This is a continuation of the story of Tamar sleeping with her father-in-law as a harlot out of desperation!
So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.
Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah. Genesis 38:26-30
Through the ungodly union with Judah, Tamar became the mother of twin boys named Perez and Zerah. Jesus came from the line of Perez and his father Judah. God chose for Jesus’ lineage to come from a sinful and inappropriate union. God’s ways are truly higher than our ways!
I came from a culture that people’s reputation was of utmost importance to them. This led people to two subtle and understated options in life. The first choice was to place yourself in the prison of man’s opinion and not do anything to raise their eyebrows. The second option was to live an appearance of perfection but behind the scenes have a corrupt life. Neither of the options produced any good fruit because you are either bound by fear of man or bound by sin.
The fact that Judah and Tamar are included in Jesus’ genealogy, makes a clear statement about how little God values man-made reputation!
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7
Jesus being the Son of God came in humility as a servant. He emptied Himself of any Godly or carnal reputation in order to be an available and pure vessel used by God for His purpose of redemption. God could have chosen for Him to be born to a priestly family, instead He chose a virgin girl and a carpenter. Jesus didn’t cling to anything to buy Him power, status, or reputation. As a matter of fact, his lineage was full of imperfect sinful people whom God had redeemed.
This signifies that it is not the reputation and the honor of a person that matters apart from Christ. We can’t cling to our heritage, perfectionism, or other successful people to build our reputation. All of us need to throw ourselves at the mercy and the grace of God. Without Him no good reputation can redeem us; with Him no bad reputation can keep us from God’s mercy! When we catch this view, God can redeem and use any person or situation and bring glory to Himself. Thank you Jesus for your work of redemption!