YOUR STORY IS PART OF GOD'S STORY

At the beginning of this year, I initiated my annual attempt to read through the entire Bible. (Please don't ask me how that is going. I have since skipped over a few books and now 'locked into" the book of Psalms.) I was, however, struck by the mention of four women in the first chapter of Matthew, as the author begins with the genealogy of Christ. These four women were the least likely to be part of a lineup leading ultimately to God's holy son, Jesus, who was sent to save us from our sins. Why would God choose to include their stories, three of which were absolutely sordid as part of His redemption story?

Among the group of women is one who, after being slighted, concocted a premeditated plan of entrapment. Tamar was not going to be ignored or pushed aside.  Due to no fault of her own she became widowed twice.  (During that time, the remaining sons were obligated to marry their brother's widow and have children that would bear their brother's name). Her father-in-law, afraid to lose his youngest son to this "black widow," lies to Tamar and sends her home to wait for him to grow up. After a long while it becomes obvious that this promise would never be fulfilled, so through a set of perfectly crafted circumstances, she becomes pregnant for the father- in-law. 

Tamar becomes pregnant by pretending to be a prostitute, but Rahab was actually one.  In the book of Joshua chapter 2, she is referred to as Rahab the prostitute.  For whatever reason, life led her down the path of using her body to pleasure men for money.  She committed these heinous acts in her house and yet it was in this very house that two men, sent out by their leader Joshua, were hidden by Rahab from those who sought to kill them. 

Ruth was not a prostitute, but she was an outsider in a community that prided itself in being the very apple of God’s eye.  She didn't belong, she wasn't special and had nothing to offer anyone as a childless widow. All she knew was that in the midst of profound loss she had met a God through her mother-in-law who she was willing to go to the ends of the earth to follow. Eventually, Ruth's life is totally restored with a husband and children.

Bathsheba's inclusion in the lineage of Christ is probably the most difficult to accept.  I think we easily find grace to forgive a woman who was tricked, or one who had lost her way but did something redeemable. We will feel compassion for one who steps outside of their comfort zone in pursuit of the true and living God. But where do we place the story of a woman that was an adulterer and accessory to the murder of her own husband? 

In the first chapter of Matthew, God sets the standard of “whomever.” Just like your story, He wants to take your weaknesses, mistakes, insecurities and moral failings and make them part of His story of redemption.  Romans 8:28 applies here, it reminds us that God causes everything to work together for the good of (everyone) those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Your story doesn't disqualify you. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathesheba, and even I can attest that God wants to make your story part of His. 

~Nicholine Charles