BY Koko Kalango
Only five women are mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Even more interesting is the profile of these privileged ladies.
First is Tamar, her husband’s wickedness attracted the wrath of God, resulting in his death. When she was not given to her brother-in-law as a wife, according to custom, Tamar posed as a prostitute and got pregnant by her father-in-law. Next is Rahab. You may remember her as the Canaanite prostitute who hid the spies Joshua sent to Canaan. For this kind act, Rahab and her family were spared when Israel took over the land. Next is Ruth the Moabite, who insisted on following her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem after the death of her husband, her brother-in-law and her father-in-law. There Ruth met and married Boaz, a wealthy relative of her deceased husband. Then there is Bathsheba, with whom King David committed adultery. When his plans to cover his tracks failed, the King had Bethsheba’s husband killed and married her. Finally we have Mary, who was engaged to Joseph but rumoured to have gotten pregnant outside wedlock. Mary actually conceived by the unction of the Holy Spirit and the baby in her womb was Jesus, the Son of God and saviour of the world.
Neither of these women would have received an award for good behaviour. Check out their resume – Tamar and Rahab; women of easy virtue, Ruth; a woman seemingly plagued with bad luck and one who warmed her way into the life of her husband’s wealthy relative. Bethsheba; an adulterer and perhaps an accomplice in murder. And Mary, an alleged fornicator. If anything, these five women would have been the subject of hot gossip in their society. But God grafted them into the lineage of the messiah.
These five were beneficiaries of grace; God’s unmerited favour. In scripture the number 5 stands for grace.
‘By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast’ (Ephesians 2:8,9)
We are saved by grace when we sincerely repent and believe in Jesus as the son of God. Normally our sins should disqualify us before God. Rather it qualifies us for grace.
We are not saved by our good works as many of us erroneously believe. By God’s standard we would never be good enough. That is why He took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. Now if we forsake our sins, believe in Him and follow Him, we too get grafted into this lineage of grace and we embark on the most exciting journey of our lives; a relationship with God that brings us joy, peace, fulfilment in this life and hope for the life to come.
So, if we feel unworthy before God, let the example of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary be an encouragement that notwithstanding how society sees us, to God we are candidates for mercy. When we respond to His love we too will join the lineage of grace.​​
