Scripture references;
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:16 KJV
“And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.” Genesis 38:1-6 KJV
I find this chapter puzzling. I was raised as an only child. As I have read in the Book of Genesis about these huge families and the individual members…the genealogies, the acts of obedience, the acts of disobedience, and God’s dealings with them I have been filled with questions…the types of questions to which He alone has the answers. He has chosen to keep those answers to Himself, and I accept that.
In chapter 38, which lies ahead, we have Judah, his sons, and a woman named Tamar to consider. I read several commentaries on this chapter. They each shared not only interesting facts, but also interesting speculations in regard to possible motivations these people might have had for behaving the way that they did. Reasoning has its place, but it also has its limitations. Here is some scripture that I believe is important to remember:
“7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:7-10 KJV
“29 Are not two little sparrows sold for a [a]copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge]. 31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-30 AMP
“1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:1-4 KJV
Starting way back in the earliest chapters of Genesis I found myself often thinking, “I understand why they would have disliked each other, and resented each other, but why did they take such drastic measures?” In the last chapter (Genesis 37) I understood how Joseph telling his dreams to his older brothers would irritate and offend them, but hate is an awfully strong emotion, and to have such an intense hatred that they sold their brother (Rachel’s son) and made up a story that would cause such agonizing pain for their father…that is some strong hatred.
I am not able to search the hearts and minds of these brothers like the Lord did, but I think I will share what little scripture I can find that will shed some light on what Judah might have experienced, witnessed, and felt as a child that could have contributed to his mindset:
“16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. Genesis 29:16-35
“3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” Genesis 37:3-4 KJV
These brothers were not only older, but they were also Leah’s sons. Scripture tells us that Leah was tender eyed. I believe she was tenderhearted, too. Most women want to be loved by their husbands. The Lord knew all about her pain, and I suspect her sons shared some of that pain. Is it possible that this pain might have had a part in Judah’s decision to go down from his brethren and take a Canaanite wife (Shuah) after dealing so brutally with his brother Joseph and subsequently bringing such anguish upon his father? I am not trying to justify his hatred and and the acts of wickedness that were motivated by it at all. I just think it is helpful to consider these things, because today we still encounter hurting people who end up hurting others. We still need to trust the Lord’s plan for us whether we understand it or not, and know that He loves us and truly is on our side and that it is in our best interest to obey Him.
I am going to pause here and hopefully cover Genesis 38 in my next post.
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