Not so complicated after all

It was one of those chapters of the Bible mainly about someone begetting someone, one of those chapters you would normally want to skip. That Saturday was different, I had read the chapter before but there was something about Matthew chapter one this time around. Although the focus seemed like it was on the fathers and their sons showing the genealogy of Christ, five mothers were mentioned and I got curious unlike other times I had read the chapter.

I had heard the names of these women but I went back to their story, maybe because I was reading a book about that time regarding women in the bible (Selfies with Bible girls by Laju Iren) and I was glad I did.

Tamar

The first woman mentioned was Tamar. Her story was a bit surprising to me. Her father-in-law, Judah, was the baby daddy. Okay, background gist, she got married to Judah’s first son, who died, then she was given to his second son who also died. Judah was not so excited about letting her be with his third son so he told her to return to her father’s house promising, actually deceiving her, that he would let his third son marry her when he was older. When Tamar got the memo that it was a lie, she disguised as a prostitute and slept with Judah and boom! She became a mother in the genealogy of Christ. (For more: Genesis 38)

Rahab

Then there was Rahab. Her story is kind of popular. She was a prostitute in Jericho who helped the Israelite spies when they came to explore before attacking the city. She hid the spies in her house protecting them from the city guards. In exchange for her help, she and her family were spared during the attack. Cupid also shot its arrow and she got married to an Israelite, Salmon, became the mother of Boaz. And that’s how she became part of Christ’s genealogy. (For more: Joshua 2)

Ruth

Now Ruth, yeah, the popular reference for great friendship. Her first husband died. She made a choice to stick with her mother-in-law, Naomi and serve her God despite Naomi’s plea for her to go live her life as a free woman. Her loyalty to Naomi turned out to be a great opportunity to meet a new lover boy, Boaz. Although there was the strategic positioning, they loved and chose each other. She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of King David and that’s her link to Christ’s genealogy. (For more: Ruth 1-4)

Bathsheba

Then there was Bathsheba, whose bath taking became a story. She was first married to Uriah. David cheated with Bathsheba then got Uriah killed as he could not trick Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba, possibly to make it seem like he impregnated her instead. Cold! Bathsheba became David’s wife, and though she lost the baby conceived from the adultery, got pregnant soon after and gave birth to Solomon, yeah the King. That’s her link to Christ’s genealogy. (For more: 2 Samuel 11)

Mary

The fifth woman was Mary, the chaste fiancé of Joseph but miraculously impregnated. She wanted to please her Lord and was honoured to birth the Messiah despite the circumstances around His birth. Thankfully, Joseph was also discerning and obedient to God. She was a young lady willing to obey God regardless. Though her life might not have had any extraordinary highlight prior, she became the mother of Jesus. She was a small girl with a great God. (For more: Matthew 1 and Luke 1)

More than their names & stories

Okay, enough scoops about these wonderful women, their stories have lessons. These women might not have been the most worthy or upright by man’s standards but they had faith in God and He sure made their lives count.

God does not judge like the world judges nor does He condemn, He is merciful regardless.

These women may also have had reasons to doubt God’s Love, losing a husband or a child, taking a risk of being punished or killed, the likelihood of public ridicule being pregnant as an unmarried woman but yet they trusted God to do best and He did. He was faithful to them, He is still faithful and He is faithful forever.

God’s love for you knows no bound, it may be reckless from a human perspective but His love is steadfast regardless of how underserving anyone may think. His love was shown in Christ paying our debt and giving all who believe eternal life with Him.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted;”
John 3: 16-18a MSG

Faith in God is all you need.

Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash