Genesis 38:8–11
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also. 11 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.
Have you ever watched a sport you don’t understand? A friend of mine from South Africa is a huge rugby and cricket fanatic. South Africa won the last Rugby World Cup, becoming world champions. It was so fun watching with him, but I had absolutely zero idea what was going on!
What we’re reading here is hard to comprehend because it’s not from our culture, but would become a requirement for Israelite families as seen in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, (known as a Levirate marriage). Judah found his oldest son, Er, a wife named Tamar. Er was evil, so God took his life. Er’s brother, Onan, is supposed to fulfill his obligation to the family but will not, for selfish reasons. Judah (Tamar’s father-in-law) tells her to go live with her family until his youngest son can grow old enough to marry her, but he never intended to actually fulfill that promise. Poor Tamar can’t catch a break from this self-centered family!
Have you ever had that feeling, like you can’t catch a break? You are not alone in this! Be encouraged, holding onto Psalm 34:18:
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.