Genesis 38 - Tamar and the Sin of Judah

THIS CHAPTER OPENS WITH Tamar’s widowhood and Judah’s unfairness.

Verses 1-5 tells us of Judah and his three sons.

“It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.”

Judah departed from his brothers . . . And through an UNGODLY and UNWISE marriage to a Canaanite woman Judah fathered three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah.

ONCE AGAIN….GOD SHOWS US THAT HIS COVENANT COMMAND NOT TO MARRY CANNANITES HAD/HAS GOOD REASONS BEHIND IT…AMEN?

The sons of Israel (JACOB) are RAPIDLY being corrupted by their Canaanite neighbors, and what the future will bring if they continued in that land. God had a plan to bring them out.

Judah, the fourth-born son of Jacob through Leah (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi were before him) had NOT yet distinguished himself as someone great among his brothers. IN FACT, JUDAH was the one who suggested they sell Joseph into slavery told to us in Genesis 37:26.

Verses 6-7 tells us of Er’s marriage to Tamar and his death.

“Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.”

We are NEVER told what Er’s wickedness was, but obviously it was UNSPEAKABLE ENOUGH AND DEPRAVED enough that God brought immediate judgment upon him. Growing up with a father from such a messed-up family and with a mother who was a Canaanite did not lead Er in a godly life.

Verses 8-10 tells us Onan’s refusal to raise up offspring for Tamar.

“And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.”

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH…IN THAT DAY…According to the custom of LEVIRATE MARRIAGE (which was later codified into law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10), if a man died BEFORE providing sons to his wife, it was the DUTY of his brothers to marry her and to give her sons. The child was considered the son of the brother who died (Onan knew that the heir would not be his) because the living brother was only acting in his place.
WHY?

This was done so the dead brother’s name would be carried on. But also it was so the widow would have children to support her. Apart from this, she would likely live the rest of her life as a destitute widow.

When he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother: Onan refused to take this responsibility seriously. He was more than happy to use Tamar for his sexual gratification, but he did NOT want to give Tamar a son he had to support but would be considered to be the son of Er.

Onan pursued sex as ONLY a pleasurable experience. If he really didn’t want to father a child by Tamar, he should NEVER had sex with her at all. He refused to fulfill his obligation to his dead brother and Tamar. And ALMIGHTY GOD did NOT TOLERATE THE poor sexual usage of the widow TAMAR.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH….Many Christians have used THIS passage as a proof-text against masturbation. Indeed, masturbation has been called “onanism.” However, this does not seem to be the case here. Whatever Onan did, he was NOT masturbating. This was not a sin of masturbation, but a sin of refusing to care for his brother’s widow by giving her offspring, and of a selfish, SELF-INDULGENT MISUSE use of sex.

Verse 11tells us of Judah’s unfair dealing with Tamar.

“Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.”

CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO TWO OF HIS SONS, we can understand Judah’s hesitancy to give his last son as a husband to Tamar. God already judged two of her previous husbands. Judah essentially vowed he would not give Shelah as husband to Tamar as custom and righteousness commanded, but he would simply put her off on the issue.

Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house: This was no place for a young, childless widow to be, when there were additional brothers in her husband’s family who could fulfill the obligation they owed to their late brother. NONE of this was the fault of Tamar. All the blame belonged to the sons of Judah.

Verses 12-14 tells us Judah’s wife dies, and Tamar realizes Judah will never give his last son to fulfill the obligation to her & so Tamar bears a child by Judah.

“Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.”

She saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife: Tamar did not want to face what would be a very difficult existence in that culture or in any culture: life without any husband or children.

She was not given to him as a wife…WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IN THAT DAY AND CULTURE, Tamar didn’t have THE OPTION of just finding another man to marry. She was UNDER the headship of her father-in-law Judah, and he HAD TO GIVE her a husband. He determined whom and when she could marry.

Verses 15-18 tells us Tamar sets a trap for Judah, and he has sex with her.

“When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face: After negotiating the price, Tamar demanded a pledge of the future payment of the agreed-upon price (a young goat).

Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him: When Tamar conceived, it certainly was NOT intended by Judah, but WE KNOW IT WAS DEFINITELY planned by both Tamar and God, AMEN?

Verses 19-23 tells us Tamar disappears.

“So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

Judah sends a friend to pay Tamar, and to retrieve the pledge he left with her. Because Tamar has disappeared, he gives up the pledge, leaving it in her hands.

