July 3 – Genesis 38:1-19

July 3 – Genesis 38:1-19

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https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whengodwhispers/episodes/July-3--Genesis-381-19-e26lcbq

Oh Heavenly Father, it is so sad to see so much evil in the world and how families treat one another over inheritance and birth rights. It doesn’t matter why they did it, but it does make it even more disgusting to me when those things are done to people they were supposed to care about. Help us Father to seek You rather than financial gain or power. Please help me see Your truth and follow Your lead in how I treat others. Help me to show love to others and not disrespect and hate. I have to admit, I don’t always understand why You put up with us and how we act. You are God and holy, and I am certainly not. It is amazing to me though, how patient, loving and merciful You are. Thank You for loving me, because I know I don’t deserve the kind of love You give.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!

This passage of scripture is filled with more lies, deceit and disobedience. Judah’s motives of sending his 2nd and 3rd born sons to Tamar after Er’s, Judah’s 1st born, death was to continue the bloodline as God desired. Then Judah’s fear of losing another son, led to his disobedience of not sending additional sons and telling Tamar to return to her father’s house as a widow.

The passage becomes even more twisted as both Judah and Tamar lie and deceive ultimately resulting in Tamar’s conception of Judah’s child.

What were the events that led to this distorted situation being revealed?

What are your thoughts regarding this passage?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where lies or deceit entangled you or someone you love?

Take time to fervently pray for circumstances where you, a friend or loved one, seem trapped in lies and deceit.

Genesis 38:1-19

38 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father's house.

12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.