Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I take the five women being referred to in the question to be as follows:

Tamar, who tricked her father-in-law Judah into conceiving a child with her, after God had slain both of Judah's sons (Er and Onan) to whom she had been married because of their wickedness. Judah then refused to give his next son (Shelah) to her as a husband (as would have been the required custom of the time), since he feared that God would slay Shelah also. So Tamar disguised herself as a harlot with whom Judah had sexual relations, fathering twins (Perez and Zerah) with her, of whom Perez became one of the ancestors of both Jesus' mother Mary and His earthly father Joseph.

Rahab, who was not an Israelite by birth, and whom the Bible describes as a harlot, but who aided the Israelites in capturing the walled city of Jericho after Israel's exodus from Egypt (as described in Joshua 2-6), and who was subsequently the mother of Boaz by Salmon (as recorded in Matthew 1:5), and thus also an ancestor of both Mary and Joseph.

Ruth, who was a Moabite and thus not an Israelite, but who married Boaz (as described in Ruth), becoming another ancestor of both Mary and Joseph. 

Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, with whom David committed adultery (resulting in her pregnancy), and then ordered her husband to be killed, with David's sin leading to the death of Bathsheba's child. However, God in His mercy subsequently allowed her to become the mother of David's son Solomon, who succeeded David as king, and who was an ancestor of Jesus' earthly father Joseph (as noted in Matthew 1:6).

Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was certainly not guilty of any notable personal sin, but whose miraculous pregnancy with Jesus caused great doubt and uncertainty on the part of her betrothed husband Joseph, leading to his intention to divorce her quietly (rather than having her stoned as the Law would have normally required for an extra-marital pregnancy) until the situation was resolved by an angel appearing to him in a dream to explain what had happened (Matthew 1:18-21).

I would say that God used all these women to make clear the great extent of His mercy, both in using situations or individuals that might under other circumstances have been regarded as sinful (and also as requiring severe punishment) to accomplish His purposes, as well as in extending His plan for the birth of the Messiah (who would sacrifice Himself for the forgiveness of the sins of all humanity) to include individuals who were not part of His chosen nation of Israel.

December 19 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

In my view, throughout the bible, all the people that God chooses to reveal his plan and purpose for human life, are ordinary people. Why does he do this? So that he receives all the "GLORY" from the fulfilment of his plans and purposes. God will not share his glory with anyone. He may choose to glorify us when we are faithful to him, but if we try to seize that glory for ourselves, we will be rebelling against God and subject to his discipline and judgement.

God takes these ordinary people, develops faith in their lives, and uses them to accomplish his purposes. Each time they are faithful, they receive his blessing. Some people in the bible become great by human standards (ie Abraham, David, Solomon) because of God's blessing in response to their great faith. Through others, God performed miracles to display his wisdom, power, mercy and love, that also gave him great glory.

These five women all had their stories recorded in the bible because God chose to use five ordinary women who demonstrated their faith in God. God blessed them and made them a part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. There are many such ordinary people listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11.

This principle is very well explained by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, quoted here:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

December 22 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Brighton Manyadza

My opinion is that some people in life become what they are not by choice. They are forced by circumstances to end up living a life we condemn. So before we criticise much, let's think otherwise. Here God is teaching us a lesson. If given a chance someone can reform and be used of God. EG, Marry Magdalene was given a chance and she became the first person to see the resurrected Jesus. The Church of God is composed of sinners justified sanctified and baptized of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of bearing more children to Christ. The Church (woman) becomes the Bride of Christ composed of those who were once sinners. He came to save siners not those who are righteous already. We thank God for giving us a second chance to make amendments in life. God bless you all.

December 28 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report