It is abundantly evident in the Bible that prostitution is wrong (Proverbs 7; 1 Corinthians 6:9–15). In light of this, why did God not punish Judah for misusing his daughter-in-law (Genesis 38:13–19)?
Sins are against our Creator
The primary sin that all of us do is against God (Psalm 51:4). According to Romans 2:4, God is free to choose to punish us harshly and immediately or gently and allow us more opportunity to turn from our sins. God may decide to punish a person for their transgressions during this lifetime (see, for example, Genesis 38:7–10). In some cases, God spares the wicked throughout their lives, allowing them to avoid punishment until Judgment Day (Psalm 73). But all sins will eventually be made good (Ecclesiastes 12:14). “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” is the final thought. (verse 25, Genesis 18).
God did not punish Judah immediately
We witness God’s mercy in the narrative of Judah and Tamar. Due of their transgressions, God had already executed two of Judah’s sons (Genesis 38:7, 10). Judah was definitely deserving of the same penalty. For his immoral dishonesty in denouncing Tamar for prostitution as well as for his transgression (Genesis 38:24). But God refrained from punishing Judah as soon as he should have. and Judah gave an apologetic response. In Genesis 38:26, Judah acknowledges his transgression and turns away from it. Judah’s life took a drastic turn afterward. Previously, according to Genesis 37:26–27, Judah had been prepared to sell his younger brother into slavery. However, Judah was prepared to be sold into slavery himself after experiencing God’s mercy. in order to free his younger brother (Genesis 44:33).
God then took it a step beyond! God granted Judah a magnificent gift that he did not deserve, known as “grace,” after sparing him the penalty he deserved, or “mercy.” Genesis 49:10 states that God selected Judah to be the ancestor of the promised Messiah! The New Testament would reveal several centuries later how Jesus Christ was descended directly from Judah. Through Perez, the son of Tamar, rather than Shelah, the elder son of Judah (Matthew 1:3).
God’s mercy
So, in summary: why didn’t God punish Judah for his sin with Tamar? The answer is: to show us God’s mercy and grace. The Bible is not a book about good people who earned God’s kindness, but a book about bad people to whom God was good. Just like Judah, you and I are also sinful hypocrites who, in condemning others, condemn ourselves as well (Romans 2:1). But like Judah, God has also shown mercy and grace to us. God has not condemned the world as we deserve, but is being patient with us, giving us time to repent (2 Peter 3:9). What’s more, God has also given us grace, sending His precious only Son into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) – a wonderful gift which we could never earn or deserve (Romans 6:23), and must receive by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8).
Our response to God’s mercy
Ultimately, Judah demonstrates to us how to accept God’s kindness and grace. Judah appealed to Jesus Christ, who actually became a slave so that we could be freed, when he offered to trade places with his brother as a slave (Philippians 2:7). Therefore, if we have genuinely turned away from sin and begun to live for Jesus today, we will also walk with Him down the compassionate path of selfless sacrifice for others. As Jesus instructed His followers:
“The greatest among you must be your servant, and the greatest among you must be the slave of all.” According to Mark 10:43–45, “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”
