Father Mike Schmitz hosts day 20 of the Bible in a Year podcast, reading from Genesis chapter 38 using The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension Press. He guides listeners through the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, following The Great Adventure Bible timeline from Genesis to Revelation.

The episode focuses on the troubling story of Judah and Tamar, exploring themes of brokenness and God's ability to work through imperfect circumstances. Father Mike connects this Old Testament narrative to Jesus' genealogy, showing how God incorporates flawed human stories into His redemptive plan.

Judah's Family Dysfunction and Tamar's Deception

Judah marries a Canaanite woman who bears three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah, with Er marrying Tamar before dying childless.

Onan refuses to raise offspring for his deceased brother, 'spilling the semen on the ground' which displeases the Lord and results in his death.

Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute when Judah fails to give her his youngest son Shelah, resulting in her pregnancy by her father-in-law.

When confronted with evidence (signet, cord, and staff), Judah admits 'She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.'

The Sin of Onan and Sexual Ethics

Onan's action represents the separation of the unitive aspect of the sexual act from the procreative aspect, which Father Mike identifies as evil in God's sight.

This passage provides scriptural foundation for understanding the connection between sexual relations and openness to life in Catholic teaching.

Brokenness in Jesus' Genealogy

Four women appear in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus: Tamar (who played the prostitute), Rahab (an actual prostitute), Ruth (a foreign Moabite), and Bathsheba (involved in adultery with David).

Jesus' family tree demonstrates that 'God can write straight with crooked lines' - making something beautiful from broken circumstances.

"Nothing given to God is ever wasted" - Father Mike emphasizes that God can transform brokenness into beauty when we surrender to His lordship.

Job's Lament and Past Glory

Job recalls his former prosperity when 'princes refrained from talking' and 'when the ear heard, it called me blessed' due to his care for the poor and fatherless.

Job contrasts his past honor with present humiliation: 'now they make sport of me, men who are younger than I' and 'I have become their song.'

Despite his suffering, Job maintains his integrity: 'Did I not weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?'