Ancestors
Today’s Verse:
…Of Thamar… of Rachab… of Ruth… of Urias…. ~Matthew 1:3, 5, 6
For the next several days, our devotions will examine the various aspects and people involved in the birth in our Lord Jesus Christ. We must give careful attention to the various details as we see how each of these is a blessing and help to us. This morning, let us see four women ancestors who were listed in His genealogy. These four women speak to us about the greatness of God in bringing Jesus into this world. Taken together, these four women present to us the gospel plan of salvation.
We see Tamar, who is a picture of sin.
Tamar’s story is recorded in Genesis 38. This chapter of Scripture pictures the depths of depravity in every man. Every man is born into this world with a sin nature. The sin nature is rebellious and disobedient. The sin nature is fed and nurtured by our lustful desires. Sin must be punished, and, thus, every man is under the penalty of sin. The wages of sin is death. The soul that sinneth must die. Sin separates between us and God.
We see Rahab, who is a picture of faith.
The testimony of Rahab is found in Joshua 2, James 2, and Hebrews 11. Rahab was a Gentile woman who lived in Jericho. Jericho was under the condemnation of God because of the sinful practices of the inhabitants. Rahab hid the Hebrew spies from danger and confessed to them that she believed in the God of Israel and His mighty power. Out of all the inhabitants of Jericho, only Rahab and her family had faith in the power of the living God. In faith, she asked to be saved from the judgment that would come to her city.
We see Ruth, who is a picture of grace
Ruth was a Moabite woman who married a Hebrew man. Moabites were forbidden under the law to enter into the congregation of Israel, up to the tenth generation. However, Ruth followed the faith of her mother-in-law, Naomi. She left her idols and pagan lifestyle to pursue a future with Naomi. Because of her relationship to Elimelech, her inheritance right was redeemed by Boaz. Ruth became the wife of Boaz through redemption. In spite of the law forbidding Moabites into the congregation of the Hebrews, Ruth was admitted into the Hebrew lineage. We see God’s grace all over this. Grace is love we don’t deserve. Grace is doing something for us that we cannot earn. Every sinner can be saved from sin because of God’s grace.
We see Bathsheba, who is a picture of eternal security.
Bathsheba became David’s wife after the death of her first husband. However, prior to this, she and David had a sinful relationship that resulted in her conceiving a child. She was spared death by stoning. As soon as David took her as his wife, she was brought into his family. Her name is not mentioned in Matthew’s record of the genealogy, but she is in the family none the less. When a sinner gets saved, he becomes a son of God by spiritual adoption. Every sinner is eternally secure in Christ. We have been justified from our sinful past, and God looks at us just as if we never sinned. Once we are saved, God brings us into His family. Let us rejoice that once you are saved, you are always saved!
These four ancestor women present to us the gospel plan of salvation. They collectively point to God’s love, desire, and power to save sinners. We can rejoice that Jesus is Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Have a joyful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Timothy 1-4