LET HER BE BURNT – Genesis 38:24
Genesis 38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
Judah is quick to judge his daughter-in-law Tamar. Judah had seen God take the lives of two of his sons after they were married to Tamar. Judah refused to allow his youngest son to marry Tamar for fear that his youngest son would also be killed. Judah was blaming Tamar for the deaths of his sons.
Judah probably felt a little guilty in deceiving Tamar and not giving his third son to her. Now he had an excuse to absolve his guilt. By allowing Tamar to be burnt because she played the harlot, he no longer would have to feel guilty about his youngest son marrying Tamar.
Judah was quick to judge and slow to think. Judah did not demonstrate any love for his daughter-in-law Tamar and did not make any inquiries into who the possible man who had slept with Tamar was. Judah just wanted the problem out of his life.
When things go wrong in our lives, we often act hastily just like Judah. We are quick to judge others without taking any thought for how we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Christ commanded us that we are not to try to pull out the mote out of someone else’s eye until we have first taken care of the beam in our own eyes.
It is a natural thing to judge another person. If you find fault in another, it helps make you look better in your own eyes. By finding how others have failed and fallen short of the glory of God, you no longer feel guilty for your own sins.
God does not want you to be judging yourself by the standards of others. Instead, you need to focus your attention upon the perfect standard of God. When it comes to others, you ought to be looking for ways that you can love your neighbor as yourself and looking for ways that you can forgive those who have sinned against you.
Satan wants to get your attention off of yourself and how you have fallen short of the glory of God. By adding temperance to your life, you have the strength to resist the temptation to judge others and instead to find ways to love those who you wish to judge. By allowing God to change your focus, you will be free to learn to love your neighbor as yourself.
The guilt of Judah drove him to condemn Tamar for something that he was guilty of. Guilt will cause you to do terrible things to those who are around you. Rather than continue to allow guilt to consume your life, stop the destructive process and open your eyes to a new relationship with God. Start taking responsibility for your actions.
The ways of the world are a strong influence. However, you must be quick to exercise self-control so that you do not continue to do that which is right in your own eyes. God has a higher standard for your life.
Judah was willing to kill his own daughter-in-law without hearing any of the facts. While you may not be so quick to kill someone without a trial, how many times have you allowed yourself to be angry at a relative without taking the time to hear both sides of the story?