Today our RMMR reading took us back to Matthew 1. I thought it would be interesting to look for a connection between the women mentioned in the genealogy and the Proverbs 31 woman.
There are 5 women whose names appear in the genealogy of the Messiah, an unheard of number in such a patriarchal society. Note who these women were: Tamar was seductively manipulative; Rahab was a liar and a prostitute; Ruth was out of her element in a foreign land with a foreign people; Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, was an adulterer; Mary, though a virgin, became pregnant, and faced divorce, abandonment, and even death by stoning.
Quite a motley crew for a discussion about virtuous women.
Honesty I find it a little frustrating that we don't know the rest of the story for all of these women. We don't know whether Tamar or Bathsheba were repentant for their actions. We don't know whether Rahab's encounter with the Israelites changed her heart. But we do know that there was at least one redeeming quality to each of these stories: God used them to bring about the birth of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In a chapter on wisdom in Knowing God, J.I. Packer says "wisdom is not the ability to discern the real purpose of everything that has happened to me, nor is it having clarity at every moment how God is making all things work together for good." But it is clear that there is one thing we do know. God does work all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
I think it's important to remember this in our pursuit of Proverbs 31-ness. We will fall short at times. We will not always be able to see how what we perceive as failures on our part will be used to keep us moving along the path to these desired qualities. But God gives grace to the humble. When we trust Him and fear Him (as Robin said yesterday), He gives grace for us to get through.
God doesn't ask us to do something or be something and then leave us out in the cold. All of us believing women have everything we need to attain to the virtues of Proverbs 31.
Keep trusting in God's grace. Keep confessing when you mess up or fall short. Keep moving your feet. Keep your eyes on the goal and the One who is getting you there.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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4 comments:
I've been looking forward to reading this since you first teased us with the idea a couple of weeks ago. I've been wondering how in the world you were going to make the connections. And I'm so blessed by the result! It's all of grace, all of God, and nothing of ourselves! Every single one of us has broken each one of the ten commandments, whether actively or in our hearts--the most virtuous woman that has ever lived was a lying, murdering adulteress at heart. I love the song we sing so often at church--not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul...Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin. We are righteous because of His righteousness! We will become sanctified because of His grace! Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief! I'm going to keep looking to Him, the Author and Perfecter, for the grace to live day by day. Thanks, Brooke!
Just as Tamar, Rahab and Bathsheba had to give an account to God for their sinful choices, so shall we. And, just as Tamar, Rahab and Bathsheba are now seeing and experiencing the intended good God brought about from their actions, so shall we. It's all very mysterious. God does use even our sin to bring about His Sovereign purposes.
God's Word tells us we will someday stand before Him and have to give an account for every sinful thought, word and deed (yes even whether or not we take seriously God's word as it is presented in Proverbs 31). But because of the cross we are not condemned. Because of Christ's perfect righteous sacrifice on the cross we will enter into the joy of God's Kingdom for evermore.
Thanks Brooke.
Thanks again Brooke. Well said.
My heart rejoices every single time I read a blog from one of you "younger" women. To know that your passion and purpose is for Him and His glory is good medicine for us all, and an example to the younger women, who, whether you know it or not are watching you.
It does us all well to have the ever present reminder to walk worthy of the prize that is ours through grace alone.
The goal will never be perfecting a list on duties but moving toward the Perfect One Himself and in doing so, He equips and enables us to do in the natural duties of life which, we on our own, in the frailty and sinfulness of our flesh would cringe at, or think impossible to do.
He the Christ, sent by the Father to redeem us, did not leave us without a Comforter and a Teacher.
So even if we are clueless, He has given us the extreme yet doable examples in His Word.
He has given some the up close example of women like Robins mom. He has given us the saints of old, the women whose hearts were fully aware of grace, grace, grace and lived in obedinece, however, imperfectly, for His glory.
I thank God for the leagacy they left, but more so I thank God that He never tires of teaching us and drawing us to Himself.
I praise God for His faithfulness to teach, guide, and exhort me toward the change that he desires and commands. His opinion and His Word alone are my hiding place and my guiding place.
I thank Him often for the people
-women and men- He has placed in my life to show this bruised and battered woman; this one who (just like the other Tamar, knew and knows her desparate need for His amazing, sanctifying grace.
Keep writing and encouraged us all with the whole truth as imaged to you by His grace.
sdpaul
Yeah...I love this. I am so encouraged to 'press on toward the mark.'
Thanks Brooke.
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