March 19 - Tamar vs Potiphar

Throughout Genesis, characters repeatedly deceive each other through lies and tricks. This might be an initially uncomfortable observation if we are reading Biblical stories to help us direct our moral compass: is it okay to deceive others? Looking across the stories of Genesis, we can see these two types of deception — lies and tricks — stem from different motivations and lead to opposing outcomes, helping to clarify the role of deception. 

Peter Binken suggests contrasting Genesis 38 to Genesis 39, as both stories focus on deception. In Genesis 39, Potiphar, a pharaoh's daughter, asks Joseph (of technicolor coat fame) to sleep with her out of her own desire. Joseph refuses and, after a brief quarrel, Potiphar lies to her household claiming Joseph attacked her. This results in Joseph being unjustly imprisoned. We can contrast this with Tamar’s story. Tamar has been marginalized and cast away by Judah because of his fear. She tricks Judah from a place of desperation. Through this trickery, she holds him accountable. This story ends with an apology and justice for Tamar.

Deception has two faces. Trickery, done by those on the outskirts, achieves justice, while lying, from selfish privilege and desire, bringing injustice. Gracious God, help us to see these two faces of deception in our own lives, finding ways for us to bring change and transformation. 

Suggested hymn: Canticle of the Turning (One License permit # A-722596)

Bekins, P. (2016). Tamar and Joseph in Genesis 38 and 39. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 40(4), 375-397. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309089215611545

Links to Bible verses: Genesis 38

Links to Bible verses: Genesis 39