MONDAY, MAY 14
Scripture: Genesis 38:6-10

In Genesis 38 we begin to encounter people who God chose. The circumstances of their choosing gives us some insight into what it means to be chosen. For example here in Genesis 38:6-10 we are told to, “Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. And Judah said to Onan, ‘Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.’ But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.” Here Judah takes a wife for his firstborn son and that son’s wife is Tamar. Tamar’s husband was wicked in the sight of the Lord so God killed him. Judah said to his other son Onan to go in to Tamar and marry her and raise up an heir to your brother. Onan knew that the child would not be his so he was going to deprive her of an heir and that was wicked in God’s eyes and God killed him too. This introduces us to an interesting side of God. He is not only the Savior of all the earth but He freely and willingly chooses to kill people who are wicked in His sight, those who are destroying a culture. Now we have Tamar a wife who has had two husbands both now dead. She was going to live her whole life in poverty, she was on her own in a male dominated society. What do you do in that situation? You pray and try to find God.