Four women there are in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus as “Son of David, Son of Abraham” given to us in Matt. 1. They are Thamar (ver. 3), Rahab and Ruth (ver. 5), and Bathsheba, the wife of Urias (ver. 6).
But it is of the second and third of these of whom I propose to speak in this short paper—Rahab and Ruth. For in these two women we have afforded us a striking example of the wonderful grace of God in taking up such as are of entirely opposite characters and making both alike objects of mercy, so as to exclude all room for boasting, except in the Lord.
In “Rahab the harlot” we have one sunk to the lowest depths of depravity, yet such an one “justified by faith” in her simple trust in the God of Israel when she rested all her hope of deliverance on the sworn testimony of the messengers of Jehovah. No hope was there in herself. She had nothing to plead. No palliation of her character was offered. Just as she was, she owned that judgment was impending, it was sure and certain and already near. No way of escape was open to her. But she turned to God forthwith. She received His messengers. She rejected not the counsel of God against herself as did the Pharisees and lawyers of a later day, but asked for, and rested upon, the true token given her.
And what is the token for you, but the sure word of Him, Who cannot lie. His word and His oath. Salvation is yours, if you look only to Him who gave His Son that we might live (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), and sent Him the propitiation for our sins. We thus have life eternal, now and forever, and the forgiveness withal of our sins through Christ’s precious blood (Col. 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)).
So with another woman in John iv. She listened to the Saviour of the world. She believed the word of Him before Whom all her sins were disclosed. He “told me all things that ever I did.” The light of God that reveals to me my sins in all their horror reveals also “the grace of God that bringeth salvation.” “Jesus suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” cleared from all guilt. Is it not a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that He came to save sinners?
What about Ruth? She comes before us as a lovely character in her devotedness to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Formerly an idolator, in a land of idolatry, she had heard of Naomi’s God, the Jehovah of Israel. On her idols and her country her back is turned. Her lot is cast with her returning mother-in-law. Where she goes, she will go. Where she lodges, so will she. Naomi’s people shall be her people, and Naomi’s God her God. Where her mother-in-law should die and be buried, there too should she likewise. Nothing but death should part them.
Now all this is most beautiful. Here is decision. She claims Naomi’s God as hers. Outside God’s ancient people a Moabitess, and so debarred by God’s own enactment from their privileges (Deut. 23: 3) yet is she brought into the line of the Messiah’s genealogy, as was Rahab. In her case we may say “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)).
Impossible for God not to own the faith that looks to and trusts Him. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. And He Who lays down the restriction is above all law, for He is Lawgiver and Judge, and delights to show mercy. He is no respecter of persons. Whosoever will may come, and is invited to come. Will you come? and will you come Now? Oh, refuse not Him that calls you; waiting to be gracious to you!
In conclusion, let me add a word. These women, in coming thus into “the commonwealth of Israel,” never anticipated such an honor as to be in the line of the Messiah, the Hope of Israel.
But God loves to magnify His grace, and to go beyond all our thoughts or desires.
And so with us. We groaned under the burden of our sins, and coming to God confessing them to Him, He forgave us, and we praise Him for this mercy. But is this all, great as it is? We might still have been outside, though forgiven. But no, we are born into His family. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called children of God” (Read also John 1:11-1311He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11‑13)). We are “heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ”! We shall be like Christ, and with Him forever, in the paradise of God!! How rich is our portion now, and forever. Let us give thanks and praise Him for His so great love. Now are we His, to serve and adore.