There are times when I read the Bible and the events are so strange to me living in 2022. It’s difficult to understand ancient customs. Yet, nestled right in Genesis 38 is “prostitution” which lends understanding to it being the “oldest profession”. In Luke 20:27-40 Jesus was confronted by the Sadducees about the very question of a widow marrying successive brothers to ensure the bloodline inheritance of the first husband who had died. We see this being played out in Judah’s time.

In the account of Judah, Israel’s son, are listed three sons. The firstborn, Er, married Tamar. In the chapter account, Er was killed by God for being wicked in the Lord’s sight. Judah had his 2nd son, Onan, sleep with Er’s widow so that Er’s bloodline could be continued. Onan refused to impregnate Tamar and the Lord put him to death also. Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household. v. 11.

Here the story gets stranger. When Judah’s wife died and he had mourned for her, he went to where his sheep were being sheared. Seeing what he thinks is a prostitute, he made arrangements with her to sleep with her and gave his seal and staff as a guarantee of his payment at a later time. She conceived. When Judah was told his daughter-in-law Tamar was guilty of prostitution, because as a widow she was pregnant, Judah wanted her burned to death. He wanted her burned to death for prostitution. He was the one who slept with her. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1.

Judah was not faithful to the custom of his day of ensuring his son’s widow would bear a child through one of his sons, his remaining son Shelah who had grown old enough. Tamar took matters into her own hands and slept with her father-in-law by deceit. His seal and staff guaranteed her safety. She continued the bloodline inheritance for Judah by his own seed. Strange customs. All too human behavior. In the commentary below it points out that Judah and Tamar are direct ancestors of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:1-6). As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law, “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. v. 25-26.

I may not understand customs of the ancient world or even customs of today in different people. We do what we think is right. A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30. I take great comfort knowing that God’s will will prevail. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18.

God is gracious and compassionate and knows our sins and failures. He knows our hearts. He knows the good we do. All of us. It’s so easy to do as Judah did and condemn someone else for their sins all the while knowing he, and we, sin. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1. I don’t know about you, but this world is full of convoluted sins that we all have participated in. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12. Compassion and mercy. The love of God. How we each of us desperately need that and how richly He provides.