PSALM 103:17

But from everlasting to everlasting

    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

    and his righteousness with their children’s children—

TO PONDER

Our focus has been on the story of Rahab and the Israelite spies in Joshua chapter 2. But today I want to talk about the fall out of the events of that story. Many of you might already know this but Rahab is one of four women, apart from Mary, mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew's gospel. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba all get a mention, and all had lives that had been affected by scandal or tragedy in one way or another. Not the kind of thing you might expect to see in the family tree of God's promised messiah. Tamar was the widowed daughter-in-law of Judah who refused to offer her the protection she should have had under Jewish law so she had to disguise herself as a prostitute to finally seek justice for herself, Rahab was a foreigner and a harlot in a doomed city, Ruth was another outsider and widow who turned her back on her own people to care for and support her Jewish mother-in-law, and Bathsheba's husband was killed when King David decided he wanter her for himself.

And yet, despite the mess of this family tree, God was faithful to those who put their trust in Him, even these women who for the most part were from outside of the tribes of Israel. To them he showed that his love remained with them and his righteousness with their descendants because it was through their descendants, that Jesus came into the world and God's righteousness made available to all.

So, if your life, or your family, feels like a mess at the moment, just take a deep breath. Remember that God has redeemed bigger messes than the one you might be facing. Hear again the words of the Psalmist, "the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children." God loves you, he is with you, trust him.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You know better that I do, the messes that are part of my life at the moment. But you are the great redeemer of mess, and have shown time and time again how you bring good from the bad and turn everything to your purposes. I ask that you would do that again with my life, redeem the mess and grant me and my children's children your righteousness, for Jesus sake, Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle