Genesis 38:15 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Genesis 38:15

Comments

Judah did not recognise Tamar and assumed her to be a harlot, because she had the customary face covering. He thought he was committing one sin knowingly, but he was unknowingly committing another even more disgraceful sin. His wife had only recently died and now he wants to satisfy his desires with improper intercourse with a woman whose face he has not even seen. And Tamar anticipated this behaviour well. How could she do this unless Judah was a man known for his lack of self-control? He does not even seem to be ashamed that those travelling with him should know what he is doing. We have just been told that he was on his way to Timnath with his friend Hirah the Adullamite. We know that Hirah knew exactly what was taking place, because it is later by the hand of Hirah that Jacob tries to redeem his pledge given to Tamar.This harlot does not ask for the normal payment. She has a very definite aim in all this, and it is not the making of money. Judah intends to pay her for her services, but he cannot do it immediately. She asks for a pledge: something that suits her purposes and she obtains from him various personal effects which will allow her to prove his identity in the future. She is shrewd and is looking well ahead with the implementation of her plan, predicting which way things will go. Tamar conceives and changes back into the garments of her widowhood. She has no wish to recontinue the life of a harlot. Her temporary adoption of the harlot’s garb has served its purpose. Failing to obtain seed through the son, she had done so through the father.

Application

How many advantages in life can be thrown away, and a person can plunge themselves into unknown depths of sin, without bothering to reckon how they will ever be extracted from such a pit. The children of believers have unique opportunities to seek and find the Lord, and Judah had these. His younger brother was an example to him but one which he chose to ignore. God was going to deliver Judah from this awful state, but Judah could not count on this as he went deeper and deeper into depravity. There is a terrible recklessness about sin which shuts out any thought of consequences. None deserve to be delivered from it but God’s grace is nonetheless going to be displayed in Judah’s life.

How much harm the wrong choice of friends can do us. Those who wish to give free reign to their lusts are careful to choose friends who will do nothing to dissuade them. They will hear nothing from such friends that will awaken conscience, or do anything to remind them of God’s standards. Yet that is the office of a true friend. A true friend is not concerned about immediate approval; he looks beyond that to the long term good. ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful’ (Proverbs 27:6). Where were the faithful warnings and the sharp reproofs that Judah needed? Even a soft word of reproof can do a lot of good. The conscience is easily awoken. Of course, to rebuke a friend who is expected to countersign every lust may be the cause of such offence that friendship is severed.

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Genesis 38:15 Commentary and Bible Study