded his fist against the earth, rage and sorrow into England. Tamar's stood behind him. Judah had taken her from her father. He had promised her children. It was now his youngest son's responsibility to give her a child. However, Sella was young and incredibly fearful that he would meet the same death as his brother's. He saw Tamar as cursed and would not go near her. Judah could not force his son to lie with her. He too was fearful that Tamar perhaps bore a curse. However, it was Judah who had raised such wicked sons. Tamar was innocent and a victim of Judah's poor judgment as a father. Judah pulled Tamar aside and kissed her forehead. 00:21:42 Speaker 4: My daughter, there is very little I can do for you. Now, remain a widow and return to your father's house. If the time comes when Shalah is ready to wed you, I shall send word to bring you back. 00:21:54 Speaker 3: Do you expect me to believe that Sella will want anything to do with me when the time comes, even have any intention of coming back to get me. You know, even my people tell legends of your great grandfather Abraham. The word greatness is branded on his name like hot iron. He would probably be ashamed of you, Hm. 00:22:20 Speaker 4: You know, I fear you might be right. 00:22:25 Speaker 1: With those words. Tamar was sent away. Her return to her father's house a death sentence. She had been given to the sons of Judah. Remarriage outside the family was unthinkable. Her fate was to live as a widow, dependent and disgraced, a fate worse than death. Weeks passed, and tragedy struck again. Judah's wife died, leaving him a widower. He mourned deeply, lamenting the disintegration of his family and legacy. One early morning, he visited the stream where his sons had died. Staring at his reflection, he saw a man broken by ambition and failure. He sighed and turned towards the pasture, preparing to take his sheep to Tymna for shearing. Winter approached and the wool would fetch a high price. He called for his servant, instructing him to send word to Hear and the other merchants. The servant entered Tymna, spreading news of Judah's arrival. Tamar drawing water at the well. Overheard, the servant waited at her, smiling. 00:23:39 Speaker 6: Tamar, your father in law, Judah, would be in town soon if you desire to see him. 00:23:45 Speaker 1: Tamar stood, seething with anger, drawing water. She walked back to her home, ignoring the villager's whispers and stairs they thought her cursed. Ensuring no more suitors would come inside her home. She sat on her bed, eyes lingering on her wedding veil and the silk wraps Rachel had gifted her. Anger and frustrations simmered within her. 00:24:11 Speaker 3: He has left me alone here to write. That man promised me a family, He promised me children. 00:24:19 Speaker 2: He owns me. 00:24:20 Speaker 1: He Suddenly, a cunning idea sparked in her mind. She shed her widow's garments, standing naked in the dim room. Methodically, she wrapped the silk around her body, the fabric accentuating her curves. She placed the veil over her head, hiding her face, and smiled at her reflection. Draping a blanket over her new disguise, she walked briskly to an Aum, a stop on the way to Timna. On the side of the road was a small shrine surrounded by a group of rooms. It was a place where many prostitutes lured in weary travelers. Before Judah was married, he was a frequent customer at the temple. Tamar knew this and expected to find a weak and susceptible Judah approaching any moment. Now leaning against the shrine stone wall, Tamar awaited Judah. Soon he appeared with his flock, eyeing the veiled figure. 00:25:21 Speaker 4: Haha, it seems early for the harlots to be out. 00:25:25 Speaker 1: Judah smiled with an embarrassed excitement. He was lonely, weak and in grief. He deeply desired the warmth of a woman, so he approached the veiled figure with confidence. 00:25:38 Speaker 3: Hello, traveler, the day has been hot, but the coolness of night is approaching. 00:25:46 Speaker 4: Then perhaps we can warm each other. 00:25:50 Speaker 3: What will you give me in return? 00:25:53 Speaker 4: I will give you a goat from my flock. My flock is not far behind me. When I return, bring. 00:26:00 Speaker 6: It to you. 00:26:01 Speaker 1: Tamar breathed in deeply. She felt uncomfortable, but was determined to have a family of her own. Her plan was to lure Judah in and conceive, but she had to be careful. If she did conceive, she had to have a guarantee that the child was indeed Juda's. She grabbed Judah's belt and drew him in close. She placed her lips next to his ear and whispered. 00:26:27 Speaker 7: Give me a pledge so I know you will return. Give me the signet ring on your finger and the staff in your hand. 00:26:37 Speaker 1: Judah agreed. He took off his ring and put it in a pouch. Then he set his staff down on the side of the wall. Tamar held his belt and walked backward into the temple overhang, leading him like a dog on a leash. The two of them embraced passionately until sundown. The whole time Judah was blissfully unaware that he was with his daughter in law. As night fell, Judah slept beside her. Tamar slipped away, taking his ring and the staff. She returned to her father's house dressed again in widow's garments. Filled with a mix of shame, anger, and excitement, Judah arose. Pleased with himself, he stretched his arms and put on his tunic. He reached for his staff, then realized he had given it to the prostitute. He smiled at the thought of her. It had been a long time since feeling the warmth of a woman's touch. He turned his feet towards Tymner and met his servants, who had his flock of sheep and goats. After being sheered, Jodah took a goat and returned to the temple where he had met the veiled woman. There was no one to be seen at the temple, so Judah went into the city and asked the. 00:27:54 Speaker 4: Men where might I find the cult prostitute who resided outside the shrine. 