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The Women in Jesus' Genealogy
Five women appear in Jesus’ genealogy: Tamar, Bathsheba, Rahab, Ruth and Mary. Often teachers emphasize the reputations of the first three, noting something these teachers believe the women had in common: seduction. Yet in seeing sexual sin as the women's main characteristic, we miss something essential: God chose women of faith.
Widowed Tamar was probably within the boundaries of levirate law when she duped her widowed father-in-law Judah, into impregnating her (Gen. 38). Rather than presenting Tamar as evil, the writer of Genesis probably intended for readers to see her as one who assured a progeny for her deceased, wicked husband. That would explain why, on discovering her identity, Judah exclaimed, “She is more righteous than I!” (v. 24)
Then there’s Rahab. In his epistle James cites her as an example not of “what sinners God uses,” but of great faith. While others in Jericho who had heard of the Lord trembled with fear, Rahab heard, feared, and acted. She risked her head to protect God’s spies, demonstrating faith through life-risking works (see James 2:25).
That leaves Bathsheba. Some say Bathsheba lured David with her rooftop bathing. Yet in David’s time and place, people often bathed on rooftops. Besides, the king was supposed away at war (2 Sam. 11). Interestingly, we read nothing of her guilt. Bathsheba faced certain death if she refused to obey the soldiers (plural) sent for her; and after David sinned with her, she immediately purified herself (v. 4), suggesting she cared about God’s law. She later mourned her murdered husband (v. 26).
Probably Bathsheba was a true victim—enduring exploitation, her husband’s murder, and her child’s death because of what God’s anointed did. Yet her story continued. Her son Solomon inherited the throne, and his descendant, the Son, inherits the world. The wife and mother of Israel’s two greatest kings displayed the faith worthy of our eternal King.
Jesus’ pedigree includes both men and women who, despite great losses and challenges, demonstrated great faith. By grace, with faith it is possible to please God. Oh, what a King!
Give thanks for Christ as King and ask for the kind of faith demonstrated by these women of old.
Photo credit: Milada Vigerova, Unsplash; used with permission.
About this Plan
"The 12 Days of Christmas" is a devotional designed to help readers draw near to Christ during the twelve days that begin with Christmas and end on Twelfth Night. It ends on the eve of Epiphany or Three Kings' Day, which marks the arrival of the three wise men, or Magi.
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