The Women in The Genealogy…
Well hey, friends! Here we are—the final blog of the year. Can you believe it? I want to wrap up our series on Christmas underdogs by talking about a group that God decided to highlight in the story of Jesus: the women in His genealogy.
Five women, five messy, beautiful, unexpected stories. And before you check out because “genealogy” sounds boring—hang with me. This is good.
Underdogs: Written Into the Greatest Story Ever Told
If you’ve been following along, we’ve talked about Joseph—righteous, quiet, steadfast Joseph. We’ve talked about the shepherds—rejected by society but hand-picked by God to be the first to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth. And now, let’s talk about Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.
These women aren’t footnotes. They aren’t tacked onto the end of the story like, “Oh, by the way, they existed.” No. They are intentionally written in. In a time and culture where genealogies were only about the men.
And let me tell you something: Their stories are messy.
Tamar—a woman caught in injustice and left to figure things out on her own.
Rahab—a prostitute who took a leap of faith and became a hero in Israel’s story.
Ruth—a widow, an outsider, who clung to faith and family and became part of God’s redemptive plan.
Bathsheba—a woman pulled into a story of power, pain, and loss.
Mary—a young woman who said yes to a role no one else could understand, carrying the Savior of the world.
Each of these women reminds us that God doesn’t pick the “perfect” people. He doesn’t toss us aside because of what we’ve done, what’s been done to us, or where we come from. Instead, He takes the messy, the overlooked, and the broken, and He writes them into His story.
Bathsheba: From Mess to Redemption
Let’s look at Bathsheba for a minute. Her story is heavy. At this point in Israels history they were at war and the men in their army were away fighting, with one exception- King David. It doesn’t seem strange to us that a king wouldn’t be in the middle of a battle, but this was unusual for David.
Something that is true for all of us, when we aren’t where we’re supposed to be - we’re asking for trouble.
One day David decides to take a walk on the roof of the palace, and he sees a woman bathing.
This story is often presented in a way that vilanizes Bathsheba - as she was provocatively lounging on a roof top to temp David. However, if we dig into the scripture we can find no evidence that Bathsheba was even on a rooftop.
She was likely bathing in a private courtyard, or bathing house following the religious laws to remain ceremonially clean. As far as I can tell, she was minding her own business.
David sends men to inquire about who she is, and eventually has her brought to the palace and sleeps with her.
I don’t think we can apply “it takes two to tango” argument here for several reasons. First, David holds all the power here- he held all the cards; she had none. Second, later in scripture we see David held accountable, not Bathsheba.
Then, when Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover it up and ultimately had her husband, Uriah—one of his most loyal warriors—killed.
Let’s pause there.
If this were the story that defined Bathsheba’s life, it would be heartbreaking. And for many of us, this is where we get stuck. In the pain. In what happened to us. In what we’ve done. In the parts of the story that feel messy and broken beyond repair.
But here’s the extraordinary part: God didn’t write Bathsheba out of the story. Instead, He wrote her in.
Her son Solomon became one of Israel’s greatest kings. And her name? Her name is recorded forever in the genealogy of Jesus.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Let me say this as simply as I can: If you feel like an underdog, if you feel like you’ve been written out of the story—God sees you.
You might think:
“I’ve done too much wrong.” Nope.
“Too many bad things have happened to me.” Still no.
“I’m too messy. Too far gone. Not important enough.” Hard stop.
The stories of Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and the others show us that there’s no mess too big for God to redeem. He doesn’t disqualify you. And you know what? You shouldn’t disqualify yourself either.
These women didn’t have clean, easy stories. But they were part of God’s story. And the same is true for you.
What Can We Take Into This Week?
Stop Disqualifying Yourself.
You are not written out of God’s story. Whether you’re walking through a storm right now, sitting in the middle of your mess, or on the other side of it—God sees you. He loves you. And He can use every part of your story for good.Share Your Story.
Here’s the truth: Your mess might just be someone else’s message of hope. The shepherds went and told everyone what they had seen and heard. The women at the tomb shared the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. Your story matters. Don’t hide it.
You Are Included
At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus—the Savior who came for all people. And that includes you. The overlooked. The underdog. The one who feels unseen or unworthy. You are not forgotten, you are not written out, and you are not too far gone.
God takes the broken pieces and makes something beautiful. That’s the message of Christmas. And if He can do it for Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and the rest, He can do it for you too.
So, as we wrap up this year, let’s lean into that truth. You’re included in the story—mess and all.
Merry Christmas, friends. May you feel seen, loved, and valued as you celebrate the One who came to redeem it all.
Here’s to a new year of embracing the story God is writing in us.
If you want more, check out my website, Everyday-Truths.com, or find me on social. And heads up—big news! My podcast launches in the new year, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎄
