I have told you we were going to preach through the story of Joseph, right through from beginning to end. Genesis 37 to Genesis 50. Those of you who may have been following along in your Bibles know that I lied. We had a sermon on Genesis 37 (Joseph's coat and his dream) and then a sermon on Joseph in Egypt beginning with Genesis 39. What happened to Genesis 38?

I have never preached on Genesis 38. To my knowledge, after a thorough search in the library, no one has ever preached on Genesis 38. Get ready. You were there.

[Read Genesis 38:1-27]

Of this text, Walter Bruggemann has said, ''This peculiar chapter stands alone, without connection to its context ... isolated, ... most enigmatic....It is not evident that it provides any significant theological resource. It is difficult to know i…