Within two verses of the genealogical record of Jesus Christ the son of David, Matthew makes mention of three women. The only other woman included as an ancestor of Jesus besides his mother Mary is Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Jacob, who deceived him and became pregnant by him. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was a foreigner. Solomon's mother, though not mentioned by name, is Bathsheba who committed adultery with King David.
By our standards the only one of these women we would consider respectable was Ruth and she would have been considered an unclean pagan by the Israelites. I marvel at our Father for including these women in the genealogy of Jesus. Surely his bloodline should reflect only the best, or at the very least it should be whitewashed for the sake of Jesus' unblemished pedigree.
While it does add dignity to women to be included in Jesus' genealogical records at all, it would have been much more gratifying if the women were more respectable. What are we to conclude from this? Why these women? Why include them?
The faith chapter of the Bible lists only great heroes of the faith: "by faith Noah," "by faith Abraham...Isaac...Jacob...Joseph...Moses" Then incredibly, "by faith the prostitute Rahab" (Hebrews 11:31). She is listed right up there with the biggies for saving the Israelite spies!
After all is discovered about Tamar's actions, Judah whom God renamed Israel said of her, "she is more righteous than I" (Genesis 38:26).
Ruth's story is included in the Old Testament. She has a book named after her because of her loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law. Maybe Boaz was willing to marry a foreigner because his mother Rahab was also a foreigner. (I wonder how Ruth got along with her new mother-in-law.)
Bathsheba's son Solomon was the wisest and richest of all the Kings of Israel. He bowed down to her and had a throne brought in so she could sit at his right hand.
Once again, we see that God judges differently than we do. His approval is not based on propriety but on righteousness and faith in Him. Nothing is whitewashed except through his forgiveness where sins are washed whiter than snow. While we tend to have a long memory where people's sins are concerned, God remembers their sins no more. And it isn't our judgment that matters in the end; it is God's. In God's judgment, all of these women turn out to be people of righteousness, faith and courage. Would that I would be so distinguished!
Lord, give us eyes to see people as you do.
