March 10 -- "When Others Commit My Sins"

 Today's Reading:  Genesis 38

"When Others Commit My Sins"

Tamar's husband, Er, died before he could father any children with Tamar. According to custom at the time, Tamar was to marry the next son of Judah, Onan, but he also died. To ensure that Tamar would have descendants and her deceased husband's family line would continue, Judah promised to give Tamar to his third son Shelah when he came of age. However, Judah broke this promise and did not give Shelah to Tamar.

Tamar, feeling that her rights were being violated, disguised herself as a prostitute and propositioned Judah, who did not recognize her. She became pregnant with twins as a result of their encounter. When Judah discovered that Tamar was pregnant, he condemned her to be burned for committing adultery. However, Tamar revealed that she was carrying Judah's children, and Judah acknowledged that she had acted more righteously than he had.

Judah, like many of us, was quick to jump into a judgmental attitude. It has been said, "Oh how bad our sins look when someone else commits them." This saying exposes one of the darker tendencies of our human nature - the tendency to judge the actions of others more harshly than we judge our own actions.

Matthew 7:1-5: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

James 4:11-12: "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"

These verses and others like them emphasize the importance of avoiding judgment and condemnation of others, and instead focusing on one's own actions and behaviors. All of us are capable of sinning and making mistakes, and it is not up to us to condemn others but rather to show compassion, forgiveness, and love.