THE MARVELS OF GRACE SEASON III (Episode 6) END OF THE MONTH SPECIAL

 THE MARVELS OF GRACE
SEASON III (Episode 6)
END OF THE MONTH SPECIAL

End of the month episodes are set apart to celebrate the lives of people who rose from obscurity to prominence, but today's is to learn
from one of them.

SHORTCHANGED (The Story of Amnon and Tamar)

Amnon, the firstborn of the king and also the heir apparent, fell in love with Tamar, his beautiful step sister. He had been sickly hypnotised by her for a very long time and all he could ever think of was how to have her and the wholesomeness of her beautiful frame all to himself. So Amnon, the crown prince became extremely frustrated that he fell sick just because he couldn’t get Tamar, for she was a virgin and also his blood relation and it seemed impossible for him to have her.

Jonadab, a shrewd man, was a very close friend of Amnon and he was surprised when he saw the otherwise cheerful prince looking so moody. So he asked Amnon, “Why have you, the always cheerful king’s son, become so haggard looking. If anything is the matter, let me now.” Amnon replied, “I am uncontrollably in love with my sister, Tamar and I don’t know what to do to have her.”
“Oh that’s a simple thing!” Jonadab passively quipped. “Is that why you have become so dejected? You just pretend to be sick and as the firstborn your father will come to see you. So when he comes, say to him, ‘I would like Tamar to come and prepare something for me to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’”

The unsuspecting king acquiesced to Amnon’s request and he sent word to Tamar at the palace ordering her to go to the house of her brother and prepare some food for him. So Tamar went and did as she was told. She served him the food in the presence of everyone, but he wouldn’t eat. Instead he ordered everyone out of his courtyard and asked Tamar to come and serve him the food in his bedroom. As Tamar was serving him there in the bedroom, he grabbed her and forcefully raped her against her will. Then after he had done the wicked deed he hated her more than he ever loved her and so he disgracefully sent her away. It was too much on Tamar and she couldn’t take the shame. She cried heavily as she left and she put ashes on her head and tore her dress, the ornamented robe that the virgin daughters of the king used to wear into pieces.

But that was not the end, as three years later, Absalom, the third born of the king and brother of Tamar, accomplished a well organised and executed plan by having Amnon killed for disgracing her precious sister and not feeling sorry for it (he should have married her after all).

Now what? This is what – that Amnon short-changed his glorious destiny for a momentous pleasure (as the firstborn he would have been the automatic choice to replace his father on the throne). He was ill advised by a shrewd friend who didn’t suffer in the consequences of his action. So as a person with glory, what kind of friends do you keep? Are they the ones who encourage you to do evil or those who bring you closer to God? Choose well!

To my beloved sisters out there – the story above is a validating testament to the fact that sex is not and can never be a proof of love especially before marriage (Amnon hated Tamar immediately he had sex with her). Are you hanging on to that filthy relationship just because sex is or had been involved? It’s time to let go and focus on God to give you the right person if you don’t want to be disgraced at the end of the day or if you don’t want your destiny to be short-changed.

Peace!