Genesis 38:1-11: a reflection

1At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her. 3She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er. 4She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan. 5She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. 6Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight. So the LORD killed him. 8Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother. 10The thing which he did was evil in the LORD’s sight, and he killed him also. 11Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

This chapter opens with Judah drifting away from his family: he went down from his brothers, and turned aside to make his home among the Canaanites, entangling himself in a way of life apart from his father's household. Judah went down from his brothers, the account says, and visited a certain Adullamite. The chapter that follows is a dark one, full of wickedness and grief; and it begins here, with Judah going down and away from his brothers, separating himself from the household of promise and entangling himself with what would harm him. The downward drift began with a turning aside, a going down and away from those who might have kept him. This is a quiet caution about the danger of drifting away from good influences into compromise and harm. Judah's troubles began with drifting away from his family. Turning aside from good influences can begin a downward path. Drifting away from what keeps us can lead into harm. A going down and away began Judah's dark chapter.

Notice how the dark chapter begins: with Judah going down and away from his brothers. He separated himself from his family, the household of God's promise, and settled among people whose ways were not God's ways, entangling himself with them. And from this turning aside flowed a chapter of wickedness and grief. The account quietly suggests that the downward path began with this drifting away from the good influences and the accountability of his family. This is a caution for us. We can drift away, little by little, from the good influences that help keep us, from the community and relationships that hold us to what is right, and entangle ourselves instead with what draws us into compromise and harm. Such drifting often begins quietly, a going down and away, before its consequences unfold. We do well to be watchful of the influences and company we drift toward, aware that turning aside from what keeps us can begin a downward path. Guard against drifting away from the good influences that help keep you. Turning aside from accountability can begin a slide into harm. The company we drift toward shapes the path we walk. Stay near what keeps you, rather than drifting into harm.

That is worth taking to heart, for drifting away from the good influences that help keep us can begin a downward path into compromise and harm, as Judah's dark chapter began with his going down and away from his brothers. We can drift, little by little, from the community and relationships that hold us to what is right, entangling ourselves with what draws us into harm; but Judah's troubles began with this turning aside from his family into a way of life apart from the household of promise. The company we drift toward shapes our path. Guard against drifting away from the good influences that keep you; stay near what holds you to what is right. Be watchful against drifting away from the good influences and accountability that help keep you, aware that turning aside can begin a downward path, as Judah's dark chapter began with his going down and away from his brothers, settling among people whose ways were not God's and entangling himself with what would harm him; for we can drift little by little from the community and relationships that hold us to what is right, entangling ourselves instead with what draws us into compromise and harm, and such drifting often begins quietly, a going down and away, before its consequences unfold, so that we do well to be watchful of the influences and company we drift toward, staying near what keeps us rather than turning aside into what can begin a slide into harm.

Lord, this chapter opens with Judah drifting away from his family: he went down from his brothers, and turned aside to make his home among the Canaanites, entangling himself in a way of life apart from his father's household. Judah went down from his brothers, the account says, and visited a certain Adullamite. The chapter that follows is a dark one, full of wickedness and grief; and it begins here, with Judah going down and away from his brothers, separating himself from the household of promise and entangling himself with what would harm him. The downward drift began with a turning aside. This is a quiet caution about the danger of drifting away from good influences into compromise and harm. Show me how the dark chapter begins: with Judah going down and away from his brothers. He separated himself from his family, the household of your promise, and settled among people whose ways were not your ways. And from this turning aside flowed a chapter of wickedness and grief. The account quietly suggests that the downward path began with this drifting away from the good influences and accountability of his family. This is a caution for me. I can drift away, little by little, from the good influences that help keep me, from the community and relationships that hold me to what is right, and entangle myself instead with what draws me into compromise and harm. Such drifting often begins quietly, before its consequences unfold. Take that to my heart, for drifting away from the good influences that keep me can begin a downward path. Keep me watchful against drifting away from the good influences and accountability that help keep me, Lord, aware that turning aside can begin a slide into harm; help me stay near what holds me to what is right rather than drifting into what would harm me, as Judah drifted down and away from his brothers.