She Is More Righteous than I...

Genesis 38:24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

After preventing his brother Joseph's murder, the focus turns on Judah. Though he was of greater character than his three older brothers, who had compromised themselves, keeping them from being foremost, Judah shows quickly he was less than perfect. He had withdrawn from his brothers and was living more like the Canaanites.  Having neglected to give his widowed daughter-in-law to his final son in levirate marriage, Judah was enticed by her to father his own descendant, protecting her protection by producing an heir. Judah had to admit his failure, added to the list of his brothers. May we never defend ourselves as otherwise.