Genesis 38:1-30

This chapter is a short interlude in the story of Joseph’s life, as the author turns our attention to one of Joseph’s brothers, Judah. You remember from our last study, that it was Judah who came up with the plan to sell Joseph to the Midianite traders who were passing by. He decided to take this action instead of killing him (Gen. 37:26-27). Many times, people ask why would this interlude be placed in the middle of the story line of Joseph’s life? I believe it is because God wanted to draw a contrast between Judah and Joseph. Joseph was a man of principle, but Judah was a man with no principles. Joseph was a man who loved the Lord, and who trusted in the Lord, and Judah did not. God always likes to draw stark contrasts between the characters He highlights in Scripture.

Judah marries a Canaanite woman.  Vs. 1-11

“It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. And Judah said to Onan, ‘Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.’ 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. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also. 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” (Gen. 38:1-11). 

The story line in this chapter of Genesis now turns to Judah marrying a Canaanite woman, which was forbidden within the family, going all the way back to Abraham (Gen. 24:2-4). It was forbidden, because the Canaanites were idolaters, and God did not want His people to be influenced by their idolatry, their wicked sexual practices, and their willingness to sacrifice their children to their gods. Yet Judah did what he wanted, and married this woman anyway. This action by Judah revealed his total lack of spiritual receptiveness to God, and showed that at his core he was self-willed. Judah’s actions also set in motion a series of consequences that would bring strife, deception, and death to his family. His compromise ended up affecting so many people in his family.

Tragically, I have seen this same storyline played out in so many families, where a father or mother refuses to follow the Lord, and the entire family pays the price of their self-will. I personally grew up in a single-parent home, and I saw the effects of my father’s actions, and how these actions destroyed my family. So, I know a little bit about this particular story, and how many are affected by the sinful choices of others.

It is so important to understand the concept Paul taught: “None of us lives to himself” (Rom. 14:7). Note the words, “None of us.” Not one of us can ever think that our lives are not influencing and affecting other people. Your spouse is watching you. Your children are watching you as their parents. And if you have grandchildren, they are watching you as well. Your friends are also watching how you live your life. Even non-Christians that you work with, or your neighbors are watching you, because they know what you have confessed to believe. Now, you may not like the fact that other people are watching how you live your life, but it is none the less a reality according to Paul. This is why Paul also said later in that same chapter, “It is good neither to eat meat or drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended or is made weak” (Rom. 14:21). Do you realize that your life can stumble, offend, and make another weak? Or, you can strengthen, encourage, and cause others to stand strong by how you live your life. What an incredible responsibility we all have. So, none of us are living our lives just for ourselves, we are constant examples to other people. This truth is one that Judah had no concept of, which is why the consequences we are about to look at occurred.

Why did God kill Judah’s two sons?

Now Judah immediately has three sons in quick succession. Er, his first son is described as being wicked and God killed him. His wickedness must have been so vile that his sin could not be recorded in this chapter. But some think to themselves, There are some pretty sordid details of people’s sins given to us in Scripture, so why not these? Yes, that is correct, but that is why I say, this man must have been extremely wicked, because the details of his sin are not given in this text. In addition, obviously God doesn’t kill everyone who is wicked, or there would not be anyone left on earth. So, whatever Er was doing, it must have been very bad, and this is why God killed him. Note that the Lord did not wait for him to die and then judge him, he judged him immediately. God does this at times to make an example of individuals (2 Peter 2:6). Solomon declared that God does bring judgment like this sometimes. He wrote in Proverbs 21:12, “The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.” This is also the reason God sent the flood in Noah’s time. Remember Genesis 6:5-8, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Note that God didn’t wait in the time of Noah, because He had to stop what men were doing. He saw that, the wickedness of man was great, so He stopped it, by destroying the earth.

