GENESIS 38


1 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.

'Down from his brethren'...Judah's Apostasy.


This interlude in the narrative gives us a picture of the dire crisis in which the sons of Jacob were falling into or apostasising through the corruption of the Canaanites, and therefore highlights the provision of Yahweh through Joseph the redeemer of his brethren (Gen.45.5-8). It typifies the apostasy of Judah's commonwealth, and of the ecclesial camp at the time of the end when or before Christ comes.




2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

Judah's sin. First he went down to Hirah the Adullamite (a Cannanite) "from his brethren." This is the pathway to Apostasy - down into the world or the invasion of the world, with its corrupting influences and liberal values, into the ecclesia, i.e. a breakdown in separation (2 Cor.6.14-18, Jms 4.4, 1 Jhn 2.15,16).

Second, fornication with the world and its harlot daughters "the daughter of a certain Canaanite ... he took her and went in unto her". This is spiritual whoredom, imbibing the false doctrines of the Apostasy is spiritual whoredom or adultery (Jer.2-5) or fellowship with such, which is also a form of spiritual adultery:



4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.

The offspring of this fornication were Er and Onan and Shelah. The first two sons were base and degenerate having imbibed the Canaanitish culture and amorality.



13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Although Judah's daughter die's, this fails to prompt Judah's memory regarding Tamar his daughter in law, which shows his self centred disregard for his family responsibilities. The next thing we are told, is that he goes to Timnath to help his friend Hirah in the sheep shearing.

The impression one gets in reading this narrative is that it is all perfectly natural business and family affairs: mortalities and small dramas which punctuate day-to-day mortal life, at particular seasons which come and go.

Everything seems to flow by in the daily round without any thought to Yahweh. This is the natural man who had one foot in the Truth, just, but the other foot planted firmly in their every day affairs. One is reminded of Yahweh's words at the time of the end, where they ate, they drank, they bought; .they sold they planted, they builded, they married and were given in marriage until the flood came, or God rained down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (Lk.17:26~30).

In other words life flowed along perfectly naturally from day to day seemingly, but God was not in their thoughts.

Bro Richard Lister

THE APOCALYPTIC MESSENGER, August 2017

thomas.lister1@btinternet.com



24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

This shows the sheer perverse hypocrisy of the man. She shows him the pledges, that by the owner of these is she with child. Judah's sin is revealed to all, as wiII our sins be revealed at Sinai, if they are not covered now (2 Cor. 5.10, Rom:14; I0-I3).

v .27~30. Tamar has twins Pharez and Zarah. The line of Christ goes through Pharez (Ruth 4.18-22, Mtt.1. 1-16, Lk.3. 33), which shows the overshadowing hand of Providence,

Bro Richard Lister

THE APOCALYPTIC MESSENGER, August 2017

thomas.lister1@btinternet.com