Genesis 38:1-11 – Human failures do not negate the grace of God

In Genesis 38, we will learn of how God used Tamar to preserve the line of Judah. It is essentially about the providential grace of God at work in the line of Judah to ensure its continuity. This chapter reveals to us the immoral conduct of Judah and Tamar in a foreign land so that the remarkable chaste conduct of Joseph in pagan Egypt could be highlighted. In these first eleven verses, we read of the sin of Judah. The children of Jacob, all 12 of them, must have been aware of the warning given to Abraham and Isaac against marrying foreign women. In a dramatic way, in Genesis 24:3, Abraham made his servant Elizar swear that he would not get a wife for Isaac his son from the Canaanites. The same with Jacob in Genesis 28:1, He specifically told Jacob, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women.” From these, we surmise that Judah would be aware of this standing instruction not to marry Canaanite women. Yet despite this knowledge, he broke this standing instruction. This event most likely took place just before or when Joseph was a slave in Egypt. Genesis 38: 1 tells us that Judah went down to the Adullam. There he met Hirah, a Canaanite. We are told that he also met an unnamed Canaanite woman referred to only as the daughter of Shua. Here his lust must have gotten a better of him, so he took the woman in and they had sexual relationship. Being productive, she bore three sons for Judah, namely, Er, Onan and Shelah.

When Er was of age, Judah found him a Canaanite wife. Her name was Tamar. Through Er, half Canaanite and Tamar, a full Canaanite, the line of Judah was supposed to be preserved.  Verse 7 said that Er was wicked and he did not last because the Lord took his life and he died without a child to his name. According to the marital law, Onan the younger brother had the obligation to sleep with Tamar to help his elder brother produce an heir to continue his line. Onan obliged by marrying Tamar but he refused to fulfil his duty so he spilled his semen on to the floor to avoid a pregnancy for Tamar. So the Lord took his life too. Poor Tamar was childless and was a widow twice. Of course, the next in line to go into Tamar would be Shelah, the youngest son of Judah. But Judah chose to sin against Tamar, his daughter-in-law. He sent her away to her father’s house giving the excuse that Shelah was not of age yet. In reality he was afraid that Shelah would share the same ending as Er and Onan. Tamar of course trustingly took Judah at his word and left for her father’s house. Judah had effectively removed Tamar and had defused the situation, or so he thought.

Let us explore two applicable lessons from these eleven verses. Firstly, this account reveals to us the remarkable grace of God. Despite Judah’s failure to walk obediently, King David and ultimately Christ Jesus, the King of kings, came through this line. This would not have been possible if not for the grace of God. Secondly, we are shown how important it is for an upright man to fulfill a promise made. Fear of loss cannot be used as an excuse to negate a promise made. Let us remember not to let the lust of the flesh overtake us and disobey the Lord in His commands. And let our words be our bond to honor the Lord. Then we will be walking right with God.