She had had enough. Finishing a long day’s work at a department store, Rosa Parks had paid her fare in front of the bus, got off, and reboarded the bus at the back to sit in the black section. Settled in her seat, she gazed out the window as the bus made its way down the road. Rolling to a stop, the bus driver, James F. Blake, ambled down the aisle and moved the sign separating the white and black sections. He had noticed White passengers standing in the aisle. He told four Black passengers to give up their seats. Knowing Blake had the “powers of a police officer,” three of the Black passengers quickly complied. Rosa Parks remained in her seat. Blake asked her why she did not stand up, to which Rosa replied, “I don’t think I should have to stand up.”

Arrested at the scene, Rosa Parks was taken to police headquarters and later released on bail. Her public protest made her the public face of what became the Montgomery Bus Boycott. At her December 5th trial, she was found guilty of violating a local ordinance and fined.

Standing firm against an injustice triggered the bus boycott leading to strong resistance. A Black legal team took the issue of segregation on public transit systems to court, which eventually led to the U.S. Supreme Court, declaring segregation on public transport to be unconstitutional on November 13, 1956. Rosa’s actions against injustice led to desegregation on the bus lines and furthered the Civil Rights Movement.

The fight for injustice causes people to do radical things. Sometimes it is hard to understand how God can use mistakes and injustice in His unfolding plan, yet He does.

Tamar was chosen by Judah as a wife for his son, Er. Her marriage ended quickly when God took Er’s life due to his sin. Following the biblical law of “levirate marriage,” Tamar was given in marriage to Onan, Judah’s second son. As a part of the law, Onan’s responsibility was to produce an heir for his dead brother so his name would not disappear. Onan would enable Tamar’s child to rightfully inherit Judah’s property. However, Onan did not want to produce an heir by her. He made sure Tamar would not become pregnant. Because of his selfish ways and disobeying the law of God, Onan also had his life taken by God.

Widowed twice, Judah promised his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar as required by the law and sent her to her father’s home. Rather than taking on the responsibility of caring for her as a widow and his own daughter-in-law, he pledged her to Shelah and sent her away.

Time passed and Shelah came of age. In that day, Judah’s promise of Shelah to Tamar considered them committed in marriage, but Judah had no intention of giving Shelah over to Tamar. He might lose another son! Judah’s deceit kept Tamar from securing her position by gaining Er’s inheritance with a child. His promise of Shelah also kept her from economic stability and a secure future through another marriage.

Tamar formed a plan that most would consider unthinkable. She set aside her widow’s clothing and dressed the harlot. Positioning herself where she knew Judah would find her, he propositioned her. In the matter of payment for an evening of pleasure, Judah promised a goat to this unknown prostitute. Tamar had disguised herself well and as part of her plan required a guarantee of payment in the form of Judah’s signet, cord, and staff. He gave them willingly, and after their evening together, she left taking the items of his identity.

Months later, Tamar was discovered pregnant and as she is condemned by Judah to die, she announces the identity of her unborn child’s father through the personal items in her hand.

 “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.” (Genesis 38:26)

Judah recognizes his guilt and Tamar’s righteousness. Though her acts seem extreme, she acted with a clear perception of the injustice done to her. Though her methods were desperate and unconventional, she used the deception to obtain what was rightfully hers. God used Judah’s sin and Tamar’s deceptive response to bring about good as Tamar’s acts ensured her family line, including her in the genealogy of Jesus. (Matthew 1:3)

Injustice takes many forms and finding the path to bring correction to the situation takes godly wisdom. Even if the injustice is not resolved or the actions taken against the injustice lead to more difficulty, know that God uses the entire situation as a part of His plan. He simply asks you to seek His wisdom and allow Him to walk you through it.

After a life of injustice, Joseph, reminded his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20). Whatever the injustice, God will use it with purpose in His plan.

 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)