Verses 24-26 tells us Tamar is vindicated and Judah is reproved.

“And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are; the signet and cord, and staff.” So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.”

Please determine whose these are: Tamar, acted shrewdly and vindicated herself against the charge of harlotry. She makes the logical appeal of noting that the one who hired her is just as guilty as she.

She has been more righteous than I: however, even Judah could see through to the real issue. He WAS at fault for NOT providing for Tamar a son through his last son Shelah.

Verses 27-30 tells us Tamar gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah.

“Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

Therefore his name was called Perez . . . his name was called Zerah: Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 each list Perez as AN ancestor of Jesus the Messiah. God took the son of this ungodly situation and put him in the family line of the Messiah, despite the fact that neither Judah or Tamar were GOOD examples of godliness.

This is JUST ANOTHER glorious example of grace. God chose them DESPITE their works, not only to be in the line of the Messiah, but also to have A ROLE in God’s plan of redemption.

THIS ALSO REMINDS US…these sons of Israel were by NO means an “SHINING STAR.” They were IN AND OF THEMSELVES a VERY corrupt and problem-filled family…BUT OUR TRIUNE GOD HAD A PLAN, AMEN?




Genesis 39 - JUMPS BACK TO JOSEPH IN Potiphar’s House

Verse 1 tell us about Potiphar, an Egyptian official, buys Joseph.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.”

The name Potiphar means “devoted to the sun.” It was a name connected with the Egyptian religious system.

An officer of Pharaoh: The ancient Hebrew word officer may be translated “eunuch.” It was a common practice in ancient times to make those HIGHEST in the royal courts eunuchs, to ENSURE they would be WHOLLY devoted to their king. Because this practice was common, the term came to be used for ALL who served in important positions in a king’s court, whether they were eunuchs or not. So we really don’t know if Potiphar was a eunuch.

Captain of the guard…means “chief of police,” or probably more precisely, Potiphar was head of Pharaoh’s “Secret Service,” his personal security force. He was a HIGHLY trusted official in the government of Egypt.

Verses 2-3 tells us and reminds us God IS with Joseph.

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.”

Joseph’s trial was probably worse than any of us have gone through. Yet God did not abandon him even in the smallest way. If God allowed Joseph to be a slave, then he would be a successful man even as a slave.

We often complain to God that He put us in a terrible or difficult place. Yet God’s will is that we trust Him to bless us and make us successful (as He measures success) WHEREVER we are.

He WAS a successful man; and he WAS in the house of his master the Egyptian: Even at this EARLY point when it seemed Joseph had NO control over circumstances - and indeed, he had NONE IN AND OF HIMSELF- God OVERRULED the evil or capricious choices of man to accomplish His eternal purpose.

And his master SAW that the Lord was with him: By his trust in God, diligent work, and blessing from God, Joseph SHOWED Potiphar that God WAS real. Our bosses should SEE the difference Jesus makes in our lives by the way we work too, AMEN?

Verses 4-6 tells us God blesses Potiphar for Joseph’s sake.

“So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

Because of God’s blessing and Joseph’s faithfulness, God MADE SURE Joseph was advanced in his position, EVEN AS WHAT THE WORD TERMED A HELPLESS, POWERLESS slave.

It would have been easy for Joseph to do what we so often do: “write off” his present position because it seemed so bad (he was a slave, after all). But Joseph believed God could bless him right where he was, so he didn’t wait for a better situation to be blessed by God.

The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake: After the same principle, blessing can be brought upon our workplace because of OUR presence of godliness.

Clearly, Joseph ROSE TO THE TOP, but it took a while to happen.

Joseph WAS ONLY 17 years old when he was sold into slavery told to us in Genesis 37:2.
Joseph WAS 30 when Pharaoh promoted him in Genesis 41:46.
Joseph HAD BEEN in prison for TWO years BEFORE that in Genesis 41:1.

So, JOSEPH was in Potiphar’s house for 11 years. It took 11 years for the FULL measure of God’s blessing to be accomplished in Joseph’s life.

11 years seems like a long time. Many think if advancement is from God, it must come quickly. Sometimes this is the case, but not normally. Normally, God allows good things to develop slowly.

DID YOU KNOW THAT HUMAN CHILDREN have the longest development time both in the womb and in childhood compared to animals. It takes many years for an acorn to become an oak; a squash grows overnight.

