Selfish and hateful brothers, a woman from an idolatrous nation of child sacrifice, and a prostitute – these characters are all found in the genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah. Can God use anyone or anything for His glory and His plan? The answer comes back a resounding “Yes, He can!”
Grace is unmerited favor; it is blessing straight from God that is in no way earned or deserved. Through the human lineage of Jesus, God is demonstrating His unfathomable willingness to work with people the world views as most repugnant. He highlights His mysterious motivation to work through pitiful and devious people in order that His salvation may emerge at the forefront and do what only a holy God full of grace is able to do – change pitiful and devious people!
The snapshot of Jesus’ ancestry holds forth to us a picture of the hope we have in God despite our sinfulness. Matthew 1:1-2 (NASB) says, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.” Immediately we see in the list of early ancestors that Abraham fathered Isaac, who fathered Jacob, who fathered Judah and his brothers. Stop there and consider Judah and his brothers and to what evil their envy led them. These are the men who threw their own brother, Joseph, into a pit after contemplating the possibility of murdering him outright. These are the ones who then sold Joseph as a slave to a band of traders.
Have we ever been jealous of someone as these brothers were? Have we ever wished or acted evil on another? Have we ever abandoned someone we should have helped? Have we ever been a part of watching someone – even a loved one – venture into a bad place? If so, we can symbolically place ourselves in this part of the genealogy of Jesus.
Let us now examine Matthew 1:5 (NASB), “Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.” Remember Rahab? She was a public prostitute of the Canaanites who decided to believe in the one, true God of the Israelites. And what about Ruth? Though she chose to go to Isreal and worship the real God of the universe; she had been a citizen of Moab, a nation that worshipped the false god, Chemosh, and offered children as sacrifices to that idol.
Have we ever committed sexual sin in action or in thought? Have we ever remained among idols of our own making? Have we ever not honored other adults or children as we should? Have we devalued humans? If so, we can identify with this section of the lineage of Jesus.
God did not abandon humanity when we ridiculously rebelled against Him to our own demise. Though we have sinned against our holy Creator, He has determined to give us a second chance. He sent Jesus even though the God-Man had to come in human flesh. God did not allow the ugliness of sinful hearts to stop Him from offering salvation. It is as if He stepped back from the conglomeration of misery and selfishness and said, “I still choose to save those who believe; I will not abandon who I have made, but I will offer salvation.”
God said to Joseph about the Messiah, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21, NASB). Thank you God, for sending you Son! Thank you, Holy Spirit, for working tangibly in this world to effect your plan!
Let us no more say that genealogies are boring. The lineage of Jesus is a reminder of God’s willingness to work with the nasty world. Our responsibility is to react to His work on our behalf. We need to believe and let God save us through the sacrifice of Jesus and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit. No matter the depth or nature of human sin, God can redeem!