I’d like to remind you to check out my review of Glynn Young’s 5 series fiction books on Michael Kent-Hughes that begins with Dancing Priest and concludes with Dancing Prince. Along the way you will find a fantastic adventure unfold before you. You can see my review on my other site, Cycleguy’s Spin.
Now back to my regularly scheduled post: 🙂
My devotion yesterday touched on the lineage of Jesus, specifically through focusing on Tamar, the first woman mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy in chapter 1. This devotion will touch on the next three women mentioned. The second woman mentioned is Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute living in the city of Jericho who hid the two spies from the authorities when they came looking for them. When they were able to leave, Rahab only asked for one thing: when the people of Israel came to destroy Jericho, spare her life and her family’s. They agreed to do so but only if the scarlet cord was hanging from the window when they came. You can read the full story in Joshua 2 and 6.
The third woman mentioned is Ruth. Her story is told in the book by that name. Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, lost her husband and then both of her sons. Her sons were married to two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. In her grief, Naomi decided to go back home and gave Orpah and Ruth the option of staying there or going with her. Ruth chose to go. She met and eventually married Boaz. They became the great-grandparents to David (Boaz/Ruth -> Obed -> Jesse -> David). Ruth was a Gentile and a Moabitess (one of the most hated people groups as far as the people of Israel were concerned).
The fourth woman is “the wife of Uriah.” We know her as Bathsheba. An adulteress. Her “lover,” David, also became a murderer when he had Uriah killed. (The story of David and Bathsheba is well known).
To recap:
- Tamar- a Gentile and a deceiver
- Rahab- a Gentile and a harlot
- Ruth- A Gentile and a Moabitess
- Bathsheba- an adulteress
Great family tree! Today’s culture would say, “That dude doesn’t stand a chance. He is a product of his environment.” Except for one truth: the God-factor. Only God could take something so messy, so gnarly, and make something so beautiful like He did. His marvelous GRACE is on full display in the genealogy of His Son, Jesus.
How can we live without the gift of God’s grace? This family tree shows us clearly that none of us is beyond God’s redeeming.
Blessings, Bill!
And THAT is what I want us all to see Martha.
What a God we serve, God is the only one who can take a life full of mistakes, full of regrets, and use those to further His kingdom. God is the only one, who doesn’t look at us as hopeless, God sees us for who we can become, not who we are. Amen
I will and can say a big AMEN to that Gail!
Nobody is unreedeamable!
How do i say this? Hmmmm AMEN!!
I often wonder how to know if the genealogy is Mary’s or Joseph’s. Of the two – one in Matthew and one in Luke – I have heard that one of them is Mary’s and one is Joseph’s. I would think that the main purpose for listing Joseph’s would maybe be to show that God didn’t choose a man with a sanctimoniously perfect lineage to rear and raise His Son, and that of all the men in the world He could have picked to be Jesus’ earthly father and mentor, He picked Joseph. It would be so interesting to know for sure which genealogy is actually Mary’s since that would certainly show Jesus’ earthly, human ancestry. Interesting stuff, Pastor Bill!
I know I’ve heard it explained but I will have to refresh myself. Maybe I can answer that then. 🙂