Genesis 38 - God's Way or Ours

Judah having just taken part in the deception of his father, Jacob, regarding Joseph decides to separate from his clan. Away from his family he chooses to marry a Canaanite (gentile) woman and begin a family there. Clearly, Judah is choosing a path for himself that is not God's prescribed plan.

During the course of time he fathers three sons. In this gentile country, the first son, Er gets a wife. Here we see that Judah's godly influence on his family was faint at best. Judah had adopted the practices of the land and his sons now had pursued wickedness to its conclusion. God strikes Er and then later Onan dead because of their wickedness.

Living for ourselves and treating God casually is an affront to God and demonstrates a lack of love and dedication to the God who formed us and who has provided so abundantly for us. Judah had done just that as did his sons.

Shelah, Judah's third son apparently was significantly younger and not of age to marry. It was expected that the younger son would marry the widow and father children on behalf of his brother. Judah is afraid that his third son will die as the other two had so he keeps his son to himself.

Tamar, the widow of his sons waits in her father's home for the time when she will be given in marriage. Judah's wife dies and Judah still after this long time does not fulfill his promise to Tamar, so she takes matters into her own hands dressing as a prostitute and offers herself to her father in law. She then obtains his seal and his staff from him.

When Tamar is found pregnant it is reported to Judah. In a rage he passes sentence in her - burn her to death. This would be very convenient for Judah to have this woman out of his life and to be free to give his son, Shelah, to another. But caught in his own trap, Tamar produces the personal items she collected to prove the paternity of the child.

Interesting that Judah, from God's chosen family would sink to such great depths and amazing that a gentile woman would be the one to work justice. Almost none of the affairs, relationships were honoring to God and yet in Matthew 1:3, Tamar and the child she bore to Judah are listed in the lineage of Jesus.

You may have made some terrible choice that are clearly not God's plan for you. You may have squandered possessions, developed friendships with people of poor influence and followed their leading contrary to God's leading in your life. But there is good news! God can bring himself glory even in the mess and can restore fellowship with you if you will confess your sin and turn from it. Jesus has already paid your penalty and forgiveness is available only if you will accept it.

Judah sure made a mess of things but God never took his hand off his own. If you have gone your own way and allowed the world to influence you rather than you influencing it then stop, confess, and turn back to righteousness.

If you have never known the blessing of fellowship with God, today could be your day. All if us have gone our own way and deserve the penalty of death - eternal death. But Jesus, the only perfect man paid that penalty and rose again so that YOU can have life here and forever being grafted into his family tree. It's yours for the taking and haven taken it, you will never be the same again.

It is never wise to go against God. But if you have, it is not too late to find forgiveness. May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.