Three women have the honor of having their names recorded in the genealogy of Christ - Rahab, Ruth, and Tamar, and as I asked the Lord one morning what these three women might have in common “tenacity” is the word that dropped into my spirit. So I explored the lives of these three woman – how each one exhibited tenacity in her own unique way – and here’s what I discovered.
Tenacious: Inclined to hold fast; inclined to retain what is in possession
Tenacity: the quality or ability to stick to a thing (or to others) Webster's 1828.
RAHAB – Joshua Chapter 2:
“Swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, show kindness now to me and my father’s house and save us.”
Rahab the Strategist emerges here (and this becomes the pivot point of her life) after coming to an awareness and faith in the One True God as evidenced by her words earlier in the Chapter:
For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt…and as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
But back to Rahab’s BIG ASK – “show me kindness as I have shown you.” Here’s where Rahab recognizes and SEIZES her literal “one-in-a-lifetime” opportunity when it presents itself, and orchestrates the deliverance of her entire family! Even before Joshua draws his line in the sand and says “choose this day whom you will serve” Rahab decides on which side of the line she will live. She chooses tenacious faith in the One True God and because she chooses faith, Rahab is grafted not only into the family of God, but into the family line of Jesus through a marriage that results in the birth of Boaz (the one who will later marry Ruth!) Won’t God do it! As we partner with His ways!
Rahab’s starting point may have been “prostitute” but it wasn’t her ending point. And she ends up with an honorable mention in the Hebrews Hall of faith. How we finish is more important than how or where we start. Rahab also portrays the reward for going after a thing rather than continuing on in complacency or bowing down under fear. Rahab was a woman who was willing to take action and who was willing to make a bold ask, and she was reward accordingly. (JUDGES 2, Matthew 1:5, HEBREWS 11:31)
RUTH: The Book of Ruth
“Where you go, I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
With these words, Ruth prophesies her future (and this continues throughout her story) and resolves to continue on in her relationship with Naomi and follow Naomi’s footsteps into an unknown land and an unknown people. She knows the journey won’t be easy but she’s willing to honor and submit herself to Naomi, work hard, and do the things that need to be done to secure a better future for herself and Naomi. And admirable, she does it all without complaint.
And Ruth’s actions always aligned with her faith-filled words that had set her course. Through the heat and through the gleaning – through it all - Ruth was thankful for every kindness shown her. Ruth listened to the wise counsel of Naomi and took a posture of humility. In the process Boaz took note of her and in the end she found favor in his eyes. And most remarkable, when the moment came Ruth was willing to do and to say the audacious thing – to lie at the feet of Boaz on the threshing floor and to ask him, “will you marry me?” And thus Ruth was grafted in, through marriage, to the bloodline of Christ.
TAMAR: Genesis 38
And then there's Tamar. As soon as we’re introduced to her, we’re told that her husband was so wicked the Lord killed him. An ominous beginning. Next, then her father-in-law Judah tells one of his others sons to marry her and to impregnate her, but he disobeys and the Lord kills him as well. Strike two. Judah then tells Tamar to remain a widow for a time till one of his other sons comes of age, but this is merely subterfuge – Judah likely has no intention on following through, evidenced by his words, “lest he also die like his brothers.”
A “process of time” passes before Tamar decides she’s not willing to be cast aside. She’s not willing to be robbed of what was promised to her. She’s not willing to be left out of her inheritance. The men in her life didn’t do right by her, but Tamar determines she’s going to have her baby one way or another. She realizes no one is coming to her rescue and that it’s fallen to her to do something to change her situation. and with a daring spirit and the highest level of audacity, she poses as a prostitute and gets herself impregnated by none other than her father-in-law Judah. It’s a wild story and her actions are audacious if not scandalous, but in the