20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said. 22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.” 24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” 25 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.” 26 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. 27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah. ~ Genesis 38:20-30
Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 38 which provides a contrast to the life of faith that God has called us to in this fallen world. In our last study we learned that after Judah lost his wife he sought the services of a prostitute, thinking that somehow his sorrows could be swept away by an exciting tryst with someone to whom he didn't have to be committed. Boy, did he discover that it does not serve to feed the flesh. The truth is when we live for a fleeting moment of pleasure by feeding the flesh we reap death and destruction.
The last son born to Judah was Benjamin, which means "Son of my right hand." Benjamin was a picture of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 9:30-32 we read, “30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”
In v.20-23 of today’s passage we read, "20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said. 22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her."
Having received the services of a prostitute, Judah sent the promised goat with his friend Hirah the Adullamite to be delivered to the unidentified woman. As Hirah went about asking about the whereabouts of the harlot, we learn that he used a different word for “harlot” which was the word used for a temple prostitute. Temple harlots had sex for religious purposes, not specifically for money. With his search being completed, Hiram did not find the woman.
In this true story we learn that Judah's real problem was he lacked a conscience before God. This is what being defined by sin does to us, it weakens our heart for God. And, it is at that point that we lack the heart to be obedient to God. But, what we fail to see is that when we do not obey God, He loses nothing. In fact, when we choose not to be defined by God, we loose as we will see in this unfolding story.
This chapter began with “Judah departed.” Judah, which means “thank you,” went to visit Hirah the Adullamite. Hirah means “nobility.” Adullam means “the righteousness of the people.” The hidden message given in these names is: our pursuit of righteousness and nobility is of no value before God. Judah named his firstborn son Er which means “watcher.” Judah’s wife named their second-born son Onan which means “strong.” And then she named their third-born son Shelah which means “prosperity.” And, Shelah was named while Judah was in Chezib, which means “false.” Being sons of Judah, they should have been defined by God by being faithful to His covenant, but it is clear that they were not defind by God and thus they did not walk in the ways of God.
The last son born to Judah was Benjamin, which means "Son of my right hand." Benjamin was a picture of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 9:30-32 we read, “30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”
What the Jews sought, they did not attain, and what the Gentiles didn’t pursue, they did attain. But this was so that God can have mercy on us all, Jew and Gentile alike. The answer is never found in the self life. The answer is always found in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In v.24-26 of today’s passage we read, "24 About three months later Judah was told, 'Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.' Judah said, 'Bring her out and have her burned to death!' 25 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.' 26 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."
It had been a bit more than three months and Tamar was obviously showing the signs of her pregnancy. To this news Judah requested death to Tamar by fire which was the custom of the people in that area at that time. In one of the most ironic twists of the Bible, Tamar, on her way to being burned to death, sent Judah’s signet ring, cord, and staff back to him, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” Judah’s statement that, “She was more righteous than I” was her vindication before her accusers. And then the reason was given. Judah knowingly withheld from her the promised child, his third son, Shelah. This is how we know that she understood her right to the Messianic line. If it was to come through Judah, and Shelah was not to be given to her, then her act with Judah would bring about the child leading to Christ.
In v.27-30 of today’s passage we read, "27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, 'This one came out first.' 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, 'So this is how you have broken out!' And he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah."
Twins were born to Judah and Tamar. During childbirth, one brother’s hand emerged first, and a scarlet thread was tied around his wrist to confirm that he was to be the heir. But when he withdrew his hand, his brother barged past and was born first. The line-jumper was named Perez, which means break through. The one with the scarlet thread is called Zerah, which means the rising of the light. In those two names is found the heart of the gospel. This is the point of the Bible which constantly points us to that which the scarlet thread points us. Consistent throughout the Bible is the message: "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." This is so due to the fact that it is only life that can overcome death. This is the message of the cross that the rising of the light of God on the soul that willingly invites Him in dispels all darkness.
