Genesis 38 is one of those Bible stories people tend to skip, soften, or explain away. Tamar disguises herself, Judah fails his obligation, and by the end of the chapter, the patriarch who was ready to condemn her has to speak the truth out loud:

“She is more righteous than I.”

In this Wednesday night Bible study from First Christian Church in Cushing, Oklahoma, we step carefully into the story of Tamar and Judah. This is not a clean story, but Scripture does not always give us clean stories. It gives us truthful ones.

Tamar is sent back to her father’s house with a promise Judah never intends to keep. She waits. She watches. And when the man who owes her justice refuses to give it, she brings the truth into the open using Judah’s own signet, cord, and staff.

This episode  ...