But, notice the last verse in the above text, “Noah found grace in the eyes the Lord.” I love these words in the midst of this declaration of God’s judgment. Why? Because God placed that statement of His willingness to dispense grace, even in the midst of this terrible judgment. God will do the same in the end times during the tribulation period here upon the earth. While God is pouring out His judgment upon mankind, He is saving a multitude of people from every people, tribe, and tongue, who will confess Christ and follow Him into martyrdom. Just as Noah and his family called upon the name of the LORD in the midst of judgment, so will these saints in the end times (Rev. 7:9-14). Therefore, no matter what circumstances you are in today, remember that God will hear your cry for mercy and grace. He may be judging those around you, but this doesn’t have to be your experience. As the apostle declared, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). If you call upon Him, He will hear you. God is a God of grace and mercy. Yes, He judged the world in Noah’s time, but then turned around and saved Noah and his family. Remember, God saved you and me when He could have killed any of us for our wickedness. I know that I sure deserved judgment; there is no doubt in my mind about that! If you are following Jesus today, then exalt God’s grace in your life, and share with others that God’s grace and forgiveness are open to all those who will call upon Him.   

Why did God kill Judah’s second son, Onan?

The death of Judah’s first son, set in motion the next sin of wickedness, and the ultimate death of Judah’s second son, Onan. The biggest question people ask about the death of Onan is, why did God do this? Some Catholics say that Onan was practicing a form of birth control here, by emitting his semen on the ground, and not allowing Tamar to get pregnant. Was this action what caused his death? Absolutely not. When people make such statements like this it reveals their tremendous lack of understanding of Old Testament practices at that time relating to the death of males within a family. It was the practice in those days that if a male died prematurely without leaving a male child to carry on the family name, that the brother of the deceased would marry his brother’s widow so that a male could be born. This was also God’s way of protecting a widow from losing their husband’s inheritance, which would sustain her in her old age. This custom was later codified in the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy 25:5-6 where it states, “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel” (Deut. 25:5-6).
So, what was so wrong about what Onan did, that he ended up dying for his offense? There are several things that Onan did that were wrong. First, Onan made a legal promise to his father to fulfill his responsibility to his dead brother, and then he reneged on his promise. Second, he offended Tamar, because he went in to her sexually for his own pleasure, but had no intention of helping her have a male child, which would have protected her inheritance, and kept her from poverty in her old age. The Hebrew text also clearly indicates that Onan emitted on the ground each time he went in to her. Third, most likely Onan wanted all of his father’s inheritance for himself and his own heirs, because if Tamar had no male heir, then Onan could have all the inheritance. Note that the Scripture clearly indicates this motivation when it states, “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” (Gen. 38:9). These are the reasons why God struck him, and it had nothing to do with the Catholic dogma on birth control.

Judah’s response to Tamar’s situation.

Judah’s response to Tamar was not much better than his son’s, because he told her to go live in her father’s house until his youngest son was of age to marry her. This sounds like it was his only option, but in reality, he just wanted to get rid of her, because he didn’t want to see his third son die also. When Judah told Tamar to leave and remain a widow, it was said sarcastically, “Lest he [Shelah] also die like his brothers” (Gen. 38:11). It appears that Judah just wanted to wash his hands of the whole situation. This was not a vary honorable thing to do. In addition, when you read verse 14, it is clear that Judah never intended to give his third son to Tamar.

Tamar’s deception.  Vs. 12-23

“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. And it was told Tamar, saying, ‘Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.’ 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. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. 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?’ 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?’ 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. So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. 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. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, ‘Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?’ And they said, ‘There was no harlot in this place.’ 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.’ 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’” (Gen. 38:12-23).

Why does Tamar take this action of presenting herself as a harlot, so she can have sex with Judah? Genesis 38:14 declares, “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.” This passage makes it clear that Tamar believed that she was never going to be given to Judah’s third son, and thus she would be left destitute in her old age. Tamar took matters into her own hands, and proceeded to look for a way to have a child. Why she chose this method, and why she chose Judah, the text does not reveal to us, but she clearly had this all planned out beforehand. I say this because she knew exactly what pledge she wanted from Judah to prove who the father was. A signet ring and a man’s staff were like his personal ID or fingerprints, because these were specific to every man. The signet ring usually hung around a man’s neck on a cord, so he could seal letters or legal documents proving that he was truly the sender. Tamar knew this, and the next few verses prove this fact, because she used them to prove who the true father was when she was confronted.

