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232 August 19th
Extraordinary Women
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Bible was inspired by God. If men alone had made it up, it would have nothing but “perfect” people who perfectly followed God. Yet, the Bible tells us about Godly men and women who sinned and failed and then, humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God and repented. Then, they proceeded to get back into the fight.
In the first chapter of Matthew, these women are listed in the genealogy of Jesus. This is another proof of the divine inspiration of scripture. Historically, men would not have allowed women to be included in such an important list. Almost assuredly, men would have kept it a “boys only” list; but these five women are prominently included.
Tamar and Rahab were women with shady reputations. Ruth was the foreigner and daughter-in-law of Naomi. She loyally and devotedly followed Naomi back to her homeland. Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, was the victim of King David’s irresponsibility, lust, and sexual immorality. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the purest among women. God selected this young innocent to be the mother of God incarnate.
These were ordinary women whom God called to do extraordinary things. They were not perfect, but they were women of faith. They put their trust in a perfectly loving, gracious, merciful and forgiving God. Whether it was In spite of or because of their human failures, God ordained them to be strategic members of the lineage of Jesus Christ. This proves that one's middle name does not have to be “Jes-sette” in order for him or her to be used by God.
You may be like Tamar and Rahab. You might be a loyal, decent, obedient daughter-in-law. You might be the victim of sexual immorality, rape, or more. Or you might be a young woman who is guileless and faithfully open to the leading and direction of God. Whomever you are and whatever you have done or not done, God has chosen you for a very special, divine purpose.
Don't look down on yourself because of your past choices! Don't disqualify yourself! Don't underestimate what God can do with you in spite of your youth or innocence. God doesn’t look down on you. He doesn’t disqualify you because of your failures. He does not underestimate you because of your youth. He will use you in many ways to accomplish His will.
Let go of your past. Let go of your inimitable self-condemnation and self-judgment. God created you for a reason. He values you just as He values these extraordinary women.
Don’t forget.
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