GENESIS 38 - A HORRIBLE CHAPTER!

I’ve been reading and teaching the bible for most of my life, yet sometimes when I read specific passages, I am simply bewildered.  I certainly don’t have all of the answers.  To the contrary, I have tons of questions.

I just finished reading Genesis 38.

This chapter is a narrative about one of Israel’s [Jacob’s] sons: Judah. 

Essentially, here are the details:

·         At a point in time, Judah left his brothers and married an Adullamite woman [Shua].

·         She bore three sons in succession: Er, Onan and Shelah.

·         When Er matured, Judah chose a wife for him: Tamar.

·         V.7 [all quotes from NASB] “But Er’ Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.”

·         Following the tradition of that time, Judah instructed Onan to take Tamar as his wife to raise up children for his brother.  But Onan did not like this arrangement, so he “wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother. But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, so He took his life also.” [vs9-10]

·         Since Shelah was still young, Judah asked Tamar to wait until he was older, when he too would be given to her as a husband.

·         When Shelah did mature, Judah was afraid to give him to Tamar for fear that he, too, would die. 

·         About this time, Judah’s wife, Shua, died.

·         After the time for mourning had ended, Tamar – living in her father’s house – heard that Judah was making a trip to shear sheep.  She removed her widow’s clothing, donned a veil and sat along the road that Judah would be travelling.  When Judah saw her [in her disguise] he asked to have intercourse with her.  She agreed [as he fell into her trap].  He promised to send her a goat in payment for her services, but she demanded a pledge.  He surrendered his seal, his cord and his staff – to be returned when he sent the sheep.

·         When his messengers arrived with the goat, they could not find her, for in reality, she was a stranger to that area. 

·         Three months later, Judah heard that his daughter-in-law was pregnant.  In anger, Judah demanded that she be brought out and burned for her harlotry! 

·         As she was bring brought to him, she sent his seal, cord and staff ahead with the message:  “Please examine and see, whose signet ring, and cords and staff are these…I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.”  [v. 25]

·         Judah recognized the items as belonging to him.  He confessed, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah. And he did not have relations with her again.” [v.26]

·         When it was time to deliver, she gave birth to twins.  “…while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, ‘This one came out first.’ But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out…” [vs.28-29]

Let’s consider the shocking things that happen in this chapter.

FIRST, does God still end the lives of those who are evil in His sight?  We could all likely think of evil men or women who might be candidates for this fate.  But this severely contradicts the proclamation that God is loving, patient and kind and that He desires all people to come to Him for salvation.  The thought that God simply ends the lives of those who reject and disappoint Him is hard for us to assimilate and integrate into our understanding of God as compassionate! 

This chapter is one reason why it is not good to start reading the Bible at the beginning.  New readers confront this narrative within weeks of starting their journey through Genesis.  Unless they have a fuller picture of God as viewed through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, this – and other passages – could foster doubt and even rejection of God!

A thought to consider:  Could God still be doing this, but we just don’t know about it since the writing of Holy Scripture ended centuries ago?  After all, in Romans 12:19, Paul declares [re: God]: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

SECOND, Judah’s discretions.  Judah was the fourth son of Jacob.  His mother was Leah – the unloved wife [Genesis 29:31].  When the twelve brothers shared their hatred and jealousy of Joseph, it was Judah who suggested that they sell him to a band of travelling merchants!  Perhaps his departure from his brothers and his dalliance with Hirah, the Adullamite woman, was an escape from the guilt he was experiencing as a result of the tremendous sorrow and grief Joseph’s disappearance had caused in Jacob?  Was he, in fact, the first prodigal recorded in scripture?  Then, he doesn’t even marry Hirah, but sees a more desireable woman in Shua’s daughter and marries her!

We see his further discretion when – after his wife’s death – he actively pursues the disguised Tamar [his daughter-in-law].  This man seems to have no moral guidance system!  His only redeeming action is revealed when Tamar confronts him with his own possessions and he realizes that he has been convicted by her righteous (?) actions. 

One can hardly call Tamar’s actions righteous!  Surely, she had been passed over according to the traditions of that day!  But posing as a prostitute and ensnaring her father-in-law was hardly a godly way of pursuing justice!  This sordid chapter seems to serve as a warning of how far righteous people can wander from God-pleasing behavior when they migrate from His will and way!

This expose’ of rebellion and unrighteous behavior speaks volumes to any generation willing to open its ears to the truth that leaks out through these perverse examples of rebellion and independence.  Many a young person has left the traditions of home to establish independence as a young adult!  Many of those stories do not end well. 

My friend, Brenda Young, wrote about this just a couple of days ago.  Like me, she chose to adopt the guard rails that her parents had solidly established in her life.  She sees the protection and blessings that have followed as a result:

“I can’t tell you the joy and blessing and countless opportunities that have filled my life because I learned to respect and obey my Dad and Mom at a young age. My faith in them pointed me to my Father and trusting obedience to Him. Trusting Him every day when I don’t see or understand has caused me to survive and thrive when circumstances try to make a horror movie of my life.”

Now, I understand that many reading this didn’t have the guidance that Brenda and I received.  However, you must remember the persistence of a God who pursues the prodigal son!  He is there with loving conviction – even in the pig pen!  He pursues you aggressively and yearns to see you accept His offer of grace!  He is anxious to redirect – even reconstruct – your life, if necessary! 

If you’ve taken the path of Judah or Tamar, won’t you soften your heart and allow God to cause you to survive and thrive the horror that your choices have brought about in your life?   

If this sad chapter calls you to make changes, please feel free to call or ‘private message’ me.  Or go to church this Sunday.  Or reach out to a friend who loves the Lord. 

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  - James 4:10