Judah is confronted.  Vs. 24-30

“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 with child by harlotry.’ So Judah said, ‘Bring her out and let her be burned!’ 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.’ 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. Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 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.’ 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. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah” (Gen. 38:24-30).

Judah was just like David.

Isn’t it interesting that Judah had such a self-righteous attitude, and was so ready to judge Tamar. This was exactly the same attitude of King David when he was confronted with his sin of adultery and murder. Judah wanted Tamar the sinner judged until it was revealed that he had equally sinned. Remember it was David who committed adultery with Bathsheba and got her pregnant, and then orchestrated her husband to be killed in order to cover up his own sin. The plan appeared to work until Nathan the Prophet came to the king, and confronted David with a parallel story of a rich man that took a poor man’s only lamb just to satisfy his out-of-town guests. When David heard this story, he declared that the rich man should die. Then Nathan told David, “You are the man” (2 Sam. 12:7). At that moment, David had a totally different view of that rich man’s sin. Thankfully David became repentant, but the damage had already been done to his reputation, and his example to his other children. Nathan declared to David that the consequences for his sin would be very harsh when he declared, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun’” (2 Sam. 12:11-12). Likewise, Judah was so quick to condemn Tamar, forgetting that he had sold his own brother into slavery in Egypt. This is incredible hypocrisy and judgmentalism of the highest degree. 

But before we too become all self-righteous and think, I would never have done that, then you don’t know yourself very well. Every one of us are capable of this kind of hypocrisy. Judah did all these things recorded in this chapter, because he was not following the Lord. He had turned his back upon God, and was living independently of His commands. This is all that it takes to do such things. Just turn your back on God, live by your own rules, justify what you are doing, and you are capable of anything. So often our own sin looks so terrible when someone else is committing it. But, when I sin, I want instant forgiveness and mercy. So, remember this the next time you begin to condemn someone in your heart for what they have done. Be merciful and patient. Yet, does that mean we should just pass over other people’s sin, and not require consequences for what they have done? Absolutely not. You should hold others accountable for their sin, but just make sure you do so with a humble and a merciful heart. Attempt to restore that person, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. This is the balance you must seek in the midst of situations like this. Paul taught that this is what a truly spiritual person will do. He wrote, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). But in the same epistle Paul also spoke about confronting Peter and Barnabas for their hypocrisy many years earlier, when he wrote, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?’” (Gal. 2:11-14). Therefore, you can confront others over sin, but do so in a way that might restore them.

Now, why does Judah say of Tamar, “She has been more righteous than I.” Gen. 38:26)? Because, Judah instantly knew that he was at fault for not providing a son for Tamar through his last son Shelah. That is quite a statement! Judah failed in his responsibility as the leader of his family, and look what happened. Trouble always comes to a home when the father fails to lead in his home. But, to Judah’s credit, he does not continue having sexual relations with Tamar, which was against their moral standard at that time. Later in Israel’s history, this behavior was also codified in the Law of Moses so that a man should not go into, or marry his daughter-in-law (Lev. 18:15; Lev. 20:12). So, it was very clear that there was this moral code, and the understanding of the fact that this was not acceptable behavior. 

These children in the linage of Jesus.

One of the most amazing things in this whole story of Judah, Tamar, and their sons Perez and Zerah, is the fact that these four people are listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 1:3 it states, “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar.” Isn’t this interesting! These individuals are in the family lineage of Christ. When people read this, they think, How could this be? Why would Jesus allow such sinners in His own genealogy? These are important questions to answer. But you have to also remember that there are others in the lineage of Christ with the same sordid past behaviors. For example, Rahab the prostitute who protected the two spies in Jericho, is also in the lineage of Christ. Matthew declared, “Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse” (Matt. 1:5). Or, think of Bathsheba who is not specifically mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, but she is clearly implied when Matthew writes, “And Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah” (Matt. 1:6).

Why would Jesus allow these sinners into His genealogy?

