At least I know this will be read simply because I put "SEX" in the title.
Genesis 38 tells the story of a woman (Tamar) who disguised herself as a prostitute to trick her father-in-law (Judah) into impregnating her.
And she's the example of righteousness in the story! What?
I'll give the brief version. But feel free to read the chapter for yourselves.
Back in those days, having children was a must. They helped with the work and would provide for parents in their elderly years. If a woman's husband died early, his brothers were expected to step in and provide children for the widowed wife! It wasn't remotely frowned upon. It was expected!
Tamar's husband died young because he was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. (38:7)
Judah rightfully told his second son to go make babies with Tamar. His son, Onan, was not happy with this because selfishly he knew any baby would not be his heir in the law. So...he pulled out and ejaculated on the ground. Yup, the Bible tells us this. He got the sex but ignored his lawful duties, But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went into his brother's wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. (38:9)
If God was angry at the first brother, what do you think happened to Onan for this disobedience? And this thing which he did displeased the LORD: therefore He killed him also. (38:10)
Judah now had only one son left and feared that he would also die if he sent him to Tamar. So he withheld this son from Tamar. Meanwhile, Judah's wife also died, so he began to seek the comfort of prostitutes. Tamar, being in a helpless situation due to Judah's refusal to follow Jewish law, decided to deceive Judah by hiding her identity as a prostitute. Judah poked the daughter-in-law unknowingly. The poking was knowingly, the daughter-in-law part not so much. And she got pregnant.
Fast forward a few months, Tamar has been outed as having played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry. So Judah said, "Bring her out and let her be burned!" (38:24)
Not so fast. Tamar quickly revealed that it was Judah who was the father of her child by harlotry. Judah quickly backtracked, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he never knew her again. (38:26)
Tamar was then blessed with twins! (38:27-28)
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So why is this story of sex and seed spilling in the Bible. Probably so I could get all you sickos here to pay attention to a biblical story. But it's also in Scriptures (as everything is) to teach us some lessons:
1. God knows your sins better than you know them yourself! And He will reveal them to you if you persist in unrepentant sin. Judah frequently was visiting prostitutes and ignored his legal duties as a father-in-law, deciding he knew better than God.
2. God will expose your sins publicly and punish you for continued willful disobedience. Plenty of examples of this. Judah got off pretty easy in comparison.
3. Repentance and admission of guilt will be rewarded by God. Our answer why Judah got off easy. Had he burned her anyway? I think we know what would have happened to him.
4. God knows the heart! Did Tamar sin? Yes. She lied and deceived. But legally she was also owed a child by Judah's family. Despite her technical wrongdoing, she was blessed. Doubly blessed with two babies. This is not a free pass to lie and be deceitful. But it is comforting knowing that God KNOWS our hearts.
Or is it comforting for you that God knows your heart????
Embrace, abide, and devour the Word if that question makes you nervous.
Genesis 38 tells the story of a woman (Tamar) who disguised herself as a prostitute to trick her father-in-law (Judah) into impregnating her.
And she's the example of righteousness in the story! What?I'll give the brief version. But feel free to read the chapter for yourselves.
Back in those days, having children was a must. They helped with the work and would provide for parents in their elderly years. If a woman's husband died early, his brothers were expected to step in and provide children for the widowed wife! It wasn't remotely frowned upon. It was expected!
Tamar's husband died young because he was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. (38:7)
Judah rightfully told his second son to go make babies with Tamar. His son, Onan, was not happy with this because selfishly he knew any baby would not be his heir in the law. So...he pulled out and ejaculated on the ground. Yup, the Bible tells us this. He got the sex but ignored his lawful duties, But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went into his brother's wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. (38:9)
If God was angry at the first brother, what do you think happened to Onan for this disobedience? And this thing which he did displeased the LORD: therefore He killed him also. (38:10)
Judah now had only one son left and feared that he would also die if he sent him to Tamar. So he withheld this son from Tamar. Meanwhile, Judah's wife also died, so he began to seek the comfort of prostitutes. Tamar, being in a helpless situation due to Judah's refusal to follow Jewish law, decided to deceive Judah by hiding her identity as a prostitute. Judah poked the daughter-in-law unknowingly. The poking was knowingly, the daughter-in-law part not so much. And she got pregnant.
Fast forward a few months, Tamar has been outed as having played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry. So Judah said, "Bring her out and let her be burned!" (38:24)
Not so fast. Tamar quickly revealed that it was Judah who was the father of her child by harlotry. Judah quickly backtracked, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he never knew her again. (38:26)
Tamar was then blessed with twins! (38:27-28)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So why is this story of sex and seed spilling in the Bible. Probably so I could get all you sickos here to pay attention to a biblical story. But it's also in Scriptures (as everything is) to teach us some lessons:
1. God knows your sins better than you know them yourself! And He will reveal them to you if you persist in unrepentant sin. Judah frequently was visiting prostitutes and ignored his legal duties as a father-in-law, deciding he knew better than God.
2. God will expose your sins publicly and punish you for continued willful disobedience. Plenty of examples of this. Judah got off pretty easy in comparison.
3. Repentance and admission of guilt will be rewarded by God. Our answer why Judah got off easy. Had he burned her anyway? I think we know what would have happened to him.
4. God knows the heart! Did Tamar sin? Yes. She lied and deceived. But legally she was also owed a child by Judah's family. Despite her technical wrongdoing, she was blessed. Doubly blessed with two babies. This is not a free pass to lie and be deceitful. But it is comforting knowing that God KNOWS our hearts.
Or is it comforting for you that God knows your heart????
Embrace, abide, and devour the Word if that question makes you nervous.
