The Tamar Project

I am the Outreach Pastor of a new church in Macon, GA in which we plan on doing an out in the community event at least once a month instead of a service. Check us out - LifeQuest

Tamar was married to one of Judah's (leader of one of the 12 tribes of Israel) son. Her husband had died and as was customary at the time, the second son was sent to marry her and raise up a son for his brother - he refused and also died as a result of his disobedience. The third son was too young at the time to take a wife and Judah sent Tamar away, telling her that he would call her back when it was time. Judah had no intention of keeping his word and as time wore on, Tamar realized this.

At that time in history most of the woman's identity was tied up in who her husband and sons are. She had neither. Judah had sent her back to her father's house - so instead of being the wife of he eldest son of the leaders of the tribes of Israel - she was nothing. She was forgotten, she was ignored - the family of her husband would not do what they were supposed to do, thus relegating her to a life much below what she was promised and had married into.

Tamar then heard that her Father-in-law was coming near her area and she prepared to meet him (though he had no plan to meet her). Her preparation was that of a desperate woman - a woman that decided that he had to disgrace herself to get what she wanted. She sat on the road as a common whore and prostituted herself to her father-in-law in an attempt to take what she thought she deserved. She couldn't see the purpose of her life, the love of God or anything else because the ones that were to example that love had failed to do what they were supposed to do.

There is more to this story in Genesis 38 if you want to read it. The point is that there are people on the outskirts of society that have missed out on the promise for one reason or another - they may have been abandoned or they may have just been hit by a lot of life's storms. Then there are others that have become as desperate as Tamar - desperate enough to prostitute themselves in a misguided effort to get what they think they want.

THE TAMAR PROJECT

On February 14, 2009, LifeQuest will reach out to these people as we go out on the streets of Macon and take these people a simple sign of love - a rose and a homemade Valentine's card. We want to let them now that no matter what has happened to them, no matter what people have done to them, no matter what they are doing to make it thru the day and thru life .....that God Loves them.

There is another group of people that we want to take roses to - read Rhonda's blog Le Waffle House Elegante to read about them.