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There
is a very sad story that is found in the Bible in 2 Samuel 13. Probably,
it is so sad and embarrassing that if a parent were about to read it to
a child, he/she would be tempted to skip over it..
Tamar
seemed like a very decent girl. Then, her half-brother Amnon fell in love
with her and developed a scheme that had her bring a meal to his bedroom.
She protested but he, being stronger, raped her. She even would have married
him but he had only one thing on his mind.
She was very upset, which made him hate her more than
he had previously loved her-- if one could call such feelings "love." He
threw her out of the house, then degraded her even more by claiming that
she tried to seduce him. To make things worse, her brother Absalom tried
to calm her, saying, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your
peace, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this to heart." He did
not want to ruin the integrity of the family name. So Tamar stayed in Absalom's
house a desolate woman. Perhaps saddest of all, when her father David heard
this, he was enraged but did nothing, even though it concerned three of
his children..
Doesn't this story sound a bit like today's society? We
have so many Tamars that have been seduced by uncaring individuals and then
thrown out. There may be those who try to keep it "hush-hush" by putting
the victim in a closet, so to speak, and telling her to keep quiet. Then
there are those who get upset but do nothing for the victim. Unfortunately,
every day we hear about more victims. Like Tamar, somebody stole something
from them which cannot be replaced. You may be a parent that has tried to
hide the fact that your family name has been hurt. Perhaps you have tried
to closet the victim. Or you may have even injured someone's pride and taken
advantage of a situation for your own greed or lust. Confession of guilt
before God and the victim is of utmost importance. Otherwise this nagging
guilt will always be yourshadow. Only God can clear the stain. Jesus Christ
has taken all of our pain when He died on the cross to give us freedom from
guilt.
A beautiful verse taken from Isaiah 1:18-20 says, "Come
now, Let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet
red, they shall be as white as snow; ...If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall
be devoured by the sword." |
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You
may be a Tamar that has been forced to hide the fact that somebody took
advantage of you. Why did God allow this? These questions can be so difficult
to answer. Memories can be a bitter pill and it seems like nothing can
erase the hurt. Counseling may be advisable and I would encourage you
to ask God to help you deal with the pain.
But God has more for you! He wants to give you a new
life in Christ who has given His life for you on the cross. Jeremiah 17:14
has an unforgettable prayer for you, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be
healed; save me, and I shall be saved."
Tamar was said to have lived a life of despair. Little
did she know that her family would become the carrier of a future Grandson
who would die to cleanse us from all hurt and give us new life. I would
encourage you not to be a "closet-victim." Isaiah 43:1-2 says, "Fear not,
for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When
you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers,
they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not
be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your
God, your Saviour."
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