Previous Questions and Answers
Subject: Women's Roles
What does the 4 women
mentioned in Matthew 1 have to do with the generations leading up to Jesus'
birth? These women are Thamar, Ruth, Rachab. and Bathsheba (wife of Urias).
I understand the men lead to from one generation to next, not women. So I am
just wondering why these women are also listed?
Matthew 1:1-6
says, “1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son
of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas
and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares
and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat
Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat
Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;
and Booz begat Obed of Ruth;
and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and
David the king begat Solomon of her that had
been the wife of Urias.”
It is very interesting that these four women are mentioned in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I think that there are several reasons.
#1—The inclusion of these four women in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ should not surprise us, because in the end, it was a woman—with no man involved, that brought forth the Saviour.
Luke 1:30-38 says, “30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”
In the reading of this genealogy, we fail to think about this fact, of a woman being the final piece of the genealogy puzzle to the birth of the Saviour, with no man physically involved in the process. Matthew 1:18-25 says, “18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
There are several reasons that Jesus could not be born of a regular conception:
1.) Jesus could not have been born of a normal conception between a man and a woman, or else He would have been born with a sin nature like us, and thus unable to save us.
Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” God used Paul to describe what it is like, living with a sin nature within us. Romans 7:18-23 says, “18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
2.) Jesus also could not have been born of a normal conception between a man and a woman, or He would not have been “God in the flesh.”
Matthew 1:20-23 says, “20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is God Almighty in the flesh. John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Note: Jesus is God, but that does not make Mary the “mother of God.”
Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Mary was the mother of Jesus’ earthly body of flesh, “For unto us a child is born...,” but Mary is not the mother of the eternal God, “...unto us a son is given.” The earthly body of Jesus was born—Mary is the mother of that earthly body. But the eternal Son of God did not have a beginning in the womb of Mary—He has existed from eternity, and came down from heaven to the womb at the moment of conception. John 3:12-13 says, “12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” Jesus was standing upon earth, and said that He had come down from heaven—and that He was yet in heaven. How can that be? Because Jesus is God, and God is everywhere at once. This proves that Jesus did not lay aside His divinity when He came to earth. He was fully God and fully man. Mary is the mother of Jesus’ earthly body, but Mary is not the mother of God.
#2—The inclusion of these four women listed in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ remind us of the grace of God—because these four were all Gentiles, not Jews.
The spelling of some of these women’s names are different than what we read in the Old Testament, because we are dealing with a different language (the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek).
1.) Thamar.
The name spelled “Thamar” is the Old Testament “Tamar.” Matthew 1:3 says, “And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar.” Genesis 38:2-6 says. “2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. 4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.”
It was Judah’s wife that is listed as the “Canaanite,” and seeming that was nationality of his wife, and of the people living in that area, then we assume that Tamar would also be a Canaanite. When Judah’s eldest son, Er, was wicked, the Lord killed him, before he and Tamar had any children. Genesis 38:7 says, “And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.”
In the Old Testament, when a husband died before they could have any children, the next son was to marry his brother’s widow, and raise up the first child in his brother’s name. Deuteronomy 25:5-6 says, “5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.” This was put forth to Judah’s next son, but he refused to raise up any seed in his brother’s name. Genesis 38:8-10 says, “8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.”
Judah now has only one son left, but he is too young to marry, so Tamar is expected to wait for him to get older. Genesis 38:11 says, “Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.” As the years go by, Judah’s wife dies. Genesis 38:12 says, “And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.”
Tamar realizes that she has been forgotten, but she also obviously knew that her father-in-law had an immoral side to him, and so she contrives a plan. Genesis 38:14-18 says, “14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.“
Through this shameful behavior on the part of both Judah and Tamar, twins are conceived. Genesis 38:24-30 says, “24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. 27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.”
What a mess! It seems like Satan has gotten the victory in ruining the line of Christ. Judah has married into the idolatrous Canaanite line, and has gotten himself into a shameful immoral mess. Has this destroyed God’s plan to bring forth the Messiah? No. Romans 5:19-21 says, “19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Later on in Judah’s life, things turn around when he repents and is willing to give his life a ransom for his brother. Genesis 44:30-33 says, “30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.” It had been Judah’s idea to sell his brother Joseph, with no thought or pity upon how it hurt his father. Now, there is a change in Judah, to be willing to suffer, if necessary, to do the right thing.
Yes, Judah did not deserve the grace of God, nor did he deserve to be in the line of the Lord Jesus Christ, but God is ready to show mercy and extend grace to repentant sinners. Ezekiel 33:10-11 says, “10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
2.) Rachab.
