Do What is Right

"Then Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.' Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother. But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He took his life also." -Genesis 38.8-10

We come to Judah's second son, Onan. He gets a little more face time in scripture, but still we know very little about him. But what we do know has valuable lessons to teach us.

We have a duty to perform. In the Middle East during this time if a man died with no children his brother would take his wife and have children for his brother. It was the brother's duty to give children to the wife. And Onan, knowing that they would not be his children wastes his seed so that no children will be born. This act is displeasing to God. Onan knew what he was supposed to do and yet doesn't do it. And so God takes his life too.

In my Bible after this verse I have a note written that says "James 4.17", that verse says this, "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." Romans 6.23a tells us "The wages of sin is death". When we know the right thing to do, and we refuse to do it, we sin. And sin results in death. This death could be physical, gradual, or eternal, as we looked at yesterday, but it all results in death.

Men, when we are presented with a choice, let us choose to do the right thing. Onan didn't and it cost him his life. When we choose to do what is wrong, or even simply not to act, the Bible says we sin. May we always choose to do what is right, it will be pleasing to God, and bring us life.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor