Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

Of all the stories recorded for us in Genesis, the one recorded in Genesis 38 I find the most difficult to understand. The web of sin goes deep into the heart of this chapter. Lying, deception, prostitution, and adultery raise ugly heads. Judah, the one through whom the Promised One is to come, certainly does not come off too messianic in this chapter. In fact, we could say that he was a "chip off the old block." As we shall see in the continuing saga of Joseph next week, Jacob had taught his children the concept of deception and lying very well. But, out of this story come two participants in the genealogy of Jesus: Tamar - we would hardly hold her up as a model for our children, Perez - the son, should have been the grandchild, of the union between Tamar and Judah. Both names are featured in Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus. So, what can we possibly learn from this story?

Genesis 38

Key Words: "Jacob"; "Tamar"

Key Verse: Verse 26 includes the words "more righteous" and yet, both Tamar and Judah were wrong. Tamar had deceived Judah and Judah had failed to keep his promise to her.

Purpose Statement: This chapter presents the story of another pair of people who are in the genealogy of Christ - Tamar and Perez.

Outline: Judah and Tamar

I. Judah's three sons (vs. 1-5)
II. Death of his two sons because of wickedness (vs. 6-10)
III. Tamar's widowhood (vs. 11-12)
IV. Tamar's relations with Judah (vs. 13-26)
A. Her plan (vs. 13-14)
B. Judah uses her as a prostitute (vs. 15-19)
C. She disappears (vs. 20-23)
D. Her pregnancy (vs. 24)
E. Judah is guilty (vs. 25-26)
V. Tamar's two sons (vs. 27-30)

Thoughts to Ponder: Deception works its incredible web once again. Judah deceives his daughter-in-law Tamar into thinking that if she would just wait she would be given Judah's youngest son in marriage. But he knew that would not happen. After years of waiting, Tamar turned the tables on her father-in-law. She deceived him by playing the role of a prostitute and having sex with him. Lies and deceit weave deadly webs that destroy character quickly. How we need to model truth.

Study Notes :
1. The events in this chapter cover many years. Judah has three sons born to him. Now let's say that the oldest does not get married until he is twenty. The youngest, at least the text implies, was considerably younger than his older brothers. I suppose it would be possible for the events in this chapter to have taken thirty or more years to have been fulfilled.

2. The beginning of Judah's problem is recorded in verse 2. He married the daughter of a Canaanite man. It would have been wiser for him to have returned to his uncle's home to see a wife just as his own father had done decades earlier.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Half the work that is done in this world is to make things appear what they are not. (E.R. Beadle)

Genesis 36-37 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 39