Let God Rewrite Your Story

Matthew 1:5

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).  Obed was the father of Jesse.

I have a resume that delineates my education, training, and job positions I have filled. It includes things like my MBA from Western Governors University, my time at the Sheriff’s Office as the Scientific Investigations Supervisor, my time as a pastor, and some references.

You know what my resume doesn’t include? Bad stuff that has happened. It doesn’t include times I got reprimanded or got yelled at. It doesn’t include times I tried something and failed. Nope, my resume makes me look as good as possible.

In Jesus’ time, and to his Jewish peers, his lineage was his resume. The list of his ancestors established not just his Jewishness but also the fact that he was from royalty. So, imagine the surprise when people first read Matthew’s account of Jesus and found Rahab, Tamar, and Bathsheba!

Tamar, Bathsheba, and Rahab are not what we would call tremendous examples of womanly virtue. In fact, when we meet Rahab in Joshua 2 she is mentioned as, “a prostitute named Rahab.”

What can take a prostitute and include her in the lineage of the Messiah, the Savior of the World? Only God, only His redemption. Rehab’s help for the spies from Israel not only saved her life, it placed her in the line of Jesus.

It doesn’t matter what your past story is, your future can be redeemed. It doesn’t matter where you have walked, and even fallen. What matters is what God is doing in you right now. Quit looking back, your history is past. Your future is right in front of you, if you will let God rewrite your story.

Today’s Readings: Matthew 1-4

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