day no. 15,065: flyover reflections on Genesis 38

While it is easy to see how Joseph dominates the last part of Genesis, there is also, if one takes notices, a growing spotlight being placed upon Judah. This chapter, dedicated to him, is only one example. Jesus, the lion, is from the tribe of Judah. The blessing will end up going through Judah, not Joseph. Isn't that surprising? Especially given the amount of time Moses gives to Joseph's story? Quite the plot twist. Even more so in light of Judah's response to sexual temptation in this chapter when compared with Joseph's in the following.

Yet, Jesus traces His lineage back through Judah, not Joseph.

We see Judah doing what the prince from Gen 34 did with Dinah in terms of acting upon impulse and what John in his first epistle would call "the lust of the eyes."

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Onan is following his father's footsteps of trying to live in light of a "sex without consequences" styled philosophical approach to impulse. You can live like there are not consequences, but there are. If you act like there aren't, the consequences don't evaporate. They remain. They cannot be wished away. The entire abortion industry is built upon the philosophy of sex without consequences and orgasms without responsibilities. Each abortion is an orgasm enthroned and its consequences left on the altar.

The idea of sex and responsibility permeates the passage. There are certain responsibilities that end in sex and sex certainly ends in corresponding responsibilities. In other words, responsibility will lead you to sex and sex is always followed by responsibility.

This episode is crazy and filled with sexual immorality and irresponsibility and yet, it is part of Jesus' story. Tamar is one of four women listed in His lineage. This is not just part of this particular story, it is a specific part of Jesus' story. These are His ancestors and these are the events that eventually led not only to His birth, but to the very necessity of His being born. His family is a perfect example of why He had to come.