Even His genealogy pours forth transforming riches that will bring wonder to your soul. I am going to pose several questions over the next few days on this blog — because I’ve got amazing participants who ponder, who seek God, and who share articulately. How thankful I am for this body of believers on my blog!
To lead you into the first question, Christ’s genealogy is a great reversal. In days past, a person’s genealogy was his resume. Even my own father, who was born in 1913, was asked to turn in his genealogy when he applied for a job as the assistant to the President of the West Bend Company. They wanted to know what kind of people his parents and his grandparents and even his great grandparents were. (And the other amazing thing is that he was told that if he were to accept the job, he had to make a lifetime commitment because he would be groomed to be president. He was offered the job and did make a lifetime commitment!) A person’s genealogy was his resume. Therefore if you descended from moral people, maybe even heroic people — your chances of success were hopeful. Hence came the phrase, “He comes from good stock.”
From whom was Jesus descended? In His list is women (who were not considered equals by people in biblical days). Listing women in your genealogy? Oh my! (But hurrah for you and me!) We’re going to look at the first three women listed in Matthew. First, you will see a negative, that is really a positive for us — but then, a breath-taking characteristic of these three noble women.
We’ll deal with that amazing positive in the next few days. But first, let’s start with the negative. Here is the first three-part question:
A. Who were the first three women listed in Matthew?
B. Why might each be looked at negatively in the culture of that day? (And perhaps today as well!)
C. What significance is there in this for you and me?
10 comments
First of all I see Tamar, then Rahab, and then Ruth. Tamar was a victim of incest, raped by her brother. We all know the negative connotations in that, even though she was the victim. Rahab was a prostitute, and Ruth, a Moabite. All of these women seem unlikely candidates for the lineage of Jesus. I am so thankful that God looks at us with eyes of compassion and love and sees the potential. So often I make assumptions on first appearances. This is something that I don’t like in myself, and the Lord is doing a work there. I Cor. 1:26-31 says it beautifully, ” Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'”
That is the significance to me – to God I am beautiful and I am accepted in the Beloved. Because of Him, not me. Praise Him.
Thanks, Dee, for provoking our thoughts. I love your insight.
Blessings,
Deidra
Beautiful Deirdra! We are accepted in the Beloved. No matter our past, no matter how society views us — we are loved. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome!Deidra, thanks! I come from a Jewish, and raised Jewish, so when I see all these Jewish symbolisms here, I get excited.(My mother and oldest brother lives in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, respectively.)
Moabites were always in conflict with the Israelites (sounds like me 🙂
I was a victim of incest and rape by both men and women, and now I am a noble woman because I am adopted by the Beloved Messiah and King of kings! My past was washed clean and now I am a new creation, presented as a pure living sacrifice to our Lord and Saviour.
Livingloved — your testimony makes it so real and relevant. Thank you! You are a princess. Psalm 45 says you are beautiful, robed in a splendid wedding gown to be presented to the King!
Thank you, Dee, very much! How beautiful the image I see and thought of your mother in her gorgeous dress. What an amazing Psalm, thank you. I just read it now, what seems like the first time. I love it! Hugs!
Yeah, God is the real thing, better than coke 🙂 He has redeemed me, as Remi said and others here, and all over the world, and He will continue to ….
Jesus’ genealogy speaks and is active profoundly then and now. I pray we press in to hear and act out God’s heart for this generation and that which is coming and after.
Tamar was a desperate widow. With no children she would have been homeless and without support. That is why the law required the next brother to bed his brother’s widow and give her children to carry on the deceased’s name and care for their mother. When Judah had lost two sons to Tamar, he was afraid to risk his youngest son and refused to allow the youngest to bed this woman. She knew this was wrong and had to become creative in order to survive. So she tricked her father-in-law into bedding her by pretending to be the local prostitute. When accused of prostitution she defended herself by “throwing the law” into her father-in-law’s face. We would look down on prostitution and on deceitful women.
Rahab, a prostitute, took in and hid the Hebrew spies, helping them escape and eventually capture the city and claim the Promised Land. We would look down on prostitution and on traitors.
Ruth loved her mother-in-law!!
All three of these women were Gentiles. None were marked as Chosen Ones yet all three were used to further the story of God’s Love being born into our world for our salvation.
If Tamar and Rahab can make the list, so can we! Who knows what God has in store for us and how our lives may effect the future? Certainly none of these women had any clue that what they did would be discussed all these years later, or be found important. Nothing we do cannot be undone by God.
Janet — I so appreciate your biblical knowledge and that you are sharing on this blog.
What a statement Janet H.! – “Nothing we do cannot be undone by God.” When I first read that, I wasn’t sure I agreed with it. But as I thought about it, I thought no, that’s right. God doesn’t “undo” the things that we have done – but He can redeem it! Thank you for that thought!
I love that too Remi. Tolkien makes a similar statement that causes me to pause and then rejoice in the close of The Lord of the Rings when Sam asks, “You mean everything sad will be untrue?” Mysterious — but it has the ring of truth.
I’m going to need each of you and some silent readers too for the next post. It’s very challenging!