00:27:59 Speaker 1: Then chuckled and shrugged at Judah. 00:28:03 Speaker 4: Hah, you got tricked me, friend. There isn't be no prossetsu there. 00:28:08 Speaker 6: In years, they swind along the other side of town. 00:28:14 Speaker 1: Judah departed to find the veiled woman. There among the other harlots, he asked, searched, and knocked to no avail. He was beginning to grow frustrated and embarrassed. 00:28:26 Speaker 4: Ah, let her keep their ring and staff. I'll be laughed at if I keep searching for a prost dud Us clearly tricked me. 00:28:36 Speaker 1: Three months passed and Judah was tending to the fields with his brothers and his remaining sons Shella. Judah and Shella had not sent for Tamar. Shella was hesitant and uncommitted, and Judah was thoughtless towards her. As Judah hauled sheaves of wheat into the silo, he spotted his servant approaching Judah. 00:28:58 Speaker 7: I've been sent from the father of Tay She is pregnant. 00:29:02 Speaker 1: Judah's eyes widened in shock, looking to Sella, who shook his head in surprise. Judah fumed Tamar belonged to his family. If she was pregnant, she had broken a sacred vow. His anger, rooted in his own failures, irrupted. 00:29:19 Speaker 8: Bring her to me. She will be branded for this. She has dishonored me Shallah on on an air. She's sullied the legacy. She's tarnished my chance and greatness. 00:29:34 Speaker 1: Judah's anger came from a deep well of shame. He had failed at building a lasting legacy, and it was easier to place the blame on Tamar. She was brought to him holding a small. 00:29:46 Speaker 4: Bump on her belly. 00:29:47 Speaker 1: Judah approached her with rage. Yet Tamar was calm and poised. She looked at Judah with confidence, not shame. This enraged Judah even more. 00:30:00 Speaker 8: Do you see to me and my sons, who is the man responsible for your indulgery? 00:30:06 Speaker 3: Interesting? You would call me a harlot, Judah coming from you? 00:30:11 Speaker 4: What are you getting at? 00:30:12 Speaker 3: Oh, my lord, please don't be angry with me. I have something to give you. 00:30:19 Speaker 1: Tamar reached over to the donkey she came on. On its back was a long object wrapped in a blanket. She carried it over to Judah and began slowly unwrapping it. 00:30:31 Speaker 3: These belong to the man responsible. 00:30:37 Speaker 1: She revealed the staff and signet ring lying on top of the blanket. Tamar looked up at Judah's astonishment and smiled. She lifted the staff and ring and placed them both in Judah's hands. 00:30:51 Speaker 3: Do you know who these belonged to? 00:30:53 Speaker 4: My lord? 00:30:55 Speaker 1: Judah looked down at the objects he used as payment for the prostitute. Then he looked up at Tamar. He scanned her body up and down. He looked at her hair and into her eyes. It was her. It was the harlot he had searched for. She had tricked him into sleeping with her. At first, Judah was angry, but he then realized his sins. He had treated Tamar poorly and left her to her father's home to die a widow. He had not pushed his son to marry her. He had not cared for her heart or considered her dreams. Judah continued to stare down at the ring and staff. Tears streamed down his face, and he looked deeply into Tamar's eyes. 00:31:42 Speaker 4: You you are no Harlot tomorrow sho. You are more righteous than I am. I did not give you my son, Tammar. Instead, I worft you. Why. I am truly sorry. 00:32:09 Speaker 1: Judah took Tamar in. He cared for her, but did not know her intimately. 00:32:14 Speaker 4: Again. 00:32:15 Speaker 1: Instead, he tended to her every need and welcomed her into his family. Months later, Tamar gave birth to twins. The first boy's hand came out and a scarlet thread was tied around his wrist to signify he was born first. However, before he could emerge fully from the womb, the other child made his way out first. The first born was named Perez, the second was named Zira. Tamar panted from fatigue, but was satisfied that her dreams of having a family were fully realized. Judah held the twins in his arms and took them out by the stream where his other sons had died. He looked up to the rising sun and smiled the river belowe had run red with the blood of his sons. However, in his arms lay a new hope for Judah's future. Despite his failures, pride, and selfishness, God would use him. For the first time in his life, he felt the presence of God upon him. He looked down at peries. Judah did not know it, but it would be through his seed that all the nations would be blessed. Her hero would emerge from the line of pees. Her son of Judah would rise up and fulfill the promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His blood would also be spilled, but this time it would not be in vain. This son of Judah would rise up as a sacrifice to redeem the entire world. He would be called the Lion from the tribe of Judah, and he would be living proof that God works in even the most broken and dysfunctional circumstances. 