Another genealogy.... easily skippable information for me over the years. But, it’s humbling to take a

further look at the lineage God chose to use to bring his perfect son into our fallen world. I studied the

NIV Bible as well as Kenneth E. Bailey’s Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes for my notes.

NOTES

v. 3 - Tamar

Aramean. Gen 38, married to the eldest of 3 brothers, but her husband died without children. Custom

(Levirate marriage, Deut 25) stated her husband’s brother was to marry her since she was left without

a child. The 2nd brother died and Tamar was promised to be married to Brother 3 when he was old

enough. The promise was not kept, so she tricked her father-in-law into believing she was a prostitute,

slept with him, and became pregnant. Then, when she was being dragged to her death for becoming

pregnant by an “unknown” man, she blackmails her father-in-law, exposing him as the father of her

child. She lives. Fought for her rights?! Manipulative, deceptive?! What to think?! But, she is in the line

of our savior! (Bailey, 2008)

v. 5 - Rahab

Harlot, a prostitute. When two Israelite spies were sent to scout Jericho were threatened by local men,

Rahab risked her life to save the spies. In return for her help the spies promised to spare her life and

the lives of her family when the city fell. Somehow she’d come to believe that the Israelite God was the

one true God and based on her “new” (?) and courageous faith, she acted against her community,

leaders, and culture. Had she repented? Was she still living as a prostitute when she met the spies?

Either way, she chose to fear God over man and became part of Jesus’ lineage. (Bailey, 2008)

v. 5 - Ruth

Ruth, while a gentile, is shown to be a humble, faithful, and loving woman from the beginning of her

story to the end. She stayed with her mother-in-law when she could’ve stayed in her own country,

went to a new country, new culture, new everything, and adopted their ways as her own. She sought

Boaz, as her kinsman-redeemer, a custom where a close relative of the deceased man, marries her

childless widow. He handles it legally and righteously, eventually marrying her and she becomes the

grandmother of King David and distant grandmother of Jesus. (Bailey, 2008)

v. 6 - Bathsheba “Uriah’s Wife”

Why would Matthew exclude Bathsheba’s name from this genealogy? He certainly would have known

her name... Did he not like her? In the Middle East, both men and women were very modest about

exposing their bodies. Bathsheba, however, waited until her husband, a Gentile, Israelite soldier, was

away in battle to take a shower in front of a window, facing the palace. No self-respecting woman in

this culture would have done such a thing. Only more powerful, wealthier people had two or 3 stories

to their homes and could easily look down into their neighbors’ windows... was she trying to “move

up” in the world? According to archaeological finds, the distance between the palace and Bathsheba’s

house was likely no more than 20 feet. She knew what she was doing! David noticed her, sent for her,

lay with her and she became pregnant... this results in further lies, deception, and murder to cover up

the sin of Bathsheba and David. While God’s love was so huge that He sent someone to expose

David, to himself, and David did in fact repent... the first son born to Bathsheba died as a

consequence of the shameful and sinful choices they made. They went on to have another son,

named Solomon, in the line of Jesus. Was Bathsheba ever repentant? While selfish, manipulative,

unfaithful, and party to a murder, God still CHOSE to use her (not because of her own merit) and even

allowed her to be part of His son’s bloodline on earth. (Bailey, 2008)

THOUGHTS

Why do those named in this list, specifically the women, do things so against nature, culture or

comfort, and why is it so hard for me to do that today?

What’s the difference? Joseph and Mary believe the angel that comes to them, they listen to his words

and trust them! Do I? Am I listening, holding on to, trusting God’s words... in ALL situations?

Mary was willing to die, trusting God’s will and words. Ruth, willing to be single, a maid-servant to

follow God’s ways. Rahab also, risks her life, letting go of all she knew and had ever trusted in to

desert them and follow God’s ways instead. What do I trust in, not trust in? How far will my trust in

God, his love, his promises, or even obedience to the “One and Only God” take me, day to day? Work,

family, love life, friendships, comfort, financial security, future plans?

Some of those named in Matthew 1 were a part of God’s chosen nation, some were pagans, some were

notorious sinners, some sought righteousness, some kept all the rules, some broke them, some

repented, some did not. Our savior, our Messiah came through this unexpected lineage, and through

him we have forgiveness, an intimate relationship with our creator, a confident hope of eternity with

Him! What amazes me most, and the conclusion I come to from this chapter is that God WILL work -

choose to believe or not, but our God will work through who he chooses to work through, he will work

in the ways he chooses to work, and his work is trustworthy! What will I choose to trust in today, the

choices I make, the thoughts I entertain, what will be the object of my trust for my eternity?

SOURCES

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

Bailey, K. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes. Copyright 2008 by InterVarsity Press.