Genesis 38:1-11 – A Contrast to Joseph

Perhaps to show up more clearly the godliness of Joseph, we are given this chapter about his brother Judah’s wicked decisions. Judah foolishly becomes friends with one of the Canaanite men, leaving behind his father’s family who believe in God and surrounding himself with unbelievers. Perhaps if Jacob had not been so consumed by his thoughts of Joseph’s death, he would have put a stop to this. Judah then marries a Canaanite woman, something expressly forbidden by God and a practice that has only brought trouble to those who do it (remember Cain and Esau). Judah’s case is no different. He has three sons, two of whom seem to take after their unbelieving mother. There appears to be very little fear of God in the family, and the results are very bad.

Judah’s firstborn, Er, is so wicked in God’s sight that God removes His mercy from him and kills him. His second son, Onan, is no better refusing to obey both God and his father by not raising up children to his brother’s memory. So Judah sends away the young widow, Tamar, to her father’s house to wait for his third son to grow up. Many think that Judah never intended to give his third son to Tamar as a husband, but instead lies to keep her a widow for life. If so, it would be very foolish for Judah not to see that it isn’t Tamar who has caused the death of his two sons, but their own wicked rebellion against God. But we often blame others when faced with the judgement of God, instead of admitting that it is the just consequence of our actions.