In Chapter 38, Judah has 3 sons and promises Tamar marriage to his eldest son who is struck dead by God because he's so evil. The 2nd son in line is the next runner up but lies, disobeys and deceives. He too is taken out by God. Judah gets some cold feet and thinks she's bad luck so he sends her back home with the promise that he'll send for her when his youngest son is old enough. He had no intention of keeping that promise. She realizes this and tricks him into impregnating her by posing as a prostitute. These are the kinds of choices that affect your soul as well as your identity. He finds out she's pregnant and calls for her to be killed until he finds out he's the father and is busted. He is humbled. She has twins and the first fist out receives a scarlet thread. Scarlet throughout the Bible is the thread of redemption - the redemption of Jesus when He sacrifices Himself on the cross to redeem us all. Perez and Zerah are born. Perez means to break through and Zerah means risen. Jesus rose from the grave and broke through all our sins for us.
