Responsibility Was Calculated,

 

and Waiting Was Postponed*

(Genesis 38:9–11)

Onan knew.

He knew that even if a child were born,

the child would not be counted as his own.

So he maintained the relationship

but refused the responsibility.

He went in to his brother’s wife,

yet he would not give offspring to his brother.

The act was repeated,

and so was the refusal.

Scripture does not call this a mistake

or a moment of weakness.

It calls it evil

in the sight of the LORD.

The outcome was the same as Er’s.

The sin was different,

but the judgment was the same.

What remained was Tamar.

Judah, fearing that he might lose Shelah as well,

told his daughter-in-law to wait.

There was a promise,

but no timeline.

Tamar returned

to her father’s house.

She belonged to the family,

yet waited outside of it.

Onan calculated.

Judah postponed.

And in between them,

Tamar’s life stood still.