“The Lord is
near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such
as have a contrite spirit” (Psa 34:18).
2. Rahab who stood alone for God
The second woman in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus is Rahab, the harlot (Mt 1:5). All the
people in the city of Jericho heard the miracles done by God to Israel and how He had destroyed the kings of
the Amorites (Josh 2:10). They were afraid, but only Rahab believed the Lord. What did she tell the two spies from
Israel? “I know that the Lord has given you the land... the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth
beneath” (vv 9,11). This Gentile woman's faith in the Lord was so great!
Rahab received the two messengers and also helped them to escape. She believed, and showed it in action. James 2:25
asks, “Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”
People in Jericho got a chance to accept the Lord of Israel but they did not obey. Rahab stood alone to follow the Lord; she
decided to identify herself with the children of God. What happened? “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who
did not believe” (Heb 11:31).
When the firstborn of Egyptians were struck, the Lord protected the firstborn of Israelites when He saw the blood of the
Passover lamb on their doorposts and lintel (Ex 12:23). Rahab who obeyed the spies and tied on the window the line of scarlet
cord, a symbol of the blood of Jesus, was saved (Josh 2:17,21). When Jericho was destroyed, only Rahab and her father's family
were spared and they dwelt in Israel (6:23-25).
Rahab married Salmon, the son of Nahshon who was the leader of the tribe of Judah (Num 1:4,7). She was blessed to
give birth to Boaz who was the great - grandfather of king David (Mt 1:4,5). Is not our King Jesus called, “the son of David”?
(v 1).
It is natural for people to follow the majority. The dead fish moves with the current but the live fish will move against the
current. Only a very few people were expecting the First Coming of Christ Jesus. Today also only a handful of people are
prepared for His Second Coming. Among those who celebrate the Christmas, many are caught in the ways of the world, and
many others are trapped in the flood of false doctrines. Let us not be subjected to the wrath of the Lord who says, “Depart from
Me, you who practise lawlessness!” (Mt 7:23).
“Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt 7:13,14).
3. Ruth who clung to God in despair
The Moabite woman Ruth is the third woman placed in the genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:5). Naomi who lost her husband
Elimelech and her two sons in the country of Moab wanted to return to her native land Bethlehem. Her daughter-in-law Orpah
kissed her and went away. But the other daughter-in-law Ruth, wife of Mahlon, clung to her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:14).
In spite of her sorrow by losing her husband, Ruth chose to follow the living God of her husband. Her mind did not give
room to bow down to her Moabite gods. She told Naomi, “Your people shall be my people and your God, my God” (v 16), and
she was firm and determined to go with her. The choice of Ruth was commendable.
People of Bethlehem praised Ruth as “a virtuous woman” (Ruth 3:11). Boaz bestowed his wishes on her: “A full reward
be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge” (2:12).
When Ruth was married to Boaz and bore a son Obed, the women said to Naomi, “Your daughter in-law who loves you,
who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him” (4:15). Jesse, the son of Obed, is the father of David. According to the
word of God, “There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isa 11:1), in the
generation of Jesse- the grandson of Ruth, our Saviour Jesus was born.
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