Not Exemplary

So I taught high school age youth for 40 years.
First as a Bible teacher on Sundays and evening studies, then also as a Geology teacher.

Anytime I taught under a new venue, there was always the same command:
No Song of Solomon
No Eden discussions
No Genesis 38

Well easy enough.
I am not comfortable with those subject matters as it is.
Just ask my adopted son!

And really, if you want to see the fall of man, look no further than the newspapers.
Pick the male, find no exemplary examples of manhood.
Does not matter if you are Prince Harry, Arnold Schwarzeneggar or Albert Einstein ....
No one on this list, that is for sure!
Exemplary men are few to be found, especially in the Bible!

So, I was reading Genesis 38 on Saturday, and thinking: "Judah really sucks!"
Two of his sons were so evil that God flat took them out!
But, Judah was no better than his sons ... it appears ... and yet God gave him another chance.
A trial by his daughter-in-law, Tamar!

And God humbled him in front of his neighbors, his friends, his family, extended family, etc.
A complete and total humiliation!
Unlike my examples; whom blew off their failures, Judah, chose to change!

No, you would have to read elsewhere to know this, but he did.
And as Jacob lay dying, he choose Judah as the next in line ...
He had seen the change.
He SAW that his son Judah had chosen to take corrective action of his error.

You are left wondering why God killed Judah's two sons, yet left him alive.
Perhaps his sons failures were seen as non-redeemable?
Yet, Judah, was?

Hmmmmm, and though mind has now only recovered memories through age 18, currently, I can say that I am not impressed with what little I know of myself!
Could Judah have been any worse than I?
Or you?
Has God given us another chance?
Have you taken the opportunity?
Changed direction or corrective action?

Yeah.
Hard, but it can be done ...
Judah proved the point.