At the time of writing it I had been blocked in my OT Exegetical Studies of this final passage from Genesis Chapter 38 for more than a week. Then on the Sunday morning the Lord lovingly led me through several perpetual 33s to the following verse as my own Pastor served us with a message from Luke 3: “the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,” – Luke 3:33 (NIV) (from the genealogy of our Lord Jesus the Christ) and I knew that the time had arrived for me to return to this passage; the recounting of the birth of that very same “Perez, the son of Judah”.

 Part 01

“When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, (notice how the very man who is condemning her is also the only man who can set her free; despite having Truth on her side Tamar must have an unwavering Faith in the Lord that that Truth will prevail : she is wholly dependent upon the integrity with which Judah will respond, and consequently the boldness with which she sends for him speaks of Perfect Trust in God. We can deduce that she is aware that he commanded she be burned, for the one to whom Judah made this proclamation is the same individual who brought her out, and even if he did not communicate the reason for her being brought out explicitly, it would have been evident by his demeanour for what purpose she is being summoned, that she may tremble) saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are —the signet and cord, and staff.” (Notice how Tamar didn’t need to say anything else, she made no desperate attempts at saving her life with fearful protestation or emotional exclamations, neither did she resort to pleading or manipulation. She stated only the most simple facts, therein confirming that she understands in Perfect Faith that the battle is her Lord’s and it is by His hand alone that the Truth will be made clear if He so chooses, her life wholly laid down in His hands. We recognise a similar theme in the apocryphal account of ‘Susannah and the Elders’ in the Book of Daniel.) So Judah acknowledged them and said, “SHE HAS BEEN MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” (Not only did Judah speak the objective Truth and Tamar’s life was spared, but he went beyond that and in his humility professed that he is wholly the one at fault here, in perfect repentance honouring dear Tamar beautifully and fully restoring her reputation – what a glorious testimony to the Good, Good God that she serves! This also serves in reassuring us as the reader that Tamar’s plan was not a foolish or ill-advised strategy concocted in own strength, but actively Spirit-led and beautifully used by the Lord to strengthen her own Faith, purify Judah through his disobedience & repentance, secure the perfect hereditary line for our King Jesus – despite the enemy’s best attempts at thwarting it – and as always, to make all things work together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Much is also revealed here concerning Judah’s character – despite his promiscuous inclinations and neglect of his promise & initial failure of Tamar, we see here a man greatly evolved since the days of his youth where he was all too willing to conspire with his brothers in bitter envy and hatred against Joseph, and despite some protestation at the final moments, ultimately turning his back on Joseph in his hour of great need. He has clearly allowed that event to purify him; deeply unsettled by his father’s grief and his sin against God. We see the purifying work that the Lord has done in him by the overt Fear of God and consequent wisdom he displays now : initially he, albeit misguidedly and somewhat hypocritically, seeks to honour God’s law in keeping his Chosen People free from the corrupting influence of sin by condemning Tamar to death, he then, upon realising the error of his ways, is very quick to confess, repent, humble himself and defend the Truth publicly and reverently for the Lord’s sake.) And he never knew her again. (Their relationship is now one of perpetual honour; never will Judah allow for Tamar to be judged as a harlot ever again.) 

Part 02

“Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. (The age-old Jacob-Esau battle is once again waged as the next generation unknowingly but instinctively vies for the privilege to influence the line of King Jesus 😃.) And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread (it is no accident of course that the only thread nearby at this critical moment is scarlet; the significance of the colour of the thread pointing directly to our suffering King and the perfect atonement for sin for God’s Chosen People through His blood) and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” (Despite the fact that being the first-born son carries much weight in its implications for that particular family’s life in their Jewish culture whilst they themselves dwell in the earth, in a more ultimate sense, as I’ve mentioned before, this war to secure such a privileged position in an eternal sense, in terms of God’s ultimate plan, is a far greater one. Even the mid-wife unknowingly, but instinctively, senses its importance.) Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” (Oh the perfectly, perfectly sovereign breakthrough of the Lord! However intensely the war is fought amongst man, enemy and angel armies, God’s Will Be Done. Even the mid-wife stands amazed as this miracle unfolds before her very eyes and cannot help but marvel, despite not fully realising the extent to which God is truly at work here.) Therefore his name was called Perez (“Breach” or “Breakthrough“). (And dear friends, I implore you to mark this moment with me as I stand on the brink of what will possibly be the greatest breakthrough of my own life as I remember this moment this very day, the 22nd of November, that ‘Breakthrough’ was born 😃.)  Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah (Zerah can mean scarlet or brightness).”

“²⁵When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are – the signet and cord, and staff.”

²⁶So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

²⁷Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. ²⁸And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” ²⁹Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was Perez. ³⁰Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.”

– Genesis 38:25-30 (NKJV)