Genesis 38:1-6 "And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar."
Joseph was gone and presumed dead by his father, Israel. This was the lie that was perpetrated by Joseph’s brothers. Israel mourned for Joseph for many days. While he was mourning the loss of Joseph, Judah left and became friends with a man named Hirah from the city of Adullam.
While there, Judah took a Canaanite woman to him for a wife. She bore him three sons. Judah then saw his firstborn son, Er, married to a woman named Tamar. Er was so wicked that God killed him. As was the custom, Judah ordered his second son, Onan, to take Tamar as his wife and raise their firstborn as Er’s heir.
It would appear that Onan did not want his firstborn to be accounted as though he belonged to his brother. Instead of risking Tamar becoming with child from him, the scripture says he spilled his seed on the ground. Onan’s failure to take Tamar as his wife displeased God. God then killed Onan as He had Er.
Judah had helped to sell his brother Joseph into slavery. He had been willing to kill Joseph if that is what it took to be rid of him. Although it was within his ability to relieve his father’s deep grief, he chose not to. Instead, he turned away from his family and sought out a friend in another place. Then, to complicate matters further, he married a Canaanite which was something his forefathers (Abraham and Isaac) had forbidden.
It appeared for a time that things were going pretty well for Judah. He had a wife and a friend. His wife bore him three sons. He saw his firstborn son married to a woman named Tamar and no doubt looked forward to having grandchildren.
Dear ones, God is not mocked. We do not deal unrighteously and then just go on about our lives as though nothing had happened. Things might seem to be going well for a season. As we continue to look at this time in Judah’s life, we will soon see that God’s righteous judgement never fails. I pray we will be blessed to seek God’s will above all else.