WHAT THIS TELLS US IS THAT JESUS CAN WORK THINGS OUT VERY QUICKLY OR HE CAN WORK THEM OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME…

WE CAN IMAGINE Joseph WAS a hard worker. When he came to Egypt, he was at a great disadvantage. He knew NOTHING of the language, culture, customs, or ways of doing business. He had to get up early and stay up late to both do his job and to learn Egyptian ways.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance: Joseph’s appearance is of SPECIAL note. The Bible only calls TWO other men beautiful: David (1 Samuel 16:12) and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25).

Verses 7-10 tells us of Joseph’s resistance to the invitation of Potiphar’s wife to temptation and its aftermath.

“And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.”

Potiphar’s wife was undeniably forward towards Joseph. If Potiphar was indeed a eunuch, it shows that his wife looked for sexual activity elsewhere.

Perhaps Potiphar WAS a eunuch, and the marriage was purely a ceremonial arrangement, so she felt free to seek sexual relationships outside the marital bond.

Of course, Joseph was an attractive man, and this had something to do with it. That he seemed “out of reach” to Potiphar’s wife surely was a factor. She would not be the first or last woman who desired to seduce a man out of a sense of challenge, AMEN?

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, in the ancient world, the code of morality for women in Egypt (even married women) was loose. Egyptian women had a reputation for immorality in the ancient world.
Lie with me…This WAS bold and strong temptation to Joseph. It reminds us that when we face strong temptations, others HAVE faced the same. Satan wants you to think your temptation is terribly unique; that no one you know could understand what you are going through.

But 1 Corinthians 10:13 REMINDS US… “But there is no temptation that has overtaken us except what is common among men.”

She spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her…tells us that SHE THREW HERSELF AT JOSEPH DAILY, TEMPTED JOSEPH DAILY…BUT THAT Joseph showed remarkable faithfulness towards God, Potiphar, and himself by resisting this temptation for so long - perhaps up to 11 years.

Joseph let his faith BE KNOWN. Potiphar (and others, presumably) KNEW Joseph was blessed because of his relationship with God in Genesis 39:3. Joseph HAD TO HAVE SAID SOMETHING about his relationship with God for this to be the case.

ANOTHER WAY JOSEPH RESISTED TEMPTATION….Joseph kept busy. You don’t advance the way he did unless you are a BUSY worker.

An old Turkish proverb says, “Men are usually tempted by the devil, but an idle man positively tempts the devil.”

AND WE NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE…Joseph was careful to NEVER be alone with his temptation. Joseph wisely even avoided being alone around Potiphar’s wife (or to be with her).

AND JOSEPH TOLD HER AND CALLED THE ACT SHE DEMANDED OF HIM, TEMPTED HIM WITH…WHAT IT WAS IN THE EYES OF GOD… Joseph called the act what it was: sin.

He referred to this sin set before him as this great wickedness and sin against God. We want to call sin by another name, make it less convicting…less harsh…more POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY CORRECT, RIGHT?

SOCIETY CALLS Hostility and temper are “self-expression.”
Pride is “self-esteem.”
Gluttony is “the good life.”
Covetousness is “trying to get ahead.”
Perversion is “an alternative lifestyle.”
Adultery is “a cry for help in a bad marriage.”

BUT Joseph KNEW how greatly his sin would affect others.

Often times we want to DENY the harmful effects our sin will have. When we look at a charred mountainside, and all there is left is ashes and ruin, we despise the careless person who started the fire. Sin is NO LESS destructive.

Joseph NEVER gave in to the illusion that he could do this and never be discovered, or somehow it wouldn’t matter.

Joseph KNEW that his sin was a sin against God.
One might justify sinning against another person who has done us wrong, but how can we sin against God?

KING DAVID…reflects this same heart in his prayer of repentance in PSALM 51:4, which says, “Against You and You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.”

Of course, David had also sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against their child, against his family, and against his people; but those were of far less consequence than his sin against God.

Joseph just said “NO!”
He refused.
Sometimes it just comes down to that.
We have to refuse and say “no” to sin, even when we feel like saying “yes.”
Knowing the fleshly inclination of men - their ability to detach sex from romance and love, and be promiscuous - this is wonderful obedience on the part of Joseph.

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Obedience is MUCH easier when we know who God is.

CHARLES SPURGEON, A GREAT HUMBLE MAN OF JESUS SAYS, “When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.”

Verses 11-12 tells us Joseph resists her brazen attempt at seduction.

“But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.”

Potiphar’s wife KNEW Joseph was avoiding her, so she made a deliberate plan to ENTRAP him. Surely, it was she who made certain none of the men of the house was inside.

