Readers might be tempted to skip the first 17 verses of Matthew's Gospel. After all, it's just a genealogy of who "begat" whom, a list of names we don't recognize and can't pronounce. We're tempted to move on to the good stuff.
But don't, because there's good stuff right here. Buried in that list are the names of 5 women. In a patriarchal society, that proves God's inclusiveness. Looking at the individual stories of those women, however, reveals more than simply their role in God's plan.
The first woman mentioned, Tamar, appears in Genesis 38. There, Judah, one of Jacob's twelve sons, married a Canaanite woman and raised 3 sons with her. The oldest, Er, grew up and married Tamar. Er died, however, before an heir was produced. According to the custom of the day, Onan, Judah's second son, married the widow. He, too, died without producing an heir. Judah's third son, Shelah, was much younger, so Tamar waited for him to grow up and become her husband. But Tamar wasn't given to Shelah as his wife, she was left in her Daddy's home, a widow without a future.
After Judah's wife died, Tamar took matters into her own hands. She pretended to be a prostitute, slept with Judah and became pregnant with his child. Judah didn't recognize her until she showed him his signet (a ring used to produce an impression in wax, which functioned in the ancient world much like a notary seal functions today) and his staff to prove he was the father. Genesis 38:26 (NIV) records, "Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." Credit Tamar for her willingness to risk her life to accomplish a goal; Tamar had spunk!
Rahab, the second woman, hid Israel's spies when they came to look over the city of Jericho. Recognizing that her own people had no ability to thwart God's plan to give the land to Israel, Rahab chose to team up with the Israelis. She chose to be a "foreigner" living with God's people rather than die with the people of Jericho. Let's honor Rahab for recognizing God's power, and for her ability to "seize the moment." Had Rahab not acted when she did, she would have died beside everyone else in Jericho.
Ruth, the third woman in the list, demonstrates the kind of sacrifice only real love can make. A widow, Ruth refused to abandon her mother-in-law, Naomi. When Naomi determined to move back to her hometown of Bethlehem, Ruth went with her saying, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." God honored Ruth's devotion by giving her a new husband, a child and a future. Ruth's name appears in the genealogy as the great-grandmother of Israel's greatest king, David.
Bathsheba sinned when she committed adultery with David. With God's forgiveness, however, one can recover from sin. Bathsheba later became an honored Queen and her influence over David's kingdom continued even after his death. Bathsheba's son, Solomon, became David's successor.
Mary, the last woman in the genealogy, has the most familiar story. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the virgin mother of the Messiah, Mary's faithful response was, ""I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled" (Luke 1:38). It was, and Mary remains one of the most revered women in history. Her story is retold every Christmas.
Five women are named in the genealogy of Jesus and each woman's life holds a lesson for us: Sometimes life demands risk, but God is Sovereign. Familiar turf is not always safe ground. Real love is loyal. Sin can be forgiven and the past overcome. Trust God; nothing is impossible with God.
Each woman chose faith, and each woman's faith was rewarded. That's not coincidence; it's a formula for success and a pattern for us. Hebrews 11:6 reads, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
The world is messy and life is hard. So when you have to choose, choose faith. God rewards faith!