Four Women In the Messianic Line

Four Women In the Messianic Line

During our family Bible Reading on Matthew 1, we were drawn particularly to the mention of only four women in the whole genealogy from Abraham to our Lord Jesus, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. I was reminded then, of an excellent lady author who wrote a series on these four women, with each of their lives representing an important truth for our Christian walk today.

Tamar (Genesis 38) – The daughter in law of Judah was a Canaanite woman whom he had specially selected for his eldest son, Er. However, his son did evil in the eyes of the Lord and was put to death. Judah then asked his second son, Onan, to sleep with her and produce offspring for his eldest brother. However, while using her for his pleasure, Onan refused to give her his seed, and the Lord saw this act as wicked and put him to death also. By now, Judah was afraid that his youngest son, Shelah, would meet the same fate, and returned Tamar to her father’s house. She would have been left hopeless, a complete scorn to her family, seen as cursed. Yet, she did not give up hope! When she heard that Judah was on his way to Timnah, she disguised herself as a prostitute and succeeded in sleeping with him, risking certain death to obtain the seed of his family line, which was the right of her late husband, Er. When she was found to be pregnant, Judah at first ordered her to be executed, but when he learned that he was the father, he commended her instead as more righteous than himself for what she had done.

Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles and tragedies, Tamar never gave up, but continued to hope, and when the opportunity presented itself, risked everything, even her own life, to secure her destiny in the line of Judah. For us too who are in the Lord, we must press on in our faith, never giving up as long as there is breath in our lungs, and regardless of what happens, cling on to the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.

Rahab (Joshua 2) – She was a prostitute in Jericho who had heard of the power and might of the God of Israel. Despite its powerful walls and strength, Rahab believed that Jericho would be destroyed, and based on her faith, risked her life to help the two spies Joshua had sent into the city. Because of her faith, she and her parents and brothers were saved from destruction.

We too must put our faith in the Lord, and cast our lot with Him, that we might be spared, like Rahab in the day of destruction.

Ruth (Ruth 1-4) – She was a Moabitess who loved her mother-in-law and refused to leave her, following her back to her people and accepting the God of Israel as her God. In obedience, she cared for and obeyed her mother-in-law in everything, and we also see how the wonderful love story unfolded between Ruth and Boaz.

Like Ruth, we too must have love, to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. There is no quality more important than love.

Bathsheba (2 Samuel) – She was the object of the sinful desire of King David, whose sin led to a powerful curse on his entire family. His act of adultery and murder reciprocated in terrible sins by his children, and his beloved son Absalom even rebelled against him and plotted to take his life. Even in Matthew 1, she is referred to as the wife of Uriah the Hittite, the stain of her sin and King David’s marked on her name throughout the generations. Despite this, the Lord showed her unlimited grace, and even chose her son Solomon and lifted him up as the greatest and wisest king in the known world.

We too must remember and know the unlimited grace that God has showered upon us unworthy sinners, and never cease to be thankful and humble before Him.

In conclusion, as we walk our Christian life together, let us always have hope, always have faith and always have love, living in the wonderful grace of God, and glorifying His name.

God bless,

Jason