Genesis:38 – A Thread of Hope

Now, we come to one of the most sordid chapters in the Bible. I am pretty sure, you rarely read this chapter and not too many people use this portion of the scripture to preach or teach. We started looking at the life of Joseph in the last chapter, and this story of Judah contrast the pure, faith-based life of Joseph. Many might wonder why is this story in the scriptures? But, the inclusion of this kind of details is what makes the Bible a word of God. It gives details which we as humans would not include. Let’s look at this chapter together. It teaches about the consequence of bad company, disobedience, and importance of fellowship with the Godly people. But, in the end, it also gives us an awesome hope of redemption which we all have in Christ.

It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. ² And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went into her. ³ So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. ⁴ She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. ⁵ And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

At the end of the last chapter, we saw Jacob in grief for Joseph. He was so broken-hearted that he could not be consoled and I like to believe, his attitude must have hurt the other children. It is under these circumstances, Judah decided to leave and go visit a friend. Here is our first lesson, watch who you are hanging out with. We live in the world, and it is impossible not to interact with nonbelievers, but when it turns into friendship it might lead you on a path of destruction as it did for Judah. He married Shua, a Canaanite woman, undoubtedly he knew not to marry a Canaanite woman as his Uncle Esau had done. He married her, and they at least had 3 sons, and before he knew it, he was part of that pagan culture. Today, it is no different for us. We may say what is wrong if my kids trick or treat? They are not pagan worshippers. Those of us who come from Indian culture, we may say what is wrong if my son or daughter goes to NAVRATRI, but it is there they will meet their Shua, and before you know it, they will be part of the Pagan culture.

⁶ Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. ⁷ But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. ⁸ And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” ⁹ But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. ¹⁰ And the thing which he did ^[a]displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

Here is one of many traditions which will later be incorporated in Mosaic law. We see the consequences of Judah’s actions. His children are wicked in the sight of God. This portion of scripture is used many times to say Christians should not use birth control. But, it could not be further from the truth. Onan died because he disobeyed. He wanted no part in providing an heir for his brother. It was his rebellion that led to his death.

¹¹ Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

Judah suddenly was worried about his youngest son. Two of his sons dies after marrying Tamar, and he did not risk Shelah’s life

¹² Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. ¹³ And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” ¹⁴ So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. ¹⁵ When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. ¹⁶ Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”¹⁷ And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”¹⁸ Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. ¹⁹ So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

Sometimes after Tamar left. Another tragedy struck the household of Judah. His own wife died. Judah was still a young man at this stage. After a suitable time of mourning, Judah quickly got back to business and his daily routine. The time of sheep-shearing was usually a time of festivity and enjoyment. Judah decided to go to Timnah taking his friend along with him. He seemingly had forgotten about Tamar and his promise to her. However, Tamar had not forgotten. It was not her fault that Er and Onan died. It was evident that Judah was not planning to keep his agreement with her regarding Shelah. Finally, she became desperate and decided to take the matter into her own hand. Tamar dressed up as a temple prostitute, Pagan temple’s employed such women to draw people to their God. Let’s keep in mind, her motive in doing this was neither lust or greed but rather ensuring her place in covenant family. It also must be noted that the Biblical record itself does not condemn or criticize her. Look at what Tamar asked for, Signet was seal used as we use signature today. It represents Identity. The bracelet represents the wealth. The staff speaks of the position. Man, look what you are giving up when you decide to satisfy your physical needs. Like Esau who sold his rights for food, Judah made the bargain, thinking I will get it back later.

²⁰ And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. ²¹ Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was ^[b]openly by the roadside?”And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”²² So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”²³ Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

Judah was worried about not keeping his part of the bargain and sent Hirah with what he had promised to the woman. In reality, He was guilty of not keeping his word to Tamar in the first place.

²⁴ And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is ^[c]with child by harlotry.”So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”²⁵ When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”²⁶ So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

Judah immediately judged Tamar to be guilty of adultery and ordered her to be burned. Do you know we usually get more upset with the very sin in others we struggle with ourselves? Judah also might have seen this as an opportunity to solve the problem of how to avoid marrying Shelah to Tamar. In the process of interrogating her as to the other guilty party, however, Judah suddenly experienced even greater shock. He was the other guilty party. Judah the self-righteous one had been the adulterer responsible for her condition. Tamar was counting on Judah treating her fairly once he knew the truth. The mystery of vanishing harlot was solved, and he knew right away not only what she had done but why. He could no longer be angry with her, but he repented. Rather than slaying her and the unborn child, he would care for them. He no longer could give her to Shelah nor would it be right for them to marry but he acknowledges her son as his heir.

²⁷ Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. ²⁸ And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” ²⁹ Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.^{[d] 30} Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

As it turned out, Tamar was carrying twins. Like Esau and Jacob, there seemed to be a conflict between the 2 sons even before the birth. There seemed almost to be a contest between the two as to which would be firstborn. There is another interesting parallel between the birth of Jacob & Esau and sons of Tamar. Esau came out with a reddish color. Jacob held on to his heel as he emerged and even though he was not a firstborn, he was chosen to receive the promise. In the case of Tamar’s twin, the one that was to be firstborn was likewise marked with scarlet color but replaced by his brother who was destined to inherit the promise.

Ultimately, this is about grace. Tamar along with Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. All four women were foreigners. Each of the four came into the family of Israel by morally dubious means. Yet in spite of the apparently unsavory past of this women, each one became a strong and faithful believer in Go; and God honored them by including them in the genealogy of Jesus. This is GRACE, we might fall, stumble and mess up like Judah, Lord says, if you repent, live for me, turn from your transgression and look to me, I will turn your wrong doings around, forgive you and make you part of my family. Jesus chose to identify himself as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Including Tamar in genealogy is GRACE. But identifying with Judah is AMAZING GRACE.