Can I Disobey God for a Worthy Goal?

Have you ever faced the risk of disobeying God to achieve a worthy goal? I have gone through such difficult circumstances, but have been saved by the sheer grace of God.

Tamar, a woman in the pages of the book of Genesis in the Bible had some worthy goals (chapter 38). She had married, Er, a son of Judah, one of the sons of Jacob.  The Bible records that the Lord put Er to death because he was wicked. The father, Judah proposed his next son, Onan for furthering the family progeny. But Onan cheated Tamar. He too died as a result of divine justice. Now Judah gets panicked, fearing losing his third son, Shelah. So he gives a false hope to Tamar to wait for some time to get married to his third son. As planned Judah never gave Shelah to Tamar. Judah also becomes a widower by then.

Poor Tamar. The men in her life have all failed her. Being a widow and childless made life miserable for her. She wanted to prolong her family progeny at any cost in the same family she got married to. Now that looks like a worthy goal pertaining to the culture of that time. She also wanted to set right the wrongs the men did to her on her own. She disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah and both slept together. Tamar wanted to teach Judah and the male chauvinistic society, a lesson. So, she took the seal, cord, staff of Judah as a pledge, while she was still in disguise.

When the news came that Tamar was pregnant, Judah was the first one to shout, “Burn her.” What a prejudiced society it was then and even now! Did he not commit adultery? Did not Jesus say in a similar situation, “whoever is sinless let them first stone this sinner woman”? Tamar played comedy here. She brought the pledge items and pointed out, “I became pregnant by the man who is the owner of all these.” The good thing about Judah is that he said, “She is more righteous than I.” They never had any relationship after that. I am not for words, full of praise for Tamar because she schemed and executed an unethical shortcut for a seemingly worthy goal. Later in history we learn about another widow and childless woman named, Ruth who unlike Tamar followed the law and culture of the days ethically and achieved a worthy goal.

Interestingly, Matthew chapter one records Jesus as one born in the genealogy of both Judah and Tamar and Ruth and Boaz. There is good news spelled here. We have a Saviour who whispers to us, “Whatever said and done, all that you have to do is to confess your sins and recognize your unrighteousness and sin no more.” 

"No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." (Prov 28:13 [NRSV])