Judah and Tamar (Gen 38:1-30)

In between the story of Joseph lies this rather strange account of Judah and Tamar in Gen 38. What do we make of this, frankly, awkward passage? But because we believe in 2 Tim 3:16 -- that this is also breathed out by God -- and Rom 15:4 -- that this is also for our instruction and encouragement -- we humbly approach this difficult text. 

(A) The Background: the broken family (Gen 38:1-11)

The book of Genesis, having completed the accounts of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s lives now transits into the life of Joseph in Gen 37. But there is an abrupt turn in Gen 38 to this Judah-Tamar interlude. From the first 11 verses, we learn some things about the key characters about Jacob's offspring:

Character	Gen 38	Observations
Judah, 4th son of Jacob (Ex 22:22)	V1 Went away from brothers and associated with people of the land.	Associated with the Canaanites
	V2-3 Married Shua, a Canaanite	This was something that his forefathers (i.e. Abraham Isaac and Jacob) took pains not to do.
	V11 Was worried and did not want Shelah to go the way of his brothers. Also sends her away.	Concerned about the life of this last son. Actions were at the disadvantage of Tamar, adding to her victimization and depriving her of her security according to ancient times. Did not protect her.
Er, 1st son of Judah	V7 A wicked man in the sight of the Lord that dies -- implies deliberate unrepentance.	There are examples of this sort of happenings throughout the Bible. God does not leave things arbitrary, and we are clearly told that these people committed great sins.
Onan, 2nd son of Judah (Deut 25:5-10)	V8-9 There are 3 different angles of sin here -- towards father, brother and Tamar and God. Note that the practice here was so that family of dead man will have an inheritance and is able to continue the family line. Some might argue that Onan was merely following his father's instructions, but the text shows us that he repeatedly slept with his sister-in-law, with no intention of an offspring.	Selfish because with an offspring, his share would diminish.
	V10 Dies for his wickedness.	This is pure wickedness before God. We may think it is weird to die for such things. But this verse gives us God's absolute verdict. God has declared it wicked in his sight. This is a God that takes sin seriously. He looks at the intention of our heart and weighs it. (C.f. Ps 7:9)
Tamar, widow of Er	V6 Wife of Er
	V11 Sent away.	In these verses, she has no agency. She is described with great passivity in these verses. She is victimized, and we know that this is because of sin.

Broadly speaking, these verses show us that Gen 38 is basically a story about offspring, and continues the theme of Genesis -- children are important to fulfil the promise of Genesis 3. Judah has sons but they did not carry on the family line. Tamar's desperation to get offspring is evident. Why? Apart from the lack of security in society for a barren and widowed woman, Tamar, is she does not have children, is unable to participate in the theme of redemption that runs through Genesis. 

At this point, there is enough to make us uncomfortable and squirm in our seats. Frankly, we don't expect Bible people to behave like these! Yet, the Bible has this for us, to show us how real these people are! It makes us uncomfortable because we have been taught to be good people, to live good lives, and accounts like these jolt us out of our comfort and forces us to face certain realities of life. 

The NT continues to pick up on these lessons that are offensive and uncomfortable. John 6:60-61 records the disciples response to some of Jesus's sayings. Many grumbled, saying "“This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60). If we read our Bibles carefully, it will and should make us uncomfortable because the bible never fits our comfortable view of reality. It should continue to surprise and challenge us. We cannot live "fridge magnet" Christianity, choosing only comfortable and comforting verses. But these nice verses are not all we should know of God's Word, because the Bible also has jarring passages like Gen 38.  

These 11 verses of Gen 38 continue to show us the sin of man in just one family, the family God chose to bring about his redemptive plan of salvation. What does this say about us, and about God? 

(B) The Story: the failure of this son in this generation (Gen 38:12-26)

In the following part of the narrative, Tamar takes actions after being sent away by Judah. The desperation of a widow with no security is evident in these verses (Gen 38:12-19). The writer of Genesis records for us Judah's conversation with his friend the Adullamite (Gen 38:20-23). Judah sends his friend to tie up loose ends with the prostitute he meets by the roadside. Realise also that Judah knew that this woman was associated with pagan worship. This sheds light on his character and true spiritual state. 

Tamar's immorality is eventually discovered and Judah is quick to pronounce judgment (Gen 38:24-26). Yet, he recognised his complicity and sin when it was revealed that Tamar was the roadside prostitute he picked up (Gen 38:26). This is not the last we see of Judah, and this is an important turning point for Judah's character. (Later on in the narrative, Judah's character transformation will be more obvious! 

Many of us would wonder why the story digresses to this account of Judah.  Judah is set up as a contrast to Joseph in the following chapter (chap 39). Both are sons of Jacob, and both are described differently.

This chapter also shows us the secret to being a Christian -- repentance. Do you wonder about the secret to being transformed to be more like Christ? Repent. Do you long to draw close to God? Repent. Gen 38 gives us a pattern that is picked up also in Luke 7, with the woman who washed Jesus' feet. Jesus said of her, "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” This is a timely reminder and even rebuke for us. Dear friend, is the bible cold and boring to you? To what degree then, do you see your own sin and brokenness before God?

(C) The Postlogue: an honored mother and her glorious Son (Gen 38:27-30)

The chapter ends with Tamar giving birth to twins (v.27-30). It gives us great details about the birth order. There is a strange reversal of order -- the one marked first comes out second. It continues an ongoing theme in Genesis, where the expected firstborn is not chosen. Genesis continues to show us a God who works in ways that defy the patterns and logic of the world. 

More importantly, as readers of the Bible, we are also supposed to understand something about Tamar. In Matt 1:3, Tamar is mentioned in the genealogy. Not only is a woman being mentioned, which is something counter-cultural, but this was a woman with an unglamorous past. The God of Genesis, the God of the Bible takes even the most bizarre and horribly sinful action, and turns it around, for his own glory. What kind of Savior takes this kind of person and includes her into his family tree? This Savior takes the worst kind of sinners and says "You are mine!". This is the king that does not have a flawless pedigree, but came from one full of brokenness and shame. And he calls out to us, broken and shameful people and welcomes us. 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.