But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.
— Genesis 38:7

In the book of Genesis there are three interesting cases where God seemingly condemned and destroyed people, even though the law had not yet been given. That people die by the law is understandable, since the letter kills [2 Cor.3:6], but why did the flood happen, why were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed, and why did the brothers Er and Onan die? If some kind of reason can be found for the first two cases, with Er nothing makes sense at all, since he seemingly did nothing bad. The situation actually becomes clear when we see that all these cases have something in common. “What in common?” someone may ask. “Were Er and Onan also of a non-traditional orientation?” Perhaps they did differ from normal people in appearance and behaviour: at the time of the flood there lived giants [the children of fallen angels], in Sodom “merry fellows”, or lawless men, and as for Er and Onan, it isn’t even clear what they were like, but that isn’t the point. Scripture says: “for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” [1 Sam.16:7]

The first [Gen.6:5], the second [Gen.19:7,9] and the third [Gen.38:7,10] had an evil heart, and so they did evil. [Luk.6:45] But what does “evil” mean? The notion of evil is often vague — something bad or sinful. Paul writes to the Hebrews: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” [Heb.3:12] In the Greek original the word evil is ponēros, which comes from the word ponos. Ponos literally means strenuous labour, exhausting work, torment and pain. So it turns out that in God’s eyes evil is exhausting, tormenting labour, or unrest. Two verses earlier it says: “Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Why was God angry with the Hebrews in the wilderness? Because they did not know His ways, that is, His rest, and so they were in constant struggle and works, or unbelief. The Word of God calls them “the generation of the men of war” [Deu.2:14-16]. Even Moses, though he knew God’s ways, fell into works when he struck the rock twice, and so he did not reach the promised land.

Coming back to Er, I want to say that the key to understanding lies in his name. In Hebrew, Er means watchful, alert, keeping an eye on everything and everyone, or controlling everything possible. Judging by his name, Er was also a man of war, or of constant struggle, like Esau, of whom it is said: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” [Rom.9:13] This doesn’t mean that God hates certain people. God is light, and light destroys darkness. [1 Jhn.1:5] The Lord is also peace and rest [Jehovah-Shalom], and rest “destroys” strenuous labour. That is why Paul warns the Hebrews: “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” [Heb.4:1] When we believed in Jesus, we already received rest into our hearts. Now all that remains is to abide in rest in our minds and not to try to achieve everything by our own strength, but to rely on the Lord in everything. The word of our Lord still sounds today: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” [Mat.11:28-29]

Welcome to the promised land, the land of rest, flowing with milk and honey, where everything is given without effort, because His grace gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness.