Rahab and Ruth

“Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth...” Matthew 1:5
Matthew’s gospel begins with a genealogy of Jesus Christ, showing how He was descended from Abraham, through the royal line of David, from the tribe of Judah, all as prophesied (Gen. 49:10, 2 Sam. 7:12). It’s interesting to note, in this, the most Jewish of the four gospels, the mention of two Gentile women. (Tamar is also mentioned (Matt. 1:3), and ‘Uriah’s wife’ whome we know as Bathsheba, Matt. 1:6).
We encountered Rahab in Joshua 2. She was a prostitute living in Jericho (and thus a Canaanite), who sheltered the spies when they came to the city. She was spared for her kindness, and included in the ‘hall of faith’ (Heb. 11:31). She made a profession of faith in Josh. 2:11 – “for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
Ruth was also a Gentile, from Moab (Ruth 1:4). She too, made a profession of faith: “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). As we know, Boaz the kinsman-redeemer married her and redeemed the land for Naomi.
God used both of these women in the human genealogy of Jesus – He doesn’t hide them away as skeletons in the closet. He isn’t ashamed of them because of their backgrounds, or the fact that they were born outside the covenant – rather, He is greatly pleased because they came to faith. The inclusion of Rahab and Ruth speaks hope to all of us. If God could use them in this way, He can use any of us. None of us are too low that God will not use us as His instrument, if we come to faith and dedicate our lives to Him.