“Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Praise the LORD,
who has not left you without a family redeemer today.
May his name become well known in Israel.'”
What God Can Do with the Unlikely
I remember the first time I felt like I needed to hide from Jesus . . .
I was at a Christian retreat; it was my freshman year of college. I was hungry for God and wanted to know more of who He is, and I believed in that place, the retreat, I would be surrounded by His people and I would learn and take Him in. The Bible was newly alive to me, and with each phrase I was blown away at how I could understand it, and how it spoke to me. I was ready for more.
I tuned in as the speaker gave his talk, hanging on every word, until he said something that shook me.
The speaker asked, “What would you do if Jesus walked into the room right now?”
The immediate thought that came to my mind was, “I would hide.”
If Jesus came into the room, I would hide. I would go and bend down behind one of the worn couches and make sure He couldn’t see me. Because He wouldn’t want to see me. He, being holy and good, and me being filthy and having done awful things. I was not clean. I was dirty. A holy God shouldn’t see a dirty girl.
Shame.
I shared my thoughts with the small group I had been put in, thinking they were obvious and made sense, and someone from the group spoke life to me:
“You wouldn’t have to hide,” she said. “Jesus knows everything you’ve done and everything you’re going to do and He loves you anyway. If He were to come into this room, He would embrace you and put His hands on your face and call you ‘daughter’.”
Daughter.
God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. {James 4:6}
[T]o all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. {John 1:12}
I had no need to stay in my shame.
I was His daughter who He loved in spite of all the filth.
I was His daughter because I believed in Him and because I trusted Him with my life. And isn’t that the most extraordinary thing about God? He takes in the harlots, the outcasts, the dirty and the thieves and the liars, and He makes them — us, — sons and daughters. And then He makes us new: holy, righteous, perfect.
For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. {Hebrews 10:14}
He uses the unlikely to make His name known.
Did you know there are only four women named in the genealogy of Jesus? Yep, only four women named: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Mary.
Tamar played the harlot and had her father-in-law’s twin babies.
Rahab was a harlot.
Ruth initiated a relationship with Boaz after being instructed to do so by her mother-in-law Naomi.
Mary was a young pregnant virgin.
These women were a part of bringing Jesus to earth, and they are named because God wanted us to know their names.
He wanted us to know that Tamar, even though she tricked her father-in-law to sleeping with her because he had broken his promise to her, was worthy of being named because she was righteous. He wanted us to know that even a harlot, Rahab, was humble and faithful, and would, by His grace, give birth to a son who would turn into King David’s great, great grandfather. He wanted us to know that Boaz would redeem a young widow who sneaked into the place where he was sleeping at night to initiate a relationship, and that she would become the great, great grandmother of King David. And He wanted us to know that what looks like scandal, a young virgin pregnant, could be so holy that our minds would be blown away.
Rahab became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth, became the father of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of King David.
Rahab, the harlot, was the great-great-great-grandmother of the King after God’s own heart.
Rahab is in the line of Jesus.
So if a harlot can have faith and be used by God and receive the blessing of being named in the genealogy of Jesus, you my friend can be used of God no matter what.
The qualifications are this: Believe. Believe Jesus is who He says He is. Believe that when you turn to Him He makes you new, holy, and righteous. Believe that He will work all things for your good because you love Him and He loves you.
Jesus uses the unlikely.
He used Rahab and Tamar and Ruth and Mary.
And He is using me.
And He is using you.
For His name and His glory.
Sarah Mae, SarahMae.com
Do you believe that God is using you to make His name known? Why or why not?
Kirsten says
Beautifully said Sarah. Thank you.
Kelly Gadberry says
What a beautiful testimony and words from His Word! Thank you for blessing me and many others today!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Sarah,
Thank you for so beautifully debunking the myth that God condemns us in our shame. He is in the business of bringing beauty from ashes and He can do that with anyone…no exclusions…nothing too filthy…nothing unforgivable. All we have to do is believe in His name, repent, and we are washed white as snow. Continuing to carry around guilt after the fact serves no good purpose. It is finished. So thankful that we have a God who includes these women in the genealogy of Jesus just so we, the unrighteous, will know that God can make everyone pure. No exceptions. Loved this!!
Blessings,
Bev
lucy says
The message of this article brought me to tears right now. It touched the deep wound in my heart.
Adeola Odutola says
Thank you.
Heather says
In tears, thank you. The beauty of his grace and unconditional love.
Corena Hall says
Sarah
Thank you. In gratitude for the way God loves I am grateful for this post and your detailed reminder. He is indeed a faithful God who is El Roi the God who sees. And He saw this child in His love. He has been faithful to me from my mothers womb. He has always always been faithful and true. I’m blown away that He has rescued me. Praise Jesus Christ the only Son of our Father in heaven and Praise Holy Spirit the One who is my gentle Counselor and amazing Teacher.
Stephanie says
Thank you for this Sarah. Beautiful words that really touched my heart. I needed this ❤️
drag&fly says
still too much shame. still not enough faith/trust on my part.
Martha says
Oh sweet sister! I understand the burden of shame. I am still struggling, too. Some verses that the Lord has brought to me: 1 John 3:1; Zepheniah 3:17; Ephesians 1:4. Just let these verses roll around in your head and heart. Don’t try to justify them or anything – just listen…..His Spirit will begin the healing you need. Find more verses like them! His Word is TRUTH! And yes, I still struggle too – but the Word is a healing balm to my wounded heart.
KathyF.6263 says
Amen!
KathyF.6263 says
You are no different than the rest of the Daughters of Christ. Why shame yourself? Jesus forgives and forgets.
We, on the other hand, being human, forget or don’t know how to forgive ourselves.
If the Great One can forgive us who are we not to forgive ourselves? People continue to remind us of our faults and failings. Jesus does not! ‘Love the Lord with all your heart and He will make straight thy path!’
Hang on to Jesus. The way, the truth,and the Light! Prayers and love to you this day!
Jessica says
Thank you – you nailed it! The Lord really spoke thru you on this one- great writing and message!
Lisa Petrarca says
Amen! What a beautiful reminder this morning!
Jasmine Ryan says
How easily shame sneaks up and entangles! Memories can feel so much more real than our unseen Father, and in those times, we must look to His character to discern His voice. While God convicts, the enemy condemns. God fills us with hope, the enemy fills us with shame. The enemy says “you’ll never be good enough because of what you’ve done.” God says “You are already good enough because of what I’ve done.” Satan snares us in the past or leaves us grasping for the future, but God says “Today is the day that I have made for you.” And He makes ways for us to make His name known, today.
Today I choose to ask God, “How do You see me?” And His response is the answer to every question.
Beth Williams says
Sarah Mae,
Such wisdom. I remember this saying “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” We are all His daughters no matter the past. Praise God He ca forgive, forget and love us still! It is the devil that wants to keep condemning us and reminding us of what we’ve done. We just need to remind Him that he no longer controls us, but Jesus! Thankful God is loving enough to use harlots & unlikely to be in His genealogy.
Blessings 🙂
Crystal Twaddell says
So very true! God is waiting for us to believe it. Such encouragment Sarah Mae!
Oshamebinum says
I cried as I read this article. The words literally lept out of the pages and embraced me. It is just like God to use someone as unqualified as me for His glory. Thank you Sarah for these words that are spirit and life.