Genesis 38: Tamar the Canaanite Becomes an Ancestor of Christ
There is a side story here that has nothing directly to do with Joseph but which is very important nontheless. Judah, a son of Jacob, had three sons. The first two were wicked in God’s eyes and He killed them. The wife of the first son, Tamar, was a good woman that wanted a child so she conspired to disguise herself as a prostitute and have sex with Judah, who’s wife had died. She was clever though and kept some of Judah’s personal possessions as proof they had sex. When it was determined she was pregnant, Judah wanted to have her burned alive but when she produced his possessions, he had to admit his wrong doing and that the child and heir was his. Tamar had twins, one of which would continue the blood-line to Christ.
The lineage of Jesus Christ has some non-Jews mixed within. But they were all believers or converts. This seems to be a desirable characteristic that God makes use of throughout the history of Jews and Christians alike: it is not the lineage, or law, or words that He desires – it is the heart. Father, I know my behavior is despicable sometimes, but my heart will always be Yours.