God's Call Girl

“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ: …Salmon was the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab…” Matthew 1:1&5

She was the one Mama warned you about, not the one you wanted to bring home to Mama. Her business was good. Her reputation was bad. I’m sure Rahab didn’t begin life planning to be a prostitute, but she ended up running Jericho’s most famous Hole-In-The-Wall Motel. Why settle for room and board when you could get room, board, and a broad? Whatever turns her life had taken, nothing compared to the evening two Jewish spies showed up at her front door, quickly followed by demanding soldiers in hot pursuit. Rahab’s choices -- turn the spies over to the king or turn herself over to the spies.

Rahab knew Jericho’s walls were no match for a God who had parted the Red Sea and defeated powerful armies. She wasn’t just concerned; she was terrified. Rahab realized her idols weren’t real gods at all and that the God of Israel was the Lord of it all. In a jumbled mixture of fear and faith, she courageously lied to the soldiers, hid the spies on her roof, and saved the lives of her family when Jericho was destroyed. She moved in with the Israelites, married Salmon – a leader of the tribe of Judah, and became a mommy!

Had Salmon been one of the spies? Was it love at first sight? We won’t know all the juicy, joyful details until heaven, but what we do know is that God picked up a scared streetwalker, held her close as Jericho’s walls and her world tumbled around her, and gently set her down in the center of His special family.

In the middle of her fear, Rahab found God to be a mighty fortress. She was scared. He was strong. She was timid. He could be trusted. Rahab was a harlot. God was holy. Her life had been full of lust. He filled it up with love. She was nothing to write home about. He recorded her story for all eternity.

No wonder Rahab gracefully glistens on Jesus’ family tree. She deserved nothing and God gave her everything.

Isn’t that what Christmas is really all about?

Time for a Little R&R
RECOGNIZE
What scares you right now – your past, present, or future?

RESPOND
God wants to be your mighty fortress. Bring Him your fear and your faith. You will find Him sweetly strong.

Trimming the Tree

“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac was the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar…” Matthew 1:1-3

Ah, the family tree. Often found on walls in offices and living rooms, it hangs as a noble tribute to the lives and legacies of relatives near and far. Let’s be honest – in most families some branches might be better sawn off or at least not climbed! But when Matthew framed the genealogy of Jesus at the beginning of his gospel, he didn’t cover up anything or anyone! Instead of cutting limbs away, he highlight the lowlights (or low lives) of our Savior’s kinfolk! Amazingly, the facts and feelings of those forefathers - and foremothers – reflect the deepest cries of our own hearts and echo our greatest needs. Their stories trim the family tree of Jesus as ornaments of grace hanging on a garland of Divine design.

“…whose mother was Tamar.” Tamar – the first “by the way” on the family tree. Abraham fathered Isaac. Isaac fathered Jacob. Jacob fathered Judah. Judah fathered Perez and Zerah, whose mother, by the way, was Tamar. Who was she? Why is she here? Call Geraldo! Her story seems better fitted for shock TV than a royal ancestry. Tamar was the mother of Judah’s children but she wasn’t his wife. She was actually his daughter-in-law. No, her husband wasn’t mad. He was dead. In fact, both of her husbands were dead. And the man who should have been her husband, wasn’t. That’s why she had her father-in-law’s babies. True story.

Tamar, filled with the hopes and desires of every young bride, had married Judah’s oldest son Er, but he was so wicked that “the Lord put him to death.” (Gen. 38:7) Judah instructed his next oldest son Onan to marry Tamar so Er’s family line would continue. (Yes, this was the lawful and legal.) Onan didn’t want any kid of his counting for his brother, so before he took care of things with Tamar, he took care of things on his own. God killed him too. Judah told Tamar to go back to Daddy, live as a lonely widow, and wait for his youngest son to grow up, but when little Shelah was big enough to marry, Tamar wasn’t the bride.

The pain of shattered dreams, unfulfilled expectations, and broken promises drove Tamar to a wild plan. She posed as a prostitute, accepted Judah’s proposition, and ended up pregnant. When her baby bump became too big to hide, Judah wanted her burned to death until she publicly proved his paternity by the items given for payment. He relented and repented and provided for her and the boys. Yes, the boys. God gave her twins, taking away her disgrace and filling up her arms and heart.

A wicked husband, a wimpy brother-in-law, a wily father-in-law. Disappointment. Anger. Hurt. The rugged realities of life displayed for all to see. Why? Why mention Tamar? Why include her story? Because it reminds us that God is the one who can bring purpose to our pain. He loves us no matter what. He understands more than we know. He can take it all – the happy and the hurtful – and shape it by His grace. And then hang it beautifully on His family tree.


Time for a Little R&R

RECOGNIZE
How have shattered dreams, unfulfilled expectations, and broken promises caused disappointment, anger, and hurt in your life?

RESPOND
Honestly bring all your pain to God. Ask Him to shape it by His grace for His purpose. Ask Him to replace the junk with joy and to make you beautiful for Him.