Bringing Forth Christ – Part 6 – Pharez

In this series it is not my intention to comment on every single name in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew, for one thing some have nothing more known of them but their name. I intend at least at present to skip at least some of the kings, though I may comment on some of them when we get there. Pharez does not have much said of him, but the circumstances of his birth were interesting. Enough so that Matthew mentions him and Zarah together to bring that to mind in his readership.
It is noted by John Wesley and others that the difficult of the birth of these twins may well have been a punishment upon the mother for her actions. This is quite possible. Only in eternity will we be able to comprehend how much God has restrained man from sin, and also how much He in love has retrained man in sin.
The birth of Pharez also reminds us that it is not of him that wills or him that runs, but of God who shows mercy. Not everyone that puts forth the hand so to speak, and begins to run in this life actually makes it. God delights in taking the underdog, and elevating him. Not many noble, wise or mighty are called by God, but God delights in calling the weak and foolish and using them to overcome (1 Cor.1:24-29). When the ones whom God has worked in and formed the character of His Son in are seen in eternity, we will see formerly fallen, now redeemed men. Many whom we would be very shocked at seeing there, so much so we could well exclaim with the midwife, “How did you break through!” How indeed.