Genesis 38:27-30 says, “27And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.” 

 

 

Judah, whose name means, “praise” or “celebration”, had a set of twins through Tamar. This birth was significant because of not only what took place, but what it prophesied! As the first son was coming out, a scarlet thread was placed around his hand. This was significant because he, being the firstborn, would receive the birthright blessing from his father, meaning that he would receive a double portion over any other brother ever born in that household. However, the other brother drew back his hand and came out, which is why his name was “Pharez”, meaning “the breaking forth”. “Zarah”, whose name means, “a rising of light” (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions), would be the one with the scarlet thread. Here are two important points to make in regards to the scarlet thread:

 

1) Rahab, who was a prostitute, hid the spies from Israel in faith in Jericho, and, as a result, she was spared when destruction came. She placed a scarlet thread in the window seal so the children of Israel knew to rescue her and her family (Joshua 2; 6:17-27). 

 

2) On the Day of Atonement, Jewish tradition states that when the high priest would pray the sins of the nation into a scapegoat, they would send the goat into the wilderness. The priesthood would hang a scarlet threading the doorway of the temple, and they knew their sins had been forgiven and the scapegoat had died when the scarlet thread turned white, which gives reference to the scripture, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18; Leviticus 16). 

 

In both examples, you see the redemptive purposes portrayed in the symbolism of scarlet thread, from saving Rahab and her family, who would actually be mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5), to the sins of Israel being forgiven and cast as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). With the birth of this set of twins, you see Pharez actually coming before Zarah. The setup for this is praise. Our praise will always give birth to a breakthrough! There may be birth pangs along the journey, but by resisting complaining and speaking death, we praise God for His provision and the fulfillment of His promises, and our praise paves the way for the spirit of a breaker to be released!

 

In a similar sense, it is why John the Baptist came before Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He was to prepare the way of the LORD! (Matthew 3:3) It takes a “John the Baptist” generation to pave the way for a Jesus movement in the earth, where people can encounter the miraculous love and power of God in a new and profound way! We must possess the “spirit of a breaker” if we want “a light to rise” in the earth, making Christ’s name famous among the nations. It is time we pray, seek the LORD and operate in the spirit of a breaker! This means accepting and operating in our divine assignment and the gifts and anointing He has given to us to bring Jesus to people, which can include giving to others, praying for the sick, developing relationships with those who need the love of God and witnessing to those who are lost without God. The world needs us, and it is time we break through!