The Value Of A Name

Matthew 1:5

“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.” Matthew 1:5 (NKJV)

I’ve never been one to dig deep into my own family’s genealogy. It’s not because I don’t find it interesting. In fact, the few things I do know about my heritage is fascinating to me. But there’s one genealogy that captures my attention every time I read it, the genealogy of Jesus.

For amidst the ordinary (and not so ordinary) names, there’s mention of a woman who probably never dreamed she’d be included in the Messiah’s family line. Her name is Rahab. The remarkable thing about Rahab’s actions, was that they were carried out from an unlikely perspective of faith.

You see, she had heard of God’s miraculous ways how He had dried up the Red Sea and led the Israelites on dry land. She had heard of the Israelites’ victories, as they conquered mighty kings and took over entire provinces. And with that knowledge, a seed of faith was planted in her heart. Remarkably, she believed (and feared) what she’d heard about the God of the Israelites. In her own words, she said, “For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua  2:11).

Through her faithful acts of bravery, she and her family were miraculously spared the destruction of the wall of Jericho in which they lived. Afterward, she went on to marry Salmon, who was in the direct lineage of King David. And twenty-eight generations later, Jesus Christ was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.

Do you ever wonder about your impact as a parent or favorite relative? The statement, “Our importance may not be found in what we do but rather in who we raise” certainly rings true for this dear lady.

Who was Boaz’s mom? We might answer, “Well, Rahab the harlot.” God seems to delight in choosing unlikely people to partner with Him in accomplishing His purposes. Rahab chose to throw in her lot with the covenant people of Israel (Joshua chapters 2 and 7).

After rescuing the two spies in Jericho and being rescued herself by the Jews when they overcame Jericho and destroyed it, she eventually married Salmon. Salmon and Rahab were in the direct line leading to the birth of our Savior!

In the book of Ruth, Boaz shines as a man of great character and repute. The woman who was his mom and raised him was Rahab the redeemed, the rescued, and the restored. Have you struggled with a checkered and blotched past?

Are you ever tempted to give in to the lie that God cannot or will not use you as a result of something you have done? Stop! Consider that in Jesus, you can be redeemed, rescued, and restored. Look at Rahab. Then, look at Jesus.

Even in the genealogy of Jesus, Matthew prepares us for the fact that, by God's grace, all people can be included in God's family. In the lineage of great King David, and of the Messiah Jesus, is a Gentile woman. Her name is Ruth, and her story is a marvelous story of God's grace and the faithful heart that finds its home in the God of Israel.

It may be that you feel your background, events of life, or current state make you ineligible to serve God in a suitable manner. But the record of the Bible tells us differently. We do not need to let the past direct our future.

Instead, we can break free from whatever bonds we think are binding us and we can become useful vessels, storing up treasures inside by the power of God’s wonderful workings in our lives. All it takes to begin this journey is to trust in Jesus, accepting by faith that He has done all that is necessary to restore us to God.

Through this faith, we will be saved. From there, it is up to us, as we trust in God who has saved us, to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to direct our lives and use us according to His wisdom. Whatever we do, it should be done in faith. And if it is, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, God will reward us for it.

Father, thank You for this day and taking our past and, instead of dismissing us for it, You have redeemed us. You have rescued us. You have restored us. You see us in the light of Your dear Son, in whose name we pray. Lord use us according to Your wisdom to do the things that will bless others with the knowledge of You, increase Your kingdom, and bring relief from the bonds of sin to those we encounter. Whatever way is according to Your desire, use us, today. Be a blessing. Love ya

Father, we love You. Amen