Genesis 38:6-7

 I was fascinated when I read the following two verses: "Judah got a wife named Tamar, for his first-born Er. But Er, Judah's first-born, greatly offended the Lord, so the Lord took his life."

What could Er, half-Canaanite and half-Hebrew, think, say, or do to so offend God that the Lord executed him on the spot. Would such a punished soul end up in Hell? Apparently, there are offenses against Yahweh or any deity so egregious that immediate execution is required and forthcoming. What is such a sin and how one could avoid committing this ultimate offense is not explained, but the Lord sends a message that He is to be feared, and can be a god of wrath, judge, jury, and executioner right now.

More typically, the wicked are punished slowly over the years in this world and in the next by God, not in such a patent, dramatic punishment that took Er out so suddenly and finally.

Again, I am impressed with the sense of immediacy between humans living on earth and their direct, almost physical contact with Yahweh.

Yahweh, or God the Father and God the Mother, seem much more remote today, and we do not easily, openly walk the earth openly, daily, conversing with them.

What would it take to return to that desirable state? Perhaps, three things. First, we would need to be living angels as a people. Second, we would have to wrest control of the Earth from the grip of controlling children of darkness and, as united, fighting, victorious children of light, give it back to the Divine Couple to rule.

Third, our faith is weak, partial and sputtering. If we really believed in God and talked to God, we would see and talk to God everyday, transcendent and universal, yet up close and personal, another wonderful divine paradox.

Let me quote these same verses from the Holy Bible (KJV): "And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar. And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him."

Now being the first-born son was special for Hebrews as he got the share of his father's inheritance and likely God's special blessing. Well, if Er was especially, blatantly wicked right to God's face, and setting such a horrible example as the first-born, then the Lord had no choice but to slay him immediately to send the message that such insolence and rebellion would not be countenanced for a second. Also, whatever Er was into, if not stopped immediately, would spread like wildfire through out the chosen people, and that Yahweh would not allow.