May
17
Written by:
Henrik
5/17/2010 7:00 AM
by Steve Pelton
To say that the Bible contains stories about bad family dynamics is a huge understatement. We always seem to be reading about brothers killing brothers, sons plotting against fathers, husbands mistreating wives. Solomon marries countless women from the neighboring pagan nations. Ananias and Sapphira lie to the church. Isaac steals from his brother Esau. So much of what we read in Scripture stands as a history of how families behave badly. And when we turn to the story of Amnon and Tamar, we see this type of behavior in a vivid and horrible manner. We read not just about dishonesty, or broken relationships. We read of something sexual, and violent. We’re repulsed by Amnon, and our hearts break for the defenseless Tamar. It almost seems too shocking for Scripture, but we realize that this is real life, that this kind of thing happens.
Yet even as families behave badly, Scripture tells us that God works amidst such dysfunction. Even as Tamar is brutally raped and dishonored by a family member, we believe that God is present, that God knows and cares about what is happening, no matter how horrible the story is. And this realization becomes important to us, especially as we hear today about girls and boys sexually abused by siblings, or parents, or close relatives. We see headlines and read articles about how countless people are trafficked across international borders every day, for the sake of the burgeoning illegal sex trade. It’s monstrous, it’s so pervasive, and it begs the question: Is God working in these situations? Does God care about these people, people who are used, abused, and then thrown away like garbage? Tamar’s story reveals to us that the problems that we see today are in no way new, and while we may be left with more questions than answers, we know that her story’s placement in Holy Scripture tells us something about God’s work in it. In the most despicable of situations, when things look to be their blackest, there is a need for us to understand that God still exists and God still moves. So we turn to the story of Amnon and Tamar, and in this difficult passage we ask for understanding of how God cares for those like Tamar. We read about the horrors that many face in life, and we ask for God’s wisdom, and to see him heal the broken and the abused.
A fellow traveler,
Steve
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1 comment(s) so far...
Re: 2 Samuel 13:1-22; 1 Corinthians 5 : God Works in all Situations
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7
Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers as we cry out through painful tears. Thank you for healing the broken and abused. Amen.
By Pam on
5/17/2010 9:42 AM
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