The answer is the sovereign grace and mercy of God. The reason there are such sinners like this in Christ’s genealogy is, this is who He came to save. He was numbered with and associated with transgressors in His death, identified with sinners in his baptism, and also brought into this world by sinners at His birth (Mark 15:28; Matt. 3:13-15). Also, remember that every one of the men listed in the genealogy of Christ were also sinners deserving of judgment. Likewise, every one of us in the church today are all sinners deserving of hell. We should not think it strange that God would take evil people, and the evil people do, and turn it around to fulfill His sovereign purposes. If God did not use sinful people to fulfill His purposes, then He could not use anyone on this earth. But He came to redeem sinful men and chooses to use them for His purposes. That is why He came, and why He took the punishment that we all deserved. We all know that what Judah and Tamar did was a complete moral failure, and God turned that all around to fulfill His sovereign purposes. Think of the completely evil and unrighteous act of murdering the Messiah, and yet God turned that around to ultimately save the world. This is why Paul wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). This is exactly what God did with Judah and Tamar, with Jesus and the crucifixion, and what He does with you and me every day of our lives. Thank God for His grace toward us!

Should I then just sin, so God can show His mercy and grace through me?

If God fulfills His purposes and works all things together for good, even when I do not fulfill my responsibilities, does it make any difference how I live my life? Why can’t I just live as I please and allow God’s grace to turn everything around for good? This thinking is so common when considering God’s sovereignty, mercy, and grace concerning our failures. But this is twisted thinking, and it would be twisting the Scriptures to your own destruction. Peter addressed this kind of thinking as he closed out his second epistle. He warned those he wrote to, that using God’s grace in this manner would lead them to destruction. He explained, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:14-18). Note that Peter acknowledged that understanding God’s grace and longsuffering toward men is hard to understand. This is why he encouraged us all as followers of Jesus to be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. If this is not our aim then we are twisting the Scriptures to our own destruction. We would in essence be using the grace of God to continue to do wickedness. For a person to even think in this manner only reveals the wickedness of the human heart.

Paul also addressed this thinking when he wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2). The answer to this question is no! Why? Because as Christians we have been baptized into His death, which enables us to live for righteousness. In addition, Paul goes on to explain that there are consequences to practicing a sinful lifestyle. He continued, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16). If you willfully engage in sinful behavior, you are actually becoming a slave to sin, which leads to death within your soul. This is why we should not use God’s grace to continue in sinful behavior.

Consider all the consequences of sin that Judah and Tamar had to live with in their day-to-day life after making these sinful choices. Judah decided to disobey God and marry a Canaanite woman, and look at all of the problems that he had to deal with because of that one choice. Tamar had two husbands killed by the Lord because of their wickedness. Think of all the anguish and heartache that these deaths must have brought into her life. In addition, both Judah and Tamar had to live with the guilt and shame for all of their choices, because everyone around them had watched this scenario work out. These are some really good reasons why you would not want to commit sin, so God could bestow upon you, His grace. There are always consequences for sin! Isaiah declared, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Isa. 57:20-21). Sin will always destroy the peace of God within your soul. Rather walk in obedience to Him, and His peace will dwell in you richly. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

We are all like Judah and Tamar.

I want to end this study with a conclusion I have come to by studying this chapter. I believe there are a lot of Judah’s and Tamar’s reading these words right now. As you look back upon your life, I’m sure you can think of some incredibly wicked things you have done. There are some sordid details in your past that you don’t want anyone to ever know about. You have done some very evil things. But God has had tremendous mercy upon you, and He has allowed you into the body of Christ, which makes you a son or a daughter of Abraham by faith. Isn’t that incredible grace? In Galatians 3:29 it declares, “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Consider that God has made you an heir of the promise to Abraham, because of your faith in Jesus. He has bestowed upon you great grace even though you may have come from a messed-up family just like Judah and Tamar. He has called you His son or daughter (2 Cor. 6:18). Then He gave you great and precious promises, so you could partake of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). He has done all of these things even though you have committed wickedness against Him. In other words, we are all no different from Judah and Tamar. Why did He do all this for you? To reveal to you that He is the Gracious One, so you will glory in who He is (Jonah 4:2)! One day all of us will proclaim with all the saints, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:12). On that day we will all see so clearly just how gracious He truly is!