Review of Genesis 38

— by Victor Fawole

The flow of the accounts of Joseph’s life began in Gen. 37 and one would expect that it continues in Gen. 38. However, today’s reading takes the camera off Joseph and directs the focus on Judah. Yesterday, we read about Judah’s first major action in the Bible — he proposed the 20-shekels-of-silver idea of selling Joseph brother into slavery (Gen. 37:26-27). How despicable! Today, we read about his next major actions in the bible. More despicable, one would dare say! However, there are lessons for us to glean – for God in His infinite wisdom has His reasons for giving us this chapter in the Bible. Let’s begin:

1. JUDAH GOES DOWN

Gen. 38:1-2 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

After returning to their father, Judah “went down…!” His going down was spiritually and morally significant. You’ll notice:

• The Estrangement:
  “Judah went down from his brethren…”
  This was the first step of his going down – he separated himself from the family. The important lesson for us today as believers is this: Deserting the community of God’s people is opening oneself up for a free fall.
• The Endearment:
  “turned in to a certain Adullamite…”
  Judah’s troubles practically began with his friendship with Hirah, an Adullamite. This guy was a close friend and had a very terrible influence on Judah. He was Judah’s connection to his Canaanite wife and also Judah’s company to Timmah on his adventure with a prostitute. In fact, he was involved in the payment for the prostitute’s dues (Gen. 38:20).
• The Establishment:
  Judah settled in Adullam and later established his family in Chezib (Gen. 38:5). Oh, how drawn away he was from the community of the people who serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
• The Engagement:
  “Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite…”
  He went really down when he made a Canaanite woman his wife. In fact, some Bible commentators hint that his action was more likely a rape than a consensual act, especially when we compare the words used for Judah and Shechem: “saw her” “took her” “lay with her” (Gen. 34:2, Gen. 38:2). Whether consensual or not, he had joined himself with a strange woman in an open disregard for godly morality. He also got his son to marry Tamar, another Canaanite woman. We have consistently seen that marriage with Canaanite women was discouraged among God’s people (Gen. 24:3, Gen. 28:1, Gen. 28:8). The Canaanites had a corrupting influence on the people of Israel.

Believers tend to make bad decisions when they are not where they are supposed to be and doing what they are not supposed to be doing.

Dear Gogolights, do not forsake the gathering together of your brethren in the Gospel of Grace Outreach!

2. JUDAH’S SONS GO DOWN

Gen. 38:7,9-10 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.

We were not told what Er’s specific action was. But the Bible calls it wickedness. Onar’s sin was utter disregard for the customary responsibility to father descendants for his dead brother (Er). Onar was more than happy to use Tamar as a tool for his sexual gratification instead.

Judah had three sons and the first two were rebellious against God. They did things that were considered evil enough for God to bring instant judgment on them. The sons didn’t have any solid moral or godly upbringing. Their father, who was already estranged from his people, grew up in “Jacob’s House of Commotion” and their mother was a Canaanite who knew nothing about living a godly life.

The going down of Judah led to bigger tragedies – the going down of his sons under the slaying of God. They died! The LORD slew them!

3. JUDAH GOES DOWN WITH TAMAR

Gen. 38:15-16 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.)…

One can understand that Judah did not want to give his last son (Shelah) as a husband to Tamar. God had already judged the first two sons, and he was scared. However, he wanted to play a fast one on Tamar. He deceived her to go to her father’s house and wait till Shelah was mature enough… only to rescind on his promise when Shelah became mature. (Gen. 38:14)

Judah just finished mourning the death of his wife and he felt the need to satisfy his sexual urge through a prostitute. Tamar saw this opportunity and grabbed it tactically. Judah and Tamar had their separate individual missions, but God was sovereign over all, working out His own plan.

One interesting thing to note was how sexual lust led Judah into losing his signet, cord and staff (Gen. 38:18) — more like giving out one’s official means of identification. Becoming pregnant through Judah was her best possible option. She wanted to get the child she was promised, as well as ensure the security for her future.

When Tamar was found to be pregnant, Judah showed no empathy. He found it easy to pass judgment on someone who sinned just as he sinned, without passing the same judgment on himself. He was quick to cast the stone. Actually, he wanted to cast fire on her and burn her up. How hypocritical! But Tamar was on top of her game. She acted tactically and vindicated herself against the case of harlotry. She proved that Judah was just as guilty as she was.

Hmmmm…

This chapter tell us that there’s hope for sinners. God offers free and full forgiveness to us. His kindness confronts us with our ugliness and we see how we are swallowed up in sin. This humbles us and helps us recognize our need for God’s forgiveness, grace, and redemption — and He is more than willing to give us.

Apostle Paul wrote in 2Cor. 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus is the treasure that we carry in us. By putting our faith in Jesus, we have received the forgiveness of our sins, and we have a fellowship with God. God has come and made his home with us, by the Holy Spirit. We hold within us a priceless treasure. Yet, we are all jars of clay. We were broken and bruised by the effects of sin.

When we look at Judah and Tamar, we see clay jars — cracked and broken. But when we step back and see their story as a whole, we see the light of Christ shining through their cracked jars. Their son Perez is an ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:3, Luke 3:33). God took the son of an ungodly union and put him in the family line of the Messiah. What a wonderful example of grace! God chose them, despite their works, to have a role in God’s plan of redemption.

Dear Gogolights, the badness or ugliness of our life’s story is nothing compared to the brightness of the light and grace of God. He offers total forgiveness to those who believe in Him. He didn’t come to save good people; he came because we’re all hopeless sinners (Mark 2:17). And he offers us a new life — a life where His light will fill our hearts, and shine through those cracks to help others see His goodness.

The power that is manifested in us, and through us, does not come from us. It comes from God! Hallelujah! God is in us, working in us, working through us, for the spread of the precious treasure (the gospel) that we carry. Thank You, Jesus!

Let us continue to extend the message of grace to the broken people of this world. We are clay jars that carry the gospel and show forth the greatness of God.

Grace to you, Church!