For Jacob’s wife Leah, the anguish of being unloved by her husband was worse than the pain of childbirth. The names of her oldest three sons — Reuben, Simeon, and Levi — reflect Leah’s longing to be loved (Gen. 29:31-34). But when Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she said, “‘This time I will praise the Lord.’ Therefore she called his name Judah” (Gen. 29:35). Judah sounds like the Hebrew for “praise.”
The birth of Judah was a turning point for Leah. Instead of looking for love from Jacob, she looked to the Lord.
Judah would have his turning point too. But it would come later in life — after a long hard road. For many years, Judah went in the wrong direction. When Joseph’s brothers stripped him naked and threw him into a pit, it was Judah that suggested that they make a profit by selling Joseph as a slave to the Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt (Gen. 37:26-28). Judah literally “sold out” his little brother! Then Judah and his brothers tricked their father Jacob into thinking that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal (Gen. 37:31-35). Jacob almost wept himself into an early grave. What cruel deception!
After that, Judah spiraled downward rapidly. “It happened at that time” – just after Joseph’s brothers sold him into Egypt, when Judah was probably in his late teens – “that Judah went down from his brothers” and made friends with an Adullamite named Hirah (Gen. 38:1). Could it be that Judah left his brothers out of shame for having suggested that they sell Joseph into slavery? Was there a falling out between them?
Judah ended up marrying a Canaanite, breaking the custom of the patriarchs which would be formalized into law during the days of Moses (Ex. 34:11-16) in order to keep the people of Israel from idolatry. But Judah married her anyway, and she bore Judah a son.
“But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death” (Gen. 38:6). I can’t imagine the grief this must have been to Judah. It was probably compounded by guilt, knowing that he had not been a godly example to his son.
Judah gave his daughter-in-law Tamar to his second son Onan, so that he could raise up offspring for his brother. “But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste his semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also.” (Gen. 38:7-10)
More heartache for Judah! He had a third son, Shelah, who was not old enough to get married yet. So he promised Tamar that Shelah would marry her once he was old enough.
But Judah broke his promise.
Then Judah’s wife died.
After Judah was done grieving, he took a road trip. Tamar found out about it and disguised herself with a veil. Judah thought she was a prostitute and slept with her.
Three months later Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant. Assuming that she had been immoral, Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned” (Gen. 38:24). But then Tamar presented evidence that Judah himself was, in fact, the father of her child.
It was then, at that moment, that Judah declared, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to to my son Shelah” (Gen. 38:26). The text says that Judah never slept with her again.
This was a turning point for Judah. He humbly acknowledged his sin and did an about-face. The next time we read about him, he’s back with his father and brothers. Then later, when Jacob’s sons urge their father to let Benjamin go with them to Egypt, Judah takes personal responsibility for his safety (Gen. 43:8-9).
When Joseph (whose identity is still unknown to his brothers at this point) plans to keep Benjamin in Egypt while letting the brothers go home, Judah makes one of the most moving, heartfelt appeals in the Old Testament. He offers to take Benjamin’s place so that his brother can go free and return to his father (see Gen. 44:18-34).
At this point Joseph loses control and begins sobbing. He tells his brothers his real identity, and they become reconciled. Better yet, Joseph moves his entire family to Egypt, thus saving them from the famine and providing for them the rest of their lives.
As it turns out, Judah was the son through whom the Messiah would be born (Gen. 49:8-12), hence Jesus’ title, “The Lion of Judah” (Rev. 5:5).
Judah’s testimony is a good reminder that we should never write anybody off. God delights to save sinners and show them his undeserved kindness. The one who was named “praise” finally lived up to his name, to the glory of God’s grace.
Have you reached your turning point? Have you repented of your sin and put your trust in Christ alone for salvation? If you’re still breathing, it’s not too late. Make today the first day of your new life in Christ. the Bible says,
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
(2 Cor. 5:17-18)