00:34:08 Speaker 5: The Bible tells us the truth, the dirty, imperfect and ugly truth, and today's stories a tale of truth and of deceit, lust and desperation. We have Judah, our ancestor, who strayed from the strong tradition of the patriarchs by marrying a Canaanite woman. And we have Tamar, who disguised herself as a harlot to secure her future and her lineage. And we have Judah's sons, Heir and Onan, who each meet tragic ends, highlighting their own failures and wrongdoings. Each character is marred by their sins, But amidst the chaos and the moral failings, we hear a whisper of divine purpose of God's plan. Tomor's actions, though questionable, ultimately preserved the line of Judah. Judah would become the most prominent tribe in Israel, giving way to King David himself. It's a stark reminder of the complexity of human nature and the mysterious ways in which God weaves his plans. Our patriarchs and matriarchs, with all of their flaws, are part of a greater story, and we too are part of this grand narrative despite our imperfections, the narrative of our God, who brings redemption out of brokenness. As always, the people we read about in the Bible make us ask ourselves what we would do in their situation. In this story, we meet Tamor, twice widowed and without a child, she stood at the brink of oblivion. What would you do in her place? How far would you go to secure your destiny? Tomorrow, driven by an unyielding sense of justice, took matters into her own hands, treating her honor for the future. But deceit, even if it's disguised, is still deceit. Though born out of necessity, Tomar's actions were wrong and shattered the bonds of trust and family. Like Loot's daughters before her, Tomor's actions sprang from a place of desperation. Both Bible stories reveal the lengths one might go to secure future, and these acts, though rooted in survival, were morally compromised. We also see the shadows of Abraham's legacy casting their long reach, his lies about Sarah and his compromise with Hagar, reminding us of the far reaching consequences of our sins. Then there's Judah, our ancestor who strayed from righteousness, who neglected his duty to Tamorrow, refusing to give her to his son Sheelah. How often do we too, fall into the snares of temptation and neglect our duties to God. Judah's moral failures were glaring. He turned his back on sacred obligations, betrayed his family, and let his desires lead him astray. But in a moment of revelation, when Tamar's pregnancy came to light, Judah confessed. He said, she is more righteous than I. This is a turning point in the story of the Chosen People. This moment right here is the first apology in the entire Bible. Yeah, you heard that right, the first apology. You don't believe me, go back and look for yourself. This is the commentary that the late Rabbi Jonathan Sachs of Blessed Memory gave to this story. This is what he said. This moment is a turning point in history. Judah is the first person in the Torah explicitly to admit that he was wrong. It is from here that we learn the principle that a penitent stands higher than even a perfectly righteous individual. Judah the penitent becomes the ancestor of Israel's kings, while Joseph the righteous is only a visceroy mish ne le mere, which means second to the pharaoh. Judah's acknowledgment of Tamar's righteousness marked a turning point, a step towards redemption. Though her methods were flawed, Tamar's motive was justice, and Judah recognized his own failures and he found the path to repentance. Judah's failings and Tomorrow's deceit stand as towering reminders of our human condition, that it's fraught with sin and in dire need of divine grace. I feel that, especially today, can we too pursue justice without falling into the snares of deceit? Can we too find the courage to repent? The story of Judah and Tomorrow calls each of us here and now to walk humbly with God. May we learn from their journey, embrace our imperfections and trust in the God who brings light from darkness, hope from despair, and redemption from the depths of our failings. Amen in an age where lineage and legacy where everything, The chosen people of God were continually working with what seemed to be a broken family tree, yet the roots were deep. Before we finish with Tamorro and Judah's story, it wanted to take another look at Judah's words. As we've seen, Judah's behavior with Tamar wasn't exemplary. But Jewish tradition teaches that with just two words in Hebrew, Judah demonstrated one of the core beliefs of the Chosen people, and that is the belief in the power of repentance. You see, when Judah was shown his seal, his cord, and his staff, he could have denied that they were his, and he could have actually gotten away with it. He knew that he could have lied, but he didn't. Judah didn't turn away from the truth. Instead, as we learned before, Judah uttered these two Hebrew words, zadi ka me many. She is more righteous than I. By saying these words, Judah took the first step towards repentance, and that is admitting his sin. Jewish tradition tells us that because of this, Judah was given the gift of leadership of the Chosen People. Even his name Judah Yehudah in Hebrew is related to the word admitting, and it's also the very name of our nation and our religion, Jews and Judaism. It comes from Judah. I like to say that we're repenting all the time, and isn't that a good thing for all of us to always be doing? Drying closer to God by admitting our mistakes. 00:41:45 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Pray dot com app today. This Prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate, and leave a review.