3 | 18 | 15 Gospel of Matthew, Chapters 1 & 2
To learn about the author, context, message/purpose, structure, and contribution of the Gospel of Matthew to the Bible, read my post: Gospel of Matthew: Historical Record of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
If you've read through Bible genealogies, more than likely, like me, you have rushed through them, thinking there is nothing there you need to read, or study. Like me, you probably want to rush to the good stuff, and not read a list of names you won't remember. This time, excited about reading the Gospel of Matthew with Edward, and with a really dedicated heart, I decided to read each name, and not rush through them.
When I read through the names something struck me--the women. I knew going in that few, to be exact five, women were included in the genealogy of Jesus, and that that is a big deal; however, this time, they stood out, perhaps because I've been really interested in studying the women of the Bible, and to really learn about Biblical women.
The women listed in Jesus' genealogy are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, and Mary. After reading the genealogy, I got out my books on women of the Bible and quickly did a study of each of these women's lives. It then struck me what a big deal it is that these women were included. Just the fact alone that there are only four women listed among many men clues us in that 1) these women are important; 2) it's a big deal that they are listed; 3) we should make note of them and their lives.
First, the inclusion of these four women tells us something very important about God's redemption of us through Christ: we all matter to Him. In our modern times we enjoy (relatively) equal status between women and men, so we are a bit removed from the difference held between women and men during Biblical times. Much is made about feminist, womanist, gender issues, and though we still have a long way to go, we have still come a long way. It is unheard of to us that women would not be included in genealogy, but the truth is, this wasn't a cultural practice and instead of looking at it and frowning, we can look at it and draw some greater insight about God, Jesus, and Christianity.
The first thing I felt when I read these four women's names is God loves and values women, and men equally. The second thing I felt, was that God sent Jesus to save all, not just to save some. And the third thing I felt is no matter how imperfect, how ordinary or common or beginnings, none of that matters or bounds us to any circumstance or life when it comes to the plan God has for our lives through Christ.
These women were Gentiles, but even more, they were flawed, human, common, brave, faithful, humble women.
Here's a quick run down:
- Tamar, stood up for her rights as a widow and ended up continuing the linage of Judah.
- Rahab, a prostitute, risked her life to shelter Joshua's spies, aiding the Israelites.
- Ruth, a Moabite, sacrificed her life to aid her mother-in-law Naomi, and was blessed by God.
- Bathsheba, remained faithful through suffering and scandal at the hands of King David's lust, and eventually helped usher in Israel's golden age.
- Mary, chosen to mother the Messiah, a heavy responsibility she carried willingly, with joy and humility.
These women were broken, had lost a lot, been humiliated, violated, suffered many losses, but their faith in God lead them to something better. All of them were gentiles, common women, who God chose to use in a higher manner.
I cannot remember how many times I've felt unworthy, too broken, too ordinary or common to be anything grand. My life begun early with tragedy, and there has been many times I've wondered how I could be blessed with such a wonderful, loving husband. Why me, I've thought. Why would he want me, when he could have something better.
And then I look at these women God selected. I see their flaws, their humility, their tragedies and suffering, and how God used their lives for something bigger than them, and I think--why not me? Who am I to question what God has planned for me.
I can choose to be resilient, to be humble, to be faithful, to be brave, to be obedient, to be responsible, to honor God with my life. In God's eyes, our beginnings mean nothing compared to what He has planned for us; in fact, He will often take the least among us to the greatest, to show His power, love, mercy, and compassion.
The rest of my reading of chapters one and two taught me something equally important: the need to obey God, to be righteous in all we do, and to be still enough in life to hear God's directions. If we study the actions of Joseph and Mary concerning the birth of Jesus, we learn a lot about willingly following God's commands with humility, joy, and honor of the responsibilities God gives us.
The Birth of Jesus
I cannot imagine what Mary must have felt when she realized she was with child while engaged to Joseph (Mt 1:18). Surely, she had to fear for her life and what would become of her and her unborn child. Yet, we hear nothing of her lamenting or complaining about the huge responsibility she was given. We hear nothing about her struggling to make sense of the miracle God had given her, and what it will mean for her life. She was faithful, and obedient to God.
