What a crazy story. Why is it in the Bible?

These two people found themselves in impossible situations, and they made mistakes. Yet God chose them to be in lineage in which his son entered the world. Crazy story? Yes, but it’s there for us to learn from.

 Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face. So he stopped and propositioned her. “Let me have sex with you,” he said, not realizing that she was his own daughter-in-law.

“How much will you pay to have sex with me?” Tamar asked.

“I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah promised.

“But what will you give me to guarantee that you will send the goat?” she asked.

“What kind of guarantee do you want?” he replied.

She answered, “Leave me your identification seal and its cord and the walking stick you are carrying.” So Judah gave them to her. Then he had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. Afterward she went back home, took off her veil, and put on her widow’s clothing as usual…

~ Genesis 38:15-19 (NLT)

Interested in learning more about this story? Check out this study material: God Chooses (Im)perfect People: Tamar and Judah

words→pictures→doodle→for some of us: art

If you’re looking for a new way to spend time in the scriptures listening for what God has to say to you today, you might try doodling.

I am not an accomplished artist, but I am a life-long doodler. Here’s the method I use. I invite you to adapt it to fit your own style and skillset.

• Read the verses and pray about them.
• Ask yourself:
  • Is there a word or phrase the jumps out at me?
  • What visual comes to mind? (It may be as simple as colors, an abstract, a word, or a stick figure…)
  • Do the verses remind me of something or someone in my life?
  • If I was going to explain this concept to a 6-year-old, what picture would aid in understanding?
• Draw a picture or write the words and let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts.

Feel free to share your work in the comments.