In this video listen to Genesis 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Genesis 38 there seems to be an interruption to the Joseph story, but it is placed here for a reason. It is going to starkly compare Joseph’s righteous behaviour to follow, with the unrighteous things going on by his family left behind. Joseph still had much to learn, but he had the grace of God, and was righteous in his heart.

It's hard enough to be righteous when you know you should and you have good examples around you, but try to be righteous where there is nothing to demonstrate it, and the ten commandments don’t yet exist. This is the difference between Judah and Joseph.

The chapter then outlines the sin of Onan, who is supposed to produce a family line for his brother as a moral obligation, but deliberately doesn't’. When ha ...