Four Faith-Full Women in Jesus’s Genealogy

At this year’s father-daughter retreat, we are focusing on being fearless; in the Christian life, the opposite of fear is not bravado or even courage, it is being filled with faith. As these women show us, being faithful does not mean being perfect, never struggling with fear, or a life without risk. Jesus’s genealogy is redemption documented, God claiming sinful men and women as His own, and using them to bring our great Kinsman-Redeemer into the world. Here are four women in Jesus’s genealogy whose faithfulness is memorialized in Scripture:

Sarah

In their younger years, Sarai and Abram followed God out of their home country, away from friends, family, and establishment, and ventured into the unknown. Together, they received new names and outrageous promises from God – and despite all their doubts, fearfulness, and at times disobedience, God kept His word. After giving birth to Isaac, Sarah wondered at the works of God’s hand, saying, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me … Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have born him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21: 6-7) She is remembered in Hebrews:

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11)

And also in I Peter: 

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” (I Peter 3:3-6) 

Rahab 

Before the fall of Jericho, Rahab sheltered spies Israel sent to scope out the city. She did so at the risk of her own wellbeing and that of her family; her own words in Joshua 2 make it clear that she knew she was dealing with the Living God, and acted accordingly – both under a moment of immense pressure and for the rest of her life, as she dwelt in Israel. 

“[Rahab said] And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token…” (Joshua 2:11-12)

“And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” (Joshua 6:25)

“By faith, the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” (Hebrews 11: 31)

Ruth

After the death of her husband, Ruth also left her home country to join the people of Israel, at the potential cost of financial stability, the settled future of married life, and the comforts of her own culture. She would not be dissuaded from joining the Lord’s people. In a particularly sweet act of providence, Ruth eventually married Boaz, son of Rahab (another adopted daughter of Israel).

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

Mary 

Last but not least, we have Jesus’s own mother. When she received word that she would become pregnant and give birth to the Messiah, she must have understood the near-term consequences: Her community would assume that this pregnancy was out of wedlock, a shame to bear rather than a gift. Still, she responds remarkably:  

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) 

While pregnant, she speaks this doxology to her relative, Elizabeth:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1: 46-55)

Mary’s faith continued to the foot of the cross, closer than many disciples dared to venture (John 19: 25-27, Mark 15:40-41).  

Conclusion

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2)