The name spelled “Rachab” is the Old Testament “Rahab.” Matthew 1:5 says, “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab...” Joshua 6:22-25 says, “22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”
We find here, once again, the grace of God. A Gentile harlot turns from her sinful way of life, and places her faith in the true and the living God. Joshua 2:9-11 says, “9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Salmon, a man of Israel, sees her faith, and eventually marries her.
3.) Ruth.
Matthew 1:5 says, “...Booz begat Obed of Ruth.” Ruth was also a Gentile that ended up being married to a Jewish man, but he ended up dying. Ruth 1:1-5 says, “1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband."
After the death of her husband, Ruth moves to Israel with her mother-in-law. Ruth 1:6-14 says, “6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.”
Ruth now exhibits that she has repented and placed her faith in the true and living God. Ruth 1:15-17 says, “15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
When they arrive in Israel, Ruth shows herself to be a virtuous woman. Ruth 2:2 says, “And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.” She ends up in one of Boaz’s fields to glean. Ruth 2:10-12 says, 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
Naomi counsels Ruth to use the Scriptural principle of Deuteronomy 25:5-6, “5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.” Ruth 3:1-4 says, “1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.”
This was quite a thing to ask of a Jewish man, considering Ruth was not Jewish, but a Moabite, but Boaz considered her virtuous character and faith. Ruth 3:10-13 says, “10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.” Ruth 4:3-6 says, “3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.” The nearest kinsman was afraid of “marring his own inheritance” by marrying Ruth the Moabite.
Ruth 4:13-22 says, “13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” So by the nearest of kin refusing to marry Ruth, Ruth is now, by the grace of God, put into the very line of the Lord Jesus Christ. The mighty grace of God is seen upon poor, helpless, and hopeless sinners, who are willing to repent and receive Him!
4.) The wife of Urias.
This name “Urias” is the “Uriah” of the Old Testament. Matthew 1:6 says, “...David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.” 2 Samuel 11:1-3 says, “1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
Here we have another sinful encounter, this time, between David and Bathsheba. David cannot sleep one evening, and gets up and walks upon his roof (many roofs were flat on the top, and were used as patios). From his roof, David is at vantage point where he can view Bathsheba washing herself. When David finds out that Bathsheba is the wife of one of his 30 best soldiers, he still calls for her, and commits immorality with her. Bathsheba conceives a child, and David tries to cover up his sin; first by calling Uriah home to hopefully spend some time with his wife; but when that does not work, by trying to place Uriah in a dangerous spot in the battle and then retiring from him. Uriah dies in the next battle, but the Lord causes the baby to die, because of their sin. 2 Samuel 12:7-14 says, “7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”
Once again, it seems like the world, the flesh, and the devil wins the battle at corrupting the line of Christ—but that is not the case. Romans 5:20-21 says, “...But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
David now mourns and fasts because of his sin. 2 Samuel 12:15-23 says, 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” Some people wonder how God could ever use David after that. Have you ever fasted for 7 days, neither eating nor drinking, because of your sin? David was truly repentant, and he showed it.
The Lord now uses this unlikely couple to produce the next link in the line to the Messiah. 2 Samuel 12:24-25 says, “24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.”
Bathsheba is not mentioned by name in this lineage, but by her husband’s name. Matthew 1:6 says, “...of her that had been the wife of Urias.” This is very fitting and honoring to the faithful soldier, Uriah. He was the innocent one in this whole matter, so he is the one that is rightly honored.
So, yes, it is very interesting that these four women are referenced in the line of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is unusual that they are referenced at all, because it is normally just the men who are listed in genealogies; and then it is extremely unusual that they are mentioned, seeming they are all Gentile women.
#3—The inclusion of these four women listed in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ remind us that every person is important to the Lord.
Some women complain to the Lord (and sometimes to other Christians), that God is not fair with women, and treats them as “second-class” to men. They play up the “gender” issue to gain sympathy, because God has given them different roles, than the men. Their attitudes are much like those who use the “race” issue in the same way. This genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ silences both groups. These four were women, and they were different nationalities, as well. It proves that God does not show partiality, but is willing to bless and use anyone who is humble, repentant, and has a servant’s heart. Matthew 18:1-4 says, “1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Little children do not lead and tell everyone what to do. Little children are told what to do, and, Lordwilling, they humbly obey. Those are the type of children that Jesus was referencing as being “great.” Matthew 20:25-28 says, “25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
We often have different roles in life, and we will be rewarded according to having faithfully fulfilled the role that God ordained for us. I think it is interesting as to who Jesus first rewarded after His resurrection from the grave (hint: it was not the “inner three,” Peter, James, and John). Who was it? Mark 16:9 says, “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”
Now is not the time to waste our lives by complaining, whining, and moping around, accusing God of being unfair. Now is the time to faithfully serve the Lord, and to be excited that God will richly reward those who faithfully serve Him in their designated roles in life. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 says, “57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
