Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
Have you noticed how sometimes God does the unexpected?
When we read Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, five women are listed in the group. Why are these women listed? None of them would have been accepted by the religious leaders for various reasons, but our Heavenly Father chose them to be in the ancestral lineage of His Son.
Tamar - She probably was a Gentile… not an Israelite. She married the two older sons of Judah, who were each described as wicked (Ge 38:7,10). Tamar pretended to be a prostitute when she realized Judah was not going to allow her to marry the third son. One of the twins she bore from the encounter with Judah became an ancestor of Jesus.
Rahab - She was a Canaanite, a resident of Jericho, described as a prostitute or harlot. When the spies entered her city, she gave them refuge. Then, she told them that she knew what their God had done in Egypt and through the years, and asked for protection when they came to conquer Jericho (Jos 2:8-13). Rahab is mentioned as having faith in Hebrews 11. She and her family were saved during the destruction of Jericho because she gave a friendly welcome to the spies. She married Salmon, an Israelite, and was the great-great-grandmother of King David.
Ruth - She was from the land of Moab. Deuteronomy 23 prohibits marriage with Moabite men, because they had not welcomed the Israelites as they were passing through the land on their way to the Promised Land. Ruth had accepted the faith of Naomi and become a follower of YHWH (Ru 1:16). She returned with Naomi to Bethlehem and cared for her. Ruth married Boaz, son of Rahab, and she was the great-grandmother of King David.
Bathsheba - She was an Israelite married to Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s mighty men. King David took Bathsheba into his private chamber while Uriah was away at war, and she became pregnant with David’s child (2Sa 11). Was she a willing participant, or did she resist? Scripture does not say. She would probably have been bathing in an enclosed courtyard with an open roof when David saw her. Only someone who was at a higher elevation could have seen her. I believe it is fair to say David took advantage of a situation he accidentally encountered, and because of his power as king and the status of women, she probably could not resist. When David arranged the death of Uriah, he took Bathsheba as his wife. She gave him four sons after the first one died. Nathan was the third son of the four who lived and was in the lineage of Jesus.
Mary - She was an Israelite to whom the angel Gabriel appeared and told her that she would become the mother of God’s Son. We aren’t told what went through her mind as she realized she was facing a pregnancy out of wedlock… a situation where there would be whispers and accusations… a situation punishable by stoning. Mary’s submission is seen in Luke 1:38 when she tells Gabriel, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (NIV).
Each of these women was in a circumstance they did not create, and which was beyond their control. God used them to serve His purpose… just as He can use each of us.
Take a look at the situation each faced and think about how you might have responded.
Tamar was widowed twice and bore twins through an illicit relationship.
Rahab was a harlot, entertaining men for a living, but gave protection to the spies.
Ruth was widowed and left her homeland to care for her mother-in-law.
Bathsheba was a married woman, called by the king for an adulterous evening and became pregnant while her husband was away at war. She is thought by many scholars to be the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31 who advised King Lemuel, possibly a nickname for King Solomon.
Mary found favor with God, was engaged to Joseph, but she was carrying a child out of wedlock… a pregnancy with a story many would not believe.
Each of these women trusted in God.
Do we trust in God when life circumstances take us down an unexpected path?
