It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her,
-Gen 38:1-2 ESV

Warrior;

Romans 15:4 reminds of the Power and Mystery of the Bible; For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Genesis 38 seems out of place, like it is an interruption- a very significant one. In chapter 37 our attention was focused upon Joseph, who was cruelly sold into slavery. In chapter 39, we are back on Joseph, this time in the house of Potiphar. Chapter 38 seems to abruptly interrupt the flow of thought.

Leader, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (1 Tim 3:16) This chapter is absolutely essential- like all the WORDs in the Bible-It occurs by design. While chapter 37 has explained how Joseph (and so the entire nation of Israel) wound up in Egypt rather than Canaan, chapter 38 tells us why this Egyptian sojourn was necessary. It provides a backdrop against which the purity of Joseph in chapter 39 stands out the more plainly.

Conduit, Chapters 39 and following describe the price which Joseph had to pay for the sins of his brothers. Chapter 38 suggests some of the consequences of the sin of Joseph’s sale which Judah suffered. This chapter is here because of its applicability to God’s people today. The very forces which were active in Judah’s day are at work today. The dangers described in chapter 38 which threatened the very ongoing of God’s purposes for Israel are those which threaten to hinder the program of God through His church in our own day. And the same God who providentially overruled the sins of men to bring about the fulfillment of His purposes then is ALIVE, and unchanging this very hour. Joseph was a precursor for THE ONE who would redeem us all; JESUS! Jesus came from the tribe of Judah- this is our tribe also!