QT 12/4/2025 Gen 38:1-11, Cultural practices

Genesis 38:1–11 (ESV) —

1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and 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 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.

6 And 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 put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.

 

NOTE: First, the law had not been written yet, so there is no commandment from God on the subject. Second, God would include this requirement 400 years later (Deut 25:5-10). At the time, it was custom, called the levirate marriage. In the future law, the son-in-law could refuse and the sister-in-law was free, but also alone. The practice was intended to provide for the well-being of the widow as well.

 

The heart of the story is the overall evil and wickedness in what will be royal line, Judah. The first son Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Onan's actions in regards to Tamar (spilling seed on the ground) was wicked in the sight of the Lord. Both men die early for their wickedness. Judah, himself, acts wickedly in pretending to give his third son to Tamar. He does protect Tamar by keeping him in his house. I have to wonder if his wife Shua influenced his actions. In any case, it is a sad story, and typical of the moral failures in the family of the patriarch.

 

What do we learn? This cultural practice, while later affirmed by God, was considered the right thing to do (again, culturally). There are many cultural practices which are right and good. Fortunately today, we have God's word to review practices against the truth. I find that today's culture seems to allow destroying / attacking another person's goods if their views are in opposition to your own. Most people would see that as wrong, but a growing progressive faction is adding violence as an acceptable cultural practice when the ideas are not what they like. This does not agree with God's word.

 

PONDER:

I know the phrase "polite society" seems out of place today, but it is closer to Jesus' command to love one another, even your enemy. How am I doing at loving others?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see where I am following practices which are against your word. And help me to see where I am not practicing actions that you command.