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Genesis 38-40

1. Is there a double standard for men and women in the Bible? (Genesis 38:24)

Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” (Genesis 38:24).

Why didn't Judah get a dose of his own medicine? He was ready to burn Tamar over her harlotry. Why wasn't he burned? And later he would confess that his sin was worse than hers. But neither of them are burned, nor do they receive any semblance of just punishment for their sins. It does appear that since Judah was found to be a worse sinner than Tamar, rather than also condemning Judah as well, it absolved Tamar. This is an unusual kind of "justice," if it could be so called, and some might wonder whether there is a double standard in the Bible for men and women.

But consider this. Did God demand that Tamar be burned? Would we attribute sinful Judah's decree as a word from God? No. What is more, remember that Er and Onan were killed rather than Tamar. At least in God's sight, these men were more culpable than the woman Tamar. Where now is this double standard against women? It seems certainly true of Judah, who would not punish his own greater wrongdoing, though he seemed more than ready to punish Tamar.

Another thing that we must understand is that God does not always punish sin immediately, nor is every sin treated the same. If we properly understand sin and all evil as a departure from God, then we can make better sense of how God works. We read in Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So we understand sin as "falling short of God." I understand evil, likewise, as a departure from God, where God defines the epitome of good. This means that evil is not a separate entity, but something is more or less evil by virtue of its nearness or farness from God.

If this is true, then the thing that trumps every other moral consideration is the purposes of God. God will use both good and "evil" to accomplish His purposes. If we speak of double standards, it is not between men and women but between God and humanity. God is not subject to His laws for men, even as He is the Lawgiving Creator and we are His lawabiding creatures. Since He represents only good, nothing that He does can rightly be called evil, even when He orders the extermination of Canaanite babies, or sends a lying spirit to Ahab, or terribly afflicts righteous Job. And the best thing people can do is not to follow some universal and absolute moral decree, as if the Law of Moses represents such a decree, but rather seek to discern God's will and obey it. So we learn from Paul,

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Consider Solomon's concluding remarks with respect to the whole purpose of mankind:

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Notice in Solomon's counsel that obedience arises out of one's fear of God. The commandments are worthy of keeping by virtue of its being given by God. It is not the commands that bring every act, whether good or evil, to judgment, but God Himself. Thus, when we read the Bible, it reflects some of what God does and how we are to obey Him, but it can never be used to test God's character or actions. God is above His Word.

Now, back to the question of whether there is a double standard for men and women in the Bible. If there is, it is not shown by the passage before us today. However, because of God's order of things and separate priorities and punishments for men and women, some may think there is a double standard. We can look at these on a case by case basis as they come up in our readings.

Now, even if God has a double standard for men and women, would this cause any true believer to stop believing in God? Absolutely not! As I have argued, God is above the Law and certainly above our socially-accepted, politically-correct conceptions of right and wrong.