I'm not sure I've lived the same way. I've cried, complained, mourned, felt pity at almost everything God has given me that was not what I wanted, expected, or felt I was strong enough to handle. I've asked God why, why me? I've wished for different circumstances and felt myself unworthy. But not Mary, never once does she question the responsibility and path God gives her.
Joseph, however, is unlike Mary. We learn right away that he plans to divorce Mary (Mt 1:19). But, we learn something very important about Joseph, too. He was a righteous man. Instead of publicly shaming Mary, he decided to secretly divorce her. Wow.
In those times, Mary being with child and not a virgin was really big. A huge offense to Joseph. He would have been well inline with his peers to shame her, but he didn't. Joseph was compassionate, merciful, and thoughtful.
He was also obedient. When an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him Mary was carrying Jesus, Joseph obeyed and followed the Lord's commandments.
"When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him." -Mt 1:24 (HCSB)
Now, it's easy for us to look at this and say, "Well, um, Mary's carrying Jesus, of course you obey God." My friends, it wasn't that easy. These acts of Mary and Joseph took great faith and obedience of God's will in the face of humiliation, and being cast-out of society. We can't let our knowledge today shroud the great faith and obedience of Joseph and Mary.
How many times do we choose when to obey or not to obey God? How many times do we feel we cannot, are not strong enough, smart enough, or just plain ready to follow what God asks of us? How many times do we turn our back on God's will and purpose for our lives, believing that we know better than Him. That we know what we cannot handle or cannot do, that we know our limitations and God just got it wrong and chose the wrong person.
I've been there. I've done all of that. I've believed all of that. I dare to say, that sometimes we fear the greatness of God's plan for our lives, because we only see the current us, we don't see the greatness God has planned for us and our lives. This failure is more than a failure of ourselves, it is a failure to honor the majesty, the power, the greatness of God.
When we fail ourselves, we fail God. When we sale ourselves short, we sale God short. When we do not believe in ourselves, we do not believe in God. When we have little faith in what we can become, we have little faith in what God can do.
I do not, ever, want to be in the business of doubting, short changing, not believing and having little faith in God. Not ever.
Thinking that we are not worthy for God's plans shows our ego, or grand ideas of ourselves, our belief that we are weaker than God's strength.
Why wouldn't He, why couldn't He use me, just like He used Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary, and Joseph? I just need to be still enough to hear God's plans for me, and faithful and obedient enough to follow them. I need to get out of God's way and let Him use me.
Chapter two of Matthew teaches some other great lessons. In God's decision to summon the magi to visit Jesus, we see God's intention is to reach and save all people, even Gentiles. The magi's would have been pagans whose belief in astrology and other minor religions stood directly in opposition to God. By choosing to send the magi to visit Jesus, we see God intended to save Gentiles, too. We see that God loves and cares for all of us.
Another great lesson I gathered in Chapter two was found when Herod requested expert scribes and priests to learn where Jesus was born. Though they knew Scripture, these very scribes and priests would later oppose and reject Jesus' teachings. Knowledge of Scripture does not mean a person's heart and intentions are righteous and right with God.
Our knowledge, just like our faith, is worthless unless it is aligned and right with God. As we learn, we should also strive to align our lives, our actions, our behaviors with God, otherwise, our knowledge is worthless.
Chapter 1 & 2 Takeaways:
Are you still enough to hear God's plan and purpose for you life, and if you have heard Him, are you obedient and faithful to His will? Are you standing in God's way? Do you think yourself to flawed, to young or old, to smart or slow, to pretty or ugly, too rich or poor, too something to go out and use your life as God has called you? Does your ego get in the way? Are you trying to please the world--your social media feed, your family, your friends, instead of trying to please God? Are you afraid of how God will use you? Afraid that He'll call you to something you can't handle.
I urge you to think about Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Think about how God used them. Think about Joseph's compassion, and his willingness to obey the Lord and not follow his peers.
We can also choose compassion, humility, bravery, sacrifice, and to decide to honor God's plans for our lives.
Deep and Full Blessings to You,
Kiandra