02242024 Unlikely Redemption

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who sometimes delights in doing the unexpected.

Does God redeem disasters? I found some answers in a seemingly unlikely spot. Matthew 1:1-17 contains the genealogy of Jesus, starting from Abraham and extending through Joseph. The list of names traces through some of the Bible’s great heroes: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and Josiah. We would expect the Messianic line to be filled with the names of such prominent characters. While these men did experience times of failure, it seems only fitting that the heritage of the Messiah would descend through heroes such as these.

Mixed in with these great names are a large quantity of unknowns, ordinary people about which we know little or nothing, especially toward the end of the list. This is only natural for a history that extends some two thousand years. God also carried His plan forward in spite of some real scoundrels: Rehoboam, Abijah, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Manasseh, and Ahaz. These evil men, though not worthy to be in the lineage, could not stop God from advancing His plan through history.

We also find five items of particular note, instances of unexpected grace and redemption. First, Tamar and Perez are mentioned in v. 3. Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah, married first to his eldest son Er and then to his second son Onan. God killed both brothers for their wickedness. Instead of having Tamar marry his third son, Judah left her as a widow out of fear. In a horrendous turn of events, Tamar played a harlot and seduced her father-in-law. “Ordinary” fornication would have been bad enough, but this depraved act of incest resulted in the birth of Perez. God redeemed the sordid story, and Perez, the son of incest, was part of the line of Christ.

Second, Rahab is mentioned in v. 5. While also a harlot, she was not one who did it as a one-time strategy, but as her lifestyle. While the exact timing of Rahab’s belief may be uncertain, she had heard of God’s powerful work in Egypt, and she recognized Jehovah as the powerful God of heaven and earth. At some point, she changed her lifestyle and beliefs, marrying a Hebrew man, and so this foreign woman of dubious background became part of the line of Christ.

Third, Ruth is also mentioned in v. 5. She was also a foreigner and a heathen. Although the Bible does not explicitly say so, it would seem she was influenced by the somewhat unlikely family of Elimelech. Ruth embraced Jehovah and followed Him whole-heartedly, emigrating to Canaan, and this foreign widow was redeemed under God’s plan and fell into the line of Christ.

Fourth, Bathsheba is mentioned in v. 7. She is involved, probably not by choice, in one of the most appalling stories of the Bible. David, a man after God’s heart, in a moment of weakness, snatched this woman from her home while her husband was at war, committed adultery with her, and then had her husband killed. Bathsheba must have suffered unimaginable trauma through these horrific events which happened in rapid succession. God redeemed her story and gave her a son Solomon who was in the line of Christ.

Fifth, v. 12 begins with the words “And after they were brought to Babylon.” This statement regarding the deportation is followed by a history of fourteen generations who lived in exile, (but returning at some point). The most shocking thing to me about this is that it even happened. After the prolonged rebellion and disobedience that ultimately led to the deportation, who would have expected Israel’s story to continue? But it did! The deportation did not end the story. Hundreds of thousands of Israelites rejected and offended God – generation after generation, prophet after prophet, warning after warning. God had every reason to write the nation off for good. But He didn’t. God faithfully continued His plan and traced the line of Christ through each generation of wickedness, through each generation of exile, until He again found a godly man to step into the important role of earthly father to the Messiah.

Can God redeem? Absolutely! Whom does He redeem? He redeems those godly men and women who desire to follow Him but have failures along the way. He redeems the common people who silently live out their lives, largely unknown to and unnoticed by others. Sometimes He even redeems very wicked men, like Manasseh. God can redeem those who scheme to accomplish their plans, those who turn from a sordid lifestyle to belief in Him, those who embrace Him out of false religion, those who are abused and shamefully forced into incidents of pain and dishonor, and those who have reaped the consequences of rebellion against Him.

In fact, God will redeem anyone who comes to Him. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). May God work stories of redemption around you this week, even as He continues working gradually in the lives of others whom He also plans to redeem.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA