How the Lineage of Jesus Applies to You

If you see a genealogy list in the Bible and think, “I can just skip over this”— DON’T!

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The first chapter of Matthew starts with the genealogy of Jesus. Boring way to start, right? Wrong!

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We first see that Jesus is from the line of David and Abraham— just as the Old Testament prophets foretold.

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We close the genealogy by seeing the importance of Joseph being his earthy father. That’s how Jesus comes from the promised line.

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We see men throughout this genealogy, godly men and evil men. God uses even the evil to complete his plan.

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Let’s talk about the women, though. This is some real shouting ground for not only women but all mankind for how we can be used by God.

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We read about Tamar in Genesis 38. Tamar’s story is one of heartbreak, full of evil, deceit, and broken promises. None of those things can thwart God’s plan. Through everything that happened to Tamar and even the deceit she committed, God showed grace and continued the line through her.

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Rahab’s story is told in Joshua 2. She was a prostitute who came to have faith in God. God can use anyone, no matter their past or current situation.

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Ruth gets her own book of the Bible! Despite being a widow, living in poverty, and going to a distant land, she has faith and is greatly blessed because of it. She is the great-grandmother of King David.

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Who is Uriah’s wife that we see in the genealogy? That’s Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12). Even in the genealogy list we’re reminded of the sin of David, the adultery and murder. Bathsheba becomes his wife, but she’s listed as her first husband’s wife in the list. God forgave David and later blessed him and Bathsheba with a son that would become king.

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Bathsheba is the only one of the women above that was Jewish. Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth were from other nations, nations that practiced idolatry. God can use you no matter your background. Don’t use your background as an excuse to keep from being faithful to God.

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God sees women. God uses women. God gives us grace beyond anything we deserve or can imagine.