FLEE FROM THE VERY TEMPTATION OF SIN….AND THAT IS JUST WHAT JOSEPH DID….he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside: Joseph resisted this tremendous moment of temptation when he ran outside. Joseph did what we are all supposed to do when faced with this kind of situation: he fled and ran.

2 Timothy 2:22 makes it VERY clear: “Flee also youthful lusts.”

If we are not actually running towards sin, we have a tendency to at least LINGER OR DELAY in its presence. But we are commanded to do the ONLY SAFE THING: run away from these lusts of the flesh, and run as fast as we can.

Joseph got him out. No one else was going to get him out. God provides a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13), but WE HAVE TO BE READY AND WILLING TO take the way out, AMEN?

He left his garment…The idea is not that he ran away naked, but that his outer garment was stripped off. Essentially, he left in his underwear.

Joseph had to know this stand for purity would cost him dearly, but he considered it worth it.

Verses 13-18 tells us Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph before Potiphar.

“And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

It must have offended and grieved Joseph to be accused under such an outrageous lie. Yet he did not seem to defend himself against this false accusation, even as Jesus was silent before His accusers told to us in Isaiah 53:7 and Matthew 27:13-14.

IN THIS CASE…SILENCE…NO DEFENSE…PROVED THE BEST DEFENSE, AMEN?

Verses 19-20 tells us Joseph is sent to prison.

“So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.”

It seems that Joseph was given a sentence of life imprisonment. This was a hard penalty, but the normal punishment for such a crime (attempted rape) by a slave upon a high official’s wife would likely BE DEATH, SO Joseph was given a merciful sentence.

Potiphar went easy on Joseph because he suspected his wife’s role in the matter. The anger aroused may have not been directed towards Joseph, but against the wife for manipulating him into a situation where, to save face, he had to dismiss the man who made the whole household run well & profited him so well too.
Verses 21-23 tells us Joseph prospers, EVEN in prison.

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.”

If God blessed Joseph in the pit, if He blessed Joseph the slave, we are not to be SURPRISED NOR AMAZED to see Him bless Joseph in prison.

THE TRIUNE GOD IS SHOWING US THROUGH JOSEPH’S LIFE…THAT NOTHING AND NO ONE, NOTTTTTTTTT MAN OR SATAN HIMSELF, AND ALL THEIR TERRIBLE PLOTS AND PLANS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WILL EVER STOP OR DERAIL GOD’S PLAN IN OURS OR JOSEPH’S LIFE.

THE TRIUNE GOD IS TELLING…Joseph succeeded because of the blessing of God:

The Lord was WITH Joseph, and he was A SUCCESSFUL man…IN Genesis 39:2.

His master saw that the Lord was WITH him and that the Lord made all he did to PROSPER in his hand…IN Genesis 39:3.

The Lord BLESSED the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was ON ALL that he had…IN Genesis 39:5.

Even after Joseph is falsely accused and thrown into prison, God still BLESSES:
But the Lord was WITH Joseph… IN Genesis 39:21.
The Lord was WITH him…IN Genesis 39:23.

The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing: As it was in the house of Potiphar, Joseph ROSE to the top, becoming the chief administrator of the prison. Through his experience in both places, God sharpened the administrative skills Joseph needed to ONE DAY SAVE HIS FAMILY BACK IN CANAAN AS WELL THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU…BUT WITHIN MY LIFE AND THOSE OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE AT PRESENT BEING ATTACKED, CHALLENGED, AND TEMPTED ON ALL SIDES…ONCE AGAIN…WITH PERFECT TIMING…AT A CRUCIAL LIFE ALTERING, CHANGING, OR DEFINING MOMENT….JESUS HAS BROUGHT TO ME THE STORY OF JOSEPH….

THAT STILL SMALL VOICE IS ONCE AGAIN SAYING TO ME…LOOK AT JOSEPH…I WAS WITH HIM, I PROTECTED HIM, I WATCHED OVER HIM, I BLESSED HIM REGARDLESS WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES LOOKED, SEEMED, OR EVEN FELT LIKE….TRUST IN ME FAITH…NOT THE WORLD, NOT IN PEOPLE…JUST TRUST ME…I LOVE YOU…I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU…

IS JESUS WHISPERING THE SAME TO YOU….IF SO, BELIEVE IT AND TRUST JESUS.
JESUS NEVERRRRRRRR FAILS!