Women Who Shape History

What do Rahab the prostitute and Bathsheba have in common? These are 2 of 4 women whose names are forever etched in Biblical history. They are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1.

Now that I have your attention, I'd like to share some reflections from these women's lives:

The decisions we make are crucial to our destiny. I've heard it said that decisions decide destiny. Rahab was a prostitute whose daring act of saving the Israelite spies secured the redemption for her family, as read in Joshua 2:1-21.

I don't think she knew that she'd not only be counted in the Messiah's lineage but also be mentioned in the Hall of Faith. The Bible lets us know that by faith Rahab the prostitute, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient (Hebrews 11:31 NIV) She's even commended in James 2:25 as being justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out another way.

Bathsheba was the woman who committed adultery with King David. In fact, in Matthew 1:6, the Bible records that David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Ouch! But even through that mess, there was still a plan of redemption.

King David had promised Bathsheba that her son Solomon would be king (1Kings 1) . We may frown at Bathsheba, remembering her more as an adulteress as opposed to King Solomon's mother, but without her there'd have been no Solomon; and Jesus' lineage as we know it wouldn't be complete.

While we can't overlook their glaring faults, these are the women who shaped history.

When it mattered most, Rahab stood up and made a decision that insured her entire family from destruction. Bathsheba, despite her flawed history of adultery with King David, found herself mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Our past mistakes don't over-ride the good plans God has for us.

Prior to fully accepting Him as my Lord and Savior, I lived a very colorful worldly life. But when the Lord saved me and I amended my ways, I had to let Him do a work in me. He constantly reminded me I am worthy of the calling He has placed over my life. When the enemy would try to whisper in my ear that my past disqualified me, it paid to remember that as His daughter, I too am a worthy recepient of His promises.

Perhaps, like Rahab, the Lord will call on you to make a decision that will affect the course of your family and bloodline. In fact, in the Bible Rahab was always referred to as Rahab the prostitute/harlot. Despite any reputation attached to your name, I pray that you'll not hesitate to act in boldness, courage and faith.

Maybe like Bathsheba, your choices are 'questionable' but there's something great that the Lord can only bring forth through you. In fact, we see from 2 Samuel 12:24-25, that when Bathsheba bore her son, David named him Solomon meaning the Lord loved him. The Lord sent word through Nathan the prophet to name this son Jedidiah, meaning loved by the Lord.

Perhaps the guilt of your past behaviour is weighing you down. May the Lord break off the voice of shame over your past that is taunting you, making you feel less than ideal or qualified.

Dear woman, don't discount yourself. Don't count yourself out. Give yourself a chance to be a woman who shapes history.

You are still God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV)