Genesis 38 "Judah's Folly"

Genesis 38:1-3 "And it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brethern and turned in to a certain Adulamite 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."

Chapter 38 is a sort of transition chapter between the selling of Joseph and the story of his time in Egypt. It tells some of Judah's life. He begins when he left his brothers and went out on his own. He took a wife of the Canaanites and had three sons. His wife died and he grieved for her for a period of time. His first son was very wicked and was slained by the Lord. The second son was suppose to take his brother's wife and raise up children but he refused and also died. At this point Judah told the daughter-in-law to remain a widow and wait for the third son to grow up. She took on her widow clothes and did as Judah said but Judah forgot about her and the arrangement. Judah is lonesome now and on his way to see his sheep he saw what he thought was a harlot but it was his son's widow Tamar pretending to be a harlot for she knew Judah was to pass that way. He slept with her and she became pregnant. I suppose with the first arrangement forgotten by Judah, Tamar makes as part of the deal for Judah to leave his staff, bracelets and signet until her payment was received. When Judah sent payment for his thoughtless act, the lady was gone. Now comes the time when the pregnancy can no longer be hid and Judah is told of his daughter-in-laws indiscretion. He became indignant over the situation and said she was to be burnt for the evil deed. Tamar presented his personal belongings to him and he was reproved. She gave birth to two sons Pharez and Zarah.

Genesis 38:26 "And Judah acknowledged them and said She hath been more righteous than I because that I gave her not to Shelah my son..."

Judah fell for all three temptations described in this verse from the new testament:

1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

We find that with all the teaching and all the blessings within this family, sin is ever present and it is within the nature of man to sin. Already, mankind has fallen far since the garden. Next, we will study about Joseph who appears to be a picture of the Lord and his ministry on earth. There are many comparisons to make in this regard.

Proverbs 6:12 "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth."