Reading the first pages of the New Testament, you encounter the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Many people skim over these names. Yet, the Spirit of God purposely included five women in this list of 39 men. The fifth one is Mary, the mother of Jesus. But who were the other four?
Tamar – She was the daughter-in-law of Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. When Tamar’s husband died, Jewish custom provided that another son of Judah was to marry her so that the family name would not be extinguished. Realizing that Judah was not going to let his youngest son marry her, she disguised herself and sat where she knew Judah would pass by on his way to conduct business. Thinking she was a prostitute, Judah propositioned her. She became pregnant and bore the son, Perez.
Rahab – She was a citizen of Jericho, the first enemy city the children of Israel encountered upon entering the Promised Land. Joshua sent a couple of men to spy out the city. Entering her house, she hid them from the authorities. She also told them, “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.” (Joshua 2:9). Whenever Rahab is mentioned in the Bible, she is referred to as a prostitute. Yet, when Jericho fell, Rahab was rewarded for hiding the spies. Later she married a Jewish man and bore him Boaz.
Ruth – After her Jewish husband died in the land of Moab, Ruth accompanied her aging mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. Everyone who met her was impressed with her character and how she left her homeland to take care of Naomi. She married Boaz, Rahab’s son, and became the great grandmother of King David, thus a major player in the lineage of Jesus.
Bathsheba – This wife of one of King David’s elite soldiers became famous because she committed adultery with David. When the king became aware of her pregnancy, he attempted to cover it up, leading to the murder of her husband. The son born out of the adulterous affair died in infancy. Later, David married her, and their next son was Solomon.
There are important lessons these women teach us:
Lesson #1. Though all the women except Ruth committed sexual immorality, they are examples of God’s ability to forgive and weave the sins of our past into good things in our futures. So, whatever mistakes, or sins, or trauma is in your past, God is able to bring something good out of it. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
Lesson #2. Being Gentiles, both Rahab and Ruth were outside the covenantal blessings of Israel. Normally, they would have been disqualified to be listed here. But because of who they married, they were grafted in. True with us also, because we have received Jesus Christ (in effect, married Him), we are now heirs of God. “And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:6).
Jesus did not die only for the sins of Jews, but for all people. “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” (1 John 2:1–2)
So, whoever you are, male or female, and whatever your past, Jesus came for you. If you’ve received the Lord, rejoice that your name is written in Heaven. If you haven’t yet received Him, I encourage you to take His offer of forgiveness and eternal life.
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