How can we trust God's plan when faced with life's unexpected turns? The Surprise at Perez’s Birth Genesis 38:29 records: “But as he drew back his hand, suddenly his brother came out, and she said, ‘What a breach you have made for yourself!’ So he was named Perez.” • A midwife ties a scarlet thread to Zerah’s hand, expecting him to be firstborn, yet Perez “breaks out” instead. • No human plan—Judah’s sin, Tamar’s disguise, or the midwife’s thread—could override the divine design that Perez would carry the messianic line. • The scene reminds us that the Lord is never surprised, even when we are. Seeing God’s Hand in Life’s Detours • Isaiah 55:8-9 declares His ways higher than ours; the abrupt entrance of Perez illustrates that truth. • Romans 8:28 assures us God “works all things together for the good of those who love Him” —even tangled family scandals. • Genesis 50:20 echoes the lesson: what humans intend for wrong, God redirects for good. Perez in the Bigger Story • Ruth 4:18 and Matthew 1:3 trace Perez directly to David and, ultimately, to Jesus. • Through an “unexpected turn,” God preserved the promise first spoken in Genesis 3:15 and reiterated to Abraham. Why We Can Trust the Plan 1. God sees the whole tapestry while we see single threads. Jeremiah 29:11: “plans to prosper you… to give you a future and a hope.” 2. He never wastes suffering. James 1:2-3 points out trials develop endurance, shaping us for future usefulness. 3. He guides each step. Proverbs 3:5-6 urges wholehearted trust; Psalm 37:23-24 reassures that even our stumbles are under His grip. Practical Ways to Rest in His Sovereignty • Review past “Perez moments” in your life where God surprised you with better outcomes than you expected. • Stay rooted in Scripture; daily exposure to His proven faithfulness builds present-moment confidence. • Replace “Why me?” with “What now, Lord?”—a shift from despair to expectation. • Lean into community; the genealogy shows God writing His story through families and generations, not isolated individuals. • Maintain obedience in small choices; Tamar’s twins arrived amid messy circumstances, yet faithfulness within disorder still advanced God’s purpose. Encouragement for Today When life veers off script, remember the baby who “broke out” ahead of schedule. The God who orchestrated Perez’s unexpected debut is equally capable of turning your detours into direct routes toward His promised good. |
    |