In this episode we continue studying the Book of Genesis. In this episode we learn that Judah left his father's house and his brothers after they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, who then sold him to the Egyptians.

He married a Canaanite woman, and had three sons with her. God killed two of them. Here's the text:

Genesis 38:7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

Genesis 38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

Genesis 38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

God’s response to Onan’s behavior, is related to the condition of his heart. Since Onan, knew the child wouldn’t be counted as his, he spilled his seed, instead of letting it produce a child that would be counted as his brother’s.

Only the first born child would belong to his brother, any other children he had with her would belong to him and listed in the book of generations under his name.

We note that the text says, Judah’s firstborn son was wicked in the sight of God, that he may not have been wicked in the sight of his parents but he was wicked in the sight of God, so God killed him.

1 Kings chapter 8 verse 39 says, God gives to every man according to his ways, and that only he knows the hearts of all the children of men.

Err’s heart must have been extremely wicked, if God killed him. Yet scripture says, he takes no delight in seeing people die,

Ezekiel 33:11  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

We see that God illed king Jehoram with a disease that attacked his bowels.

He killed Nabal for his wicked behavior towards David. David had done good to Nabal and when David needed him, Nabal refused to help him. He returned evil for good.

After Judah's sons died, he sent Tamar their wife to live with her parents, promising to let her marry his younger son when he grew up. But that was not true, he sent her away because he believed if she married him, he would die too.

He sent her way because he believed she was cursed and was the reason his sons died. But that wasn't true they died because God took their lives because they were evil. He misinterpreted what happened to his sons and blamed her.

Overtime Tamar deceives Judah, sleeps with him, and has his twins. One whose name is Pharez, who's listed in Christ's genealogy.

Here's the text:

Matthew 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:2  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Matthew 1:3  And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

God's chosen family was not and is not perfect yet He is not ashamed to be called our God. Here's the text:

Hebrews 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

And Jesus is not ashamed to be called our brethren. Here's the text:


Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Hebrews 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.