Genesis 38:1-14 NKJV
38 It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So 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 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
6 Then 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 killed him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 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. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.
11 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.
12 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. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 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.
“And 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….”
In this opening passage of the story of Judah and Tamar, Martin Luther invites us to reflect deeply on the themes of sin, duty, and divine providence. Judah’s departure from his family and his choice to marry a Canaanite woman signal a troubling moral decline, one that leads him away from God’s covenant people. Luther warns us that our associations and choices can draw us into spiritual decay, as seen in Judah’s life.
The deaths of Judah’s sons, Er and Onan, are not merely tragic events; they reveal God’s righteous judgment upon wickedness. Luther emphasizes that God acts justly against unrepentant sinners, highlighting that our choices have consequences that reach beyond ourselves.
Luther’s discussion of levirate marriage brings into focus the importance of family duty and honoring God’s design for relationships. Tamar, in her pursuit of an heir, demonstrates a desire for righteousness, seeking to uphold what Judah and Onan neglected. While her methods are questionable at best (Mosaic Law would later clearly show this as sinful in Lev 18:15), her heart yearns for justice—a reminder that sometimes, righteousness is pursued amid the failings of those around us.
In the midst of human sinfulness, Luther assures us of God’s providence. He shows us that even when we fail, God remains faithful and works through our shortcomings to fulfill His divine plan. The lineage of Judah, though marred by sin, ultimately leads to the Messiah, illustrating that God can bring forth good from our failures. Let us pray: Gracious Lord, help us to recognize the dangers of turning away from You and the consequences of our choices. May we strive to uphold righteousness in our relationships and responsibilities, trusting in Your providence to work through our imperfections. Strengthen our faith as we navigate the complexities of life, knowing that You can bring forth goodness even from our sins, and even more in avoiding them. Amen.