Unlikely Treasures
As Zach and I prepare to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on the gifts that matter most. Recently, he "upgraded" my wedding band, crafted with my engagement diamond and some stones from earlier gifts. I absolutely love it! But, as special as it is, it doesn’t compare to the first anniversary gift he gave me: a song he wrote just for me!
Words on a piece of paper appear small compared to a diamond ring, but because it was personal, thoughtful, and creative, its value far outweighs a material gift. I know you can relate—especially at Christmastime—when a popsicle stick ornament made by a toddler feels more precious than the most elegant store-bought decoration.
This idea of treasuring what others might overlook brings us to Matthew 1, the genealogy of Christ.
Five women are mentioned in a lineage of 28 generations, when lineages were typically only described by fathers’ names. These women weren’t the “perfect” examples you’d expect in the ancestry of the King of Kings. They were broken, bruised, and even shunned by society. But in God’s eyes, they were treasures.
Words on a piece of paper appear small compared to a diamond ring, but because it was personal, thoughtful, and creative, its value far outweighs a material gift. I know you can relate—especially at Christmastime—when a popsicle stick ornament made by a toddler feels more precious than the most elegant store-bought decoration.
This idea of treasuring what others might overlook brings us to Matthew 1, the genealogy of Christ.
Five women are mentioned in a lineage of 28 generations, when lineages were typically only described by fathers’ names. These women weren’t the “perfect” examples you’d expect in the ancestry of the King of Kings. They were broken, bruised, and even shunned by society. But in God’s eyes, they were treasures.
Tamar: A Story of Justice and Redemption
“Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar” (Matthew 1:3).
Tamar’s history in Genesis 38 is complicated, to put it mildly. Married and then widowed twice to two brothers who were so displeasing to God that He killed them, then denied the opportunity to marry Judah’s third son, Tamar took drastic measures to secure justice. Disguised as a prostitute, she tricked her father-in-law and ended up bearing Judah’s twin sons. Despite her circumstances and choices, God honored her faith and courage, weaving her into the lineage of Christ.
Tamar’s history in Genesis 38 is complicated, to put it mildly. Married and then widowed twice to two brothers who were so displeasing to God that He killed them, then denied the opportunity to marry Judah’s third son, Tamar took drastic measures to secure justice. Disguised as a prostitute, she tricked her father-in-law and ended up bearing Judah’s twin sons. Despite her circumstances and choices, God honored her faith and courage, weaving her into the lineage of Christ.
Rahab: From Prostitute to Protector
“Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab” (Matthew 1:5).
Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, displayed extraordinary faith when she hid Israelite spies in Jericho (Joshua 2). As she was hiding them, Rahab explains what she somehow understood:
“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath." Joshua 2:9-11
When Jericho's walls fell, God spared Rahab and her family- though her home was IN the wall. Her faith was rewarded with a place among God’s people and a marriage and to a Jewish man, Salmon. Together, they became parents, and ancestors of King Jesus.
Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, displayed extraordinary faith when she hid Israelite spies in Jericho (Joshua 2). As she was hiding them, Rahab explains what she somehow understood:
“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath." Joshua 2:9-11
When Jericho's walls fell, God spared Rahab and her family- though her home was IN the wall. Her faith was rewarded with a place among God’s people and a marriage and to a Jewish man, Salmon. Together, they became parents, and ancestors of King Jesus.
Ruth: Faithful Love and Redemption
“Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth” (Matthew 1:5).
Ruth, a Moabite widow, lived under a generational curse, yet she chose faith in God and loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi. She declared: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
God blessed Ruth’s faithfulness by providing her with a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz...who just happened to the son of Rahab- and a place in the genealogy of Christ! Imagine Ruth chatting with her new mother-in-law, Rahab, and sharing stories of God’s faithfulness in their lives!
Ruth, a Moabite widow, lived under a generational curse, yet she chose faith in God and loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi. She declared: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
God blessed Ruth’s faithfulness by providing her with a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz...who just happened to the son of Rahab- and a place in the genealogy of Christ! Imagine Ruth chatting with her new mother-in-law, Rahab, and sharing stories of God’s faithfulness in their lives!
Bathsheba: Restoration After Brokenness
“David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6).
Bathsheba later married King David and was the mother to King Solomon, but God always referred to her as the wife of Uriah. See, Bathsheba committed adultery with David while married to Uriah. As a King, David exploited his position to bring another man’s wife into his home. Then, after she became pregnant and her husband would not play along with any plans to cover up what had happened, David had Uriah murdered in battle.
So Bathsheba lived through a very public scandal. Then, she experienced the tragedy of losing a baby at just 7 days old. At times, Bathsheba must have felt like God had forgotten her. But here she is, remembered forever as an ancestor of King Jesus.
Bathsheba later married King David and was the mother to King Solomon, but God always referred to her as the wife of Uriah. See, Bathsheba committed adultery with David while married to Uriah. As a King, David exploited his position to bring another man’s wife into his home. Then, after she became pregnant and her husband would not play along with any plans to cover up what had happened, David had Uriah murdered in battle.
So Bathsheba lived through a very public scandal. Then, she experienced the tragedy of losing a baby at just 7 days old. At times, Bathsheba must have felt like God had forgotten her. But here she is, remembered forever as an ancestor of King Jesus.
Mary: The Humble Servant
“Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16).
Finally, we have the fifth woman named in this geneaology…Mary. Listen to how her family is described:
v. 6 “and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”
Joseph is not called the father of Jesus the way Jacob is called the father of Joseph. Joseph is simply called, the husband of Mary. Matthew describes it this way:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”
Even Mary, the young virgin, had to deal with her own scandalous reputation, though it was actually the most righteous of reasons that she was with child! She had been chosen to carry the Son of God!
Do you think her community believed it when they heard that she was with child “by the Holy Spirit”? Probably not. So much so, that her fiance was doing the noblest possible thing by quietly divorcing her rather than having her stoned for adultery.
Had God not intervened in a dream, Joseph would not have taken Mary at her word. It was too preposterous to believe that someone could get pregnant with no earthly father.
Finally, we have the fifth woman named in this geneaology…Mary. Listen to how her family is described:
v. 6 “and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”
Joseph is not called the father of Jesus the way Jacob is called the father of Joseph. Joseph is simply called, the husband of Mary. Matthew describes it this way:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”
Even Mary, the young virgin, had to deal with her own scandalous reputation, though it was actually the most righteous of reasons that she was with child! She had been chosen to carry the Son of God!
Do you think her community believed it when they heard that she was with child “by the Holy Spirit”? Probably not. So much so, that her fiance was doing the noblest possible thing by quietly divorcing her rather than having her stoned for adultery.
Had God not intervened in a dream, Joseph would not have taken Mary at her word. It was too preposterous to believe that someone could get pregnant with no earthly father.
From Broken to Beautiful
These five women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—teach us a powerful truth: God treasures the broken, the outcast, and the unexpected. They remind me of an illustration Jesus gave:
“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He leads justice to victory” (Matthew 12:20).
Like a bruised reed that couldn't be turned into a flute, or a smoldering wick that became smoky and smelly, we may sometimes feel worthless. But that does not mean that this is true. Jesus never gives up on us! He transforms what the world sees as worthless into something priceless.
If you’re feeling “less-than” this Christmas, remember: the same God who wove these women into His plan has plans for you. He loves you! He has chosen you as His treasure.
#TreasuredByGod #GodsGrace #DaughterOfTheKing #GodRedeems #GodRestores #HopeAfterHeartache #HeavensTreasure #Genealogy #Christmas2024 #BibleTruth #pastorzachterry #zachterry #julieterry #maximumlife
“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He leads justice to victory” (Matthew 12:20).
Like a bruised reed that couldn't be turned into a flute, or a smoldering wick that became smoky and smelly, we may sometimes feel worthless. But that does not mean that this is true. Jesus never gives up on us! He transforms what the world sees as worthless into something priceless.
If you’re feeling “less-than” this Christmas, remember: the same God who wove these women into His plan has plans for you. He loves you! He has chosen you as His treasure.
#TreasuredByGod #GodsGrace #DaughterOfTheKing #GodRedeems #GodRestores #HopeAfterHeartache #HeavensTreasure #Genealogy #Christmas2024 #BibleTruth #pastorzachterry #zachterry #julieterry #maximumlife
The Maximum Life Blog
My name is Zach Terry. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are my own, with occasional interjections from my bride of nearly 25 years, Julie. This format of publication is meant to allow for engagement and interaction. Feel free to comment. But please, be nice.
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