6/4/26

Genesis 38:29 NASB95 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez.

God has always planned for everyone to have the opportunity of salvation even though the Jews always felt it was just for them. I love how God reveals this through hidden gems in the Old Testament.

Judah a son of Jacob had sinned. He had broken his promise to give his youngest son to his daughter-in-law after his two other sons had died. Then he had relations with his daughter-in-law, as she tricked him into thinking she was a prostitute. She became pregnant with twins and was about to give birth. Now the firstborn always had birthrights and as she was giving birth one of the two babies (Zerah) stuck his hand out. The midwife tied a scarlet thread around his wrist to declare this is the first. However, he did not succeed at being the first, because he pulled his hand back in.

This is an illustration of the Jews who would be given the law but could not fulfill their birthright because of sin. Yet they would still have a part in the birthright because of the scarlet thread which represented the work of Jesus.

Then out came Perez. He represents the Gentiles who did not previously have the law but received the birthright of salvation solely through Jesus. Perez would be a direct ancestor in the lineage of Jesus. It would be through the line of Perez that Jesus would come. The word Perez means breach. We know from Ezekiel that God was looking for someone to stand in the breach. This was planned to be Jesus through Perez. Ezekiel 22:30 NASB95 “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

The word gap in this verse is the exact Hebrew word, Perez. Jesus would fill the gap so the Gentiles and the Jews could have salvation.

We see that God had this planned and wanted it to be revealed to the Jews through Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew, which was written to the Jews, is the only lineage of Jesus which mentions both Perez and Zerah. Matthew 1:3 NASB95 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

The other Gospels did not need to mention Zerah because he was not a direct ancestor through Jesus. However, the Jews could see through this that the gap between the Gentiles and God would be filled by the Messiah which Jesus is.

It should give you a feeling of blessing to know that God always had a plan to make sure you have the opportunity to be saved through the one who bridged the gap (Jesus).

This gem from the Old Testament is priceless and I am thankful for the Scarlett thread provided for the Jews and the one who was the bridge gap for me. (Jesus)

Please remember and accept the priceless gift of eternal life through Jesus the Christ my Lord and Savior!

Romans 6:23 NASB95 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love Bro. Scott