Where we come from, isn't our definition

King David

Matthew 1:1–6 CSB

An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram, Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

Most of us know that David, the one who was King of Israel, is in the Genealogy of Jesus.

But let’s look at a few other people.

Some of these people may be interesting.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

Judah - Perez

Hezron

Aram

Amminadab

Nahshon

Salmon -

Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab

Salmon married Rahab

Rahab

Joshua 2-6 captures her story

Joshua 2:1 CSB

Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.

Rahab, lived in Jericho.

Known specifically as a Harlot or a Prostitute.

SHe hid and protected the 2 spies that Joshua sent into Jericho

Joshua 2:2–7 CSB

The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!” But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut.

After the men leave, Rahab provides a full report of how the fear of the Lord has come over Jericho, and all within the walls had heard of the mighty things that God has done - Parting the red sea, conquering kings,

Joshua 2:11 CSB

When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

what a powerful statement!

THe Word of God says:

Hebrews 11:31 CSB

By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

First Gentile convert recorded in the Bible.

WOMAN - this should tell us plain and simple that God does not go by man’s rules or expectations.

She later marries Salmon - Gospel of Matthew; also known as Sala in Gospel of Luke.

Some believe Salmon was one of the 2 Spies. The Bible does not say for certain. But what the Bible does say:

Rahab’s Child: Boaz

Ruth 2:1 CSB

Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz.

The Word of God tells us that Rahab, a Pagan Prostitute marries an Israelite man, converts to the faith, and has a SON who becomes known as a Prominent man of NOBLE character.

Boaz is a picture of our Kinsman redeemer in the story of RUTH.

Kinsman redeemer is a male family member who responsibility to act on behalf of a family member who was in need.

The Hebrew word is literally - GO-EL - the one who delivers or rescues!

Boaz Marries RUTH

RUTH

Yes RUTH - as in the story RUTH in the Old Testament.

Ruth 1:1 CSB

During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while.

Ruth was a Moabite woman.

So in the story, famine hits Bethlehem. The land of bread no longer has bread. Elimelech takes his wife Naomi and their 2 sons, and moves to Moab. Elimelech dies. BOOM. The 2 sons marry Moabite women. BOOM, the 2 sons die.

Now Naomi has 2 Moabite daughter in laws, and makes the decision to go back to Bethlehem because the famine is over and feast has come.

Naomi tells the 2 daughters: stay with your people. 1 agrees - see ya.

Ruth, not so much:

Ruth 1:14 CSB

Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

Ruth wasn’t letting go!

Ruth 1:16–17 CSB

But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.

Over the remainder of the story it is awesome to see how Ruth works and provides for Naomi, and how Boaz is the Kinsman redeemer - a picture of Jesus.

Ruth’s Child with Boaz: OBED

But check this out: because it is really cool:

Ruth 4:13–16 CSB

Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him.

Ruth 4:17 CSB

The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

How cool is that! Complete total restoration and a picture of Jesus. Because Yes there is this awesome baby who will do good and take care of family; but there is JEsus who will take care of His family forever!

and the ladies say: Naomi has a SON!.

OBED

Obed fathers JESSE

JESSE

who we will read about next week

Sheep farmer in Bethlehem - wealthy and respected position.

DAVID

Big Takeaway

Look at the actions of everyone in the geneaology of Jesus. Rahab and Ruth stand out dramatically. Two women. Specifically two PAGAN women, GENTILE.

YOU AND ME!

What makes this so special is that these ladies represent the church in a powerful way.

Why? Because we are Gentiles. Not Israel.

And yet, These Gentiles received salvation by God. Why?

Because they did not just speak words, they put action to their words.

Ephesians 2:8 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

James 2:18–26 CSB

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Look it doesn’t matter what your past has. what you did. where you come from.

It matter what you do. and who you know.