This time is after Judah and the other nine of the twelve brothers sold their younger brother Joseph in to slavery. (Genesis 37:12-35) 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. (Genesis 38:2-5)
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. 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. (Genesis 38:6-10)
Some interesting things to note. We understand from scripture that the phrase went in to her, means to have sex or to consummate a marriage. All of these events took place before God gave the children of Israel the laws and commandments, but based on what was done and how God responded gave a clear picture of what God found acceptable and unacceptable.
Judah married a Canaanite woman, a gentile woman; and we also know that Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, who were both descendants of Judah. (Hebrews 7:14; read "The Genealogy of Christ") God does not care if we marry people from a different race or culture. His main concern is that we aren't unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (II Corinthians 6:14) Whether Shua believed in his God or not, we don't know; but we need to make sure we choose mates that believe in the same God we do, regardless of where they come from.
The other interesting thing was the practice of if a man died and left a wife without having any children, the next oldest brother was expected to marry the wife and bear children for the brother that died. God would give a command to the children of Israel regarding this practice, which they would follow for centuries to come, based on a conversation Jesus had with the Sadducees. The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother...” (Matthew 22:23-24; Mark 12:18-19)
Which leads to the subject of birth control. When Judah's oldest son, Er died, the next oldest brother, Onan was expected to marry Tamar and conceive an heir for the deceased brother, but Onan didn't want to do that, so he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. In other words, he removed his penis from Tamar's body and ejaculated his semen on the ground. A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) What Onan did was a form of practicing birth control, and the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.
God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;..." (Genesis 1:27-28) God commanded man and woman to have children, and then He established the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman as the acceptable relationship for this process to occur. When we try to take the process of procreation into our own hands, instead of 1. making sure we wait to have sex until we're in the right marriage covenant relationship, and 2. have sex with our spouse without trying to control the process of conception, we displease the Lord.
The other interesting thing was the practice of if a man died and left a wife without having any children, the next oldest brother was expected to marry the wife and bear children for the brother that died. God would give a command to the children of Israel regarding this practice, which they would follow for centuries to come, based on a conversation Jesus had with the Sadducees. The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother...” (Matthew 22:23-24; Mark 12:18-19)
Which leads to the subject of birth control. When Judah's oldest son, Er died, the next oldest brother, Onan was expected to marry Tamar and conceive an heir for the deceased brother, but Onan didn't want to do that, so he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. In other words, he removed his penis from Tamar's body and ejaculated his semen on the ground. A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) What Onan did was a form of practicing birth control, and the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.
God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;..." (Genesis 1:27-28) God commanded man and woman to have children, and then He established the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman as the acceptable relationship for this process to occur. When we try to take the process of procreation into our own hands, instead of 1. making sure we wait to have sex until we're in the right marriage covenant relationship, and 2. have sex with our spouse without trying to control the process of conception, we displease the Lord.
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. (Genesis 38:11) Judah was trying to enforce the tradition of the brother of a deceased brother marrying the wife of the deceased brother to give him an heir, but it was kind of unrealistic for Judah to expect Tamar to wait until Shelah was grown.
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. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. (Genesis 38:12-15)
Judah's wife, Shua died. So he's lost two sons and his wife. After the time of mourning was over and he was comforted, he went back to work. Tamar stayed in Judah's house this entire time, until Shelah was grown, but Judah never gave her to him as a wife, so she came up with her own plan to deceive Judah. Judah's wife was deceased and certainly he was lonely and desired female companionship. Men, beware of harlots and seductresses, For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men. (Proverbs 23:27-28)
Judah's wife, Shua died. So he's lost two sons and his wife. After the time of mourning was over and he was comforted, he went back to work. Tamar stayed in Judah's house this entire time, until Shelah was grown, but Judah never gave her to him as a wife, so she came up with her own plan to deceive Judah. Judah's wife was deceased and certainly he was lonely and desired female companionship. Men, beware of harlots and seductresses, For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men. (Proverbs 23:27-28)
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. (Genesis 38:16-18)
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.” (Genesis 38:19-23)
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. (Genesis 38:24-26)
Wow, well played! She had the evidence to prove that he was the man who had laid with her, therefore she could not receive the punishment that was practiced for people caught having sex outside of marriage and or committing adultery, being burned to death, and later being stoned to death. (John 8:1-12) Judah had not kept his word to give her to Shelah in marriage when he was grown, and he had slept with a woman he thought was a harlot. His sin convicted him, and couldn't execute the punishment on her without having to be punished himself. Just like the woman the Pharisees brought to Jesus who was caught in the very act of adultery, Jesus told her after causing all her accusers to go away, "Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)
Wow, well played! She had the evidence to prove that he was the man who had laid with her, therefore she could not receive the punishment that was practiced for people caught having sex outside of marriage and or committing adultery, being burned to death, and later being stoned to death. (John 8:1-12) Judah had not kept his word to give her to Shelah in marriage when he was grown, and he had slept with a woman he thought was a harlot. His sin convicted him, and couldn't execute the punishment on her without having to be punished himself. Just like the woman the Pharisees brought to Jesus who was caught in the very act of adultery, Jesus told her after causing all her accusers to go away, "Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)
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 [meaning, a breach]. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah. (Genesis 38:27-30)
Not only was Jesus born to Mary and Joseph, who were both descendants of Judah, but they were descendants of Perez, "the breach", Judah's child conceived illegitimately with his daughter-in-law. (read "The Genealogy of Christ") God can use anyone, no matter where we come from or what we've done. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (II Timothy 2:20-21)
Not only was Jesus born to Mary and Joseph, who were both descendants of Judah, but they were descendants of Perez, "the breach", Judah's child conceived illegitimately with his daughter-in-law. (read "The Genealogy of Christ") God can use anyone, no matter where we come from or what we've done. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (II Timothy 2:20-21)
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