Onan was one of Judah’s three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. When Er died, Judah told Onan to marry Er’s widow, Tamar. This was part of an ancient custom called levirate marriage, which required a brother to take care of his deceased brother’s wife and have children in his brother’s name. It was a way to protect widows and continue the family line.

Onan agreed to marry Tamar, but he had no intention of giving her a child. He knew that if Tamar had a son, that child would inherit his brother’s portion of the family blessing. So, while he acted like he was obeying his father’s command, he made sure Tamar would not become pregnant. Onan wanted to look obedient while keeping the benefits for himself.

God saw Onan’s actions and knew his heart was filled with selfishness and deceit. His refusal to fulfill his duty showed disrespect toward his family and disobedience to God’s plan. Because of this, God punished Onan and took his life.

The story of Onan reminds us that outward obedience means nothing if our hearts are not sincere. God values integrity and honesty more than appearance. When we choose to obey God with a genuine heart, even when it costs us something, we honor Him and open the way for His blessings in our lives.