Genesis 38

Day 1

We ended Genesis 37, and now we are starting Genesis 38! In preparation for the lessons to come, let’s read all of Genesis 38 to your Tiny Arrows!


Day 2

After Joseph had been sold to a man in Egypt and Jacob, his father was mourning because he thought his son had died, Judah left. He went to stay with his friend from Adullam named Hirah. Today let’s read Genesis 38:1 and ask your Tiny Arrow which friend they like to visit the most! Then if you’re able, set up a play date with them, or let them call them!

At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. – Genesis 38:1 NIV


Day 3

When Judah was with his friend Hirah, he got married and had a baby named Er! Today let’s read Genesis 38:2-3 and color the coloring page, then draw a little boy next to Judah and his wife! Save this coloring page for the next two lessons!

There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. – Genesis 38:2-3 NIV


Day 4

Judah got married and had a son. Then he had another son named Onan! Today let’s read Genesis 38:4 and color a second boy next to the first one on our coloring page from the previous lesson!

She conceived again and gave birth to a son named Onan. – Genesis 38:4 NIV


Day 5

Judah had two sons and then he had one more named Shelah! Today let’s read Genesis 38:5 and draw a third son on our coloring page from the previous lessons!

She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him. – Genesis 38:5 NIV


Day 6

Judah now had three sons! Then he got a wife for his first son, and her name was Tamar! Er’s name means watcher and Tamar’s name means palm tree! Today let’s read Genesis 38:6 and either go outside and look at a palm tree or draw one. Explain that Er’s name meant watching and Tamar’s palm tree, just like they looked at a palm tree!

Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. – Genesis 38:6 NIV


Day 7

Even though Er was Judah son and Jacob’s grandson, he was wicked! So the Lord put him to death! Today let’s read Genesis 38:7 and Romans 38:7. Then explain to your Tiny Arrow that we should hate what is evil and wicked, and cling to what is good! You can also write down the verse and read it to them throughout the day so they can start to remember it!

But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. – Genesis 38:7 NIV

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. – Romans 12:9 NIV


Day 8

Judah’s son Er was dead, but he still had two more sons! So Judah asked his second son Onan to have children with Tamar instead! Remember that Tamar’s name means palm tree and Oman’s name means strong! Today let’s read Genesis 38:8 and draw a strong palm tree, or go and look at a palm tree and have your Tiny Arrow flex their muscles to represent Onan and Tamar!

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” – Genesis 38:8 NIV


Day 9

Onan did not obey his father by trying to have a child with Tamar! What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight, and he died too! Today let’s read Genesis 38:9-10 remind them of Romans 12:9 then ask them to count how many sons Judah had, and how many he has now! One!

But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also. – Genesis 38:9-10 NIV

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. – Romans 12:9 NIV


Day 10

Judah would not let Tamar marry his third son yet since he was too young, so he told her to live as a widow in her fathers house until Shelah grew up! But, Judah was worried that if Shelah married Tamar, he might die too! Today let’s read Genesis 38:11 and go over what Judah said to Tamar, and what he thought to himself. He told her to go home and live as a widow, and thought that Shelah might die if he marries Tamar. He is telling her one thing, but does not intend to do what he is telling her he will do. Explain that what he said and wanted to do did not match up. Then grab a coin and tell them that the coin is for them. Then say if you flip it and it lands heads up, they get to keep it, but if you flip it and it lands heads down, you get to keep it. After you flip the coin explain that the coin should be theirs no matter what, because that is what you originally said, it should not change. Just like Judah should keep his promise to Tamar. Then give your child the coin.

Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household. – Genesis 38:11 NIV


Day 11

Judah’s first two sons died, and then his wife died! After he recovered from grieving for his wife, he went to go sheer his sheep with his friend Hirah. Today let’s read Genesis 38:12 and Matthew 5:4. In Matthew it says that those mourn will be comforted. Encourage your Tiny Arrow the next time they see someone in their family or one of their friends to give them a hug!

After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah to Adullamite went with him. – Genesis 38:12 NIV

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4 NIV


Day 12

While Judah was on his way to go sheer his sheep, Tamar was told about it! So she wanted to go and see him so she took off her widows clothes and put on a veil and sat by a place he would walk by. Today let’s read Genesis 38:13-14 and tell your Tiny Arrow you are going to go to a certain room then have them sit at the entrance to that room. After you pass by, ask them if they saw you and tell them you saw them! Just like Tamar wanted to see Judah!

When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,” she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife. – Genesis 38:13-14 NIV


Day 13

When Judah saw Tamar he did not recognize her! Her face was covered so he could not see who it was! Today let’s read Genesis 38:15 and grab a thin cloth to represent a veil, or a mask. Then have your Tiny Arrow put it on and say that you do not recognize them!

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. – Genesis 38:15 NIV


Day 14

Judah wanted something from Tamar, so Tamar said they could have an exchange. Judah would get something from Tamar and Tamar would get a young goat from Judah’s flock! Today let’s read Genesis 38:16-17 and grab something that you and your Tiny Arrow can trade! Maybe it’s a snack or toy, but show them that Judah and Tamar wanted to trade!

Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “And what will you give me to sleep with you?” she asked. “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said. – Genesis 38:16-17 NIV


Day 15

Judah wanted to trade with Tamar, but he did not have his goat with him. So Tamar wanted something in return to make sure she would get what he promised. She wanted a pledge. Today let’s read Genesis 38:17-18 and color the coloring page. Save this for the next lesson too!

“Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked. He said, “What pledge should I give you?” – Genesis 38:17-18 NIV


Day 15

Judah wanted to trade with Tamar, but he didn’t have his goat with him, so Tamar said he needed to give her something in the mean time. She wanted his seal and its cord and the staff in his hand! Today let’s read Genesis 38:18 and find the seal, cord and staff on the coloring page from the previous lesson!

“Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. – Genesis 38:18 NIV


Day 16

Tamar left to go back home and took off her disguise. Her face had been hidden and she dressed in different clothes, but now when she was home she changed back into her old clothes! Today let’s read Genesis 38:19 and send your Tiny Arrow on a mission. Have them change clothes and or put on a veil or mask, then go do something. Then go back to their room and change back!

After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again. – Genesis 38:19 NIV


Day 17

Judah promised Tamar a young goat, but when his friend went to deliver it, she was not in the same place! Today let’s read Genesis 38:20 and grab something, like a snack for your Tiny Arrow to give to you. Have it placed in another room, and ask them to go and get it, and bring it back to you. Then, when they leave, go to another room. When they come to find you explain that Judah wanted to give Tamar what she asked for, but she wasn’t in the same place when his friend went to deliver it.

Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman; but he did not find her. – Genesis 38:20 NIV


Day 18

Judah’s friend asked the people around the area where Tamar had gone, but they didn’t know! They had not seen her before! Today let’s read Genesis 38:21-23 and talk to your Tiny Arrow about solving mysteries! Judah’s friend asked questions and most importantly asked where she had gone. Then give your Tiny Arrow a mystery to solve! This could be a misplaced toy or a misplaced snack. Have them ask you questions like where it might have gone so they can solve the mystery!

He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said. So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.” – Genesis 38:21-22 NIV


Day 19

We learned that Tamar and Judah traded, but the thing that Judah wanted to trade with never got to Tamar. Tamar was suppose to get a young goat, but she only got Judah’s staff, seal and cord. Instead of trying to find Tamar, Judah decided to let Tamar keep what she had and he would keep the goat. Today let’s read Genesis 38:23 grab two small items. Point to the first item and explain that Judah wanted to give Tamar one thing, but he didn’t have it with him when he wanted to trade so he gave her the second thing. Then point to the second thing and explain that Tamar never got the first thing, but she only kept the second.

Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she had, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.” – Genesis 38:23 NIV


Day 20

Three months after Judah had seen Tamar in disguise, Judah was told that she was going to have a baby! Judah was not happy! He wanted her punished! Today let’s read Genesis 38:24 and ask your Tiny Arrows what was the punishment Judah wanted for Tamar. He said he wanted her burned to death! Oh my!

About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” – Genesis 38:24 NIV


Day 21

Tamar was going to be punished because she was pregnant. Before she could be punished she wanted to tell her father-in-law Judah who the father of her baby was. She had someone bring him the seal and cord and staff and asked Judah if he recognized them. Today let’s read Genesis 38:25 and grab a few of your Tiny Arrows toys/things and ask them if they recognize who they belong to!

As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if your recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” – Genesis 38:25 NIV


Day 22

Tamar had asked Judah if he recognized the seal and cord and staff and he did! They were his! Judah was no longer mad at Tamar and was not going to punish her. Today let’s read Genesis 38:26 and color the coloring page.

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. – Genesis 38:26 NIV


Day 23

It was time for Tamar to give birth and she knew she was going to have twins! There were two boys! Today let’s read Genesis 38:27 and grab 4 small markers. Two that will represent girls and 2 that will represent boys! Show them the three possible combinations of twins that Tamar could have had using the markers. Two girls, and girl and a boy and two boys!

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. – Genesis 38:27 NIV


Day 24

Tamar had twin boys! When Tamar was giving birth the midwife was ready and had a scarlet thread to tie around the first baby so that they knew who came out first! The first baby put their hand out and the midwife tied the thread around their wrist! Today let’s read Genesis 38:28 and grab a piece of string and have your Tiny Arrow hide their arm under a blanket. Have them reach their hand out from under the blanket and tie a piece of string around their wrist! Just like the midwife did!

As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” – Genesis 38:28 NIV


Day 25

The first baby’s hand came out first and he had a piece of string around his wrist, but then he put his hand back inside and his brother came out! The midwife said that he broke out! Today let’s read Genesis 38:29 and grab blanket and string from yesterdays lesson. Repeat having your Tiny Arrow stick their hand out of the blanket and loosely tie string around their wrist, then have them pull their hand back in and, if needed, help them take the string out and pull back the blanket! Explain that the baby who came out first did not have the thread around their wrist! Just like they do not have it on them now!

But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” – Genesis 38:29 NIV


Day 26

The first baby was named Perez! Perez means breaking out! Today let’s read Genesis 38:29 and ask your Tiny Arrow why they named him Perez. Because even though his brother stuck his hand out first, his whole body came out first! Then demonstrate with the blanket! Have you Tiny Arrow under the cover then have him burst out from under it! He is breaking out!

And he was named Perez. – Genesis 38:29b NIV


Day 27

Perez came out first, then his brother, who had the scarlet cord, came out second! His name was Zerah! Zerah means scarlet or brightness! Today let’s read Genesis 38:30 and ask your Tiny Arrow if they could be named after a color, which color would they choose!

Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah. – Genesis 38:30 NIV


Day 28

Today let’s reread Genesis 38 and remember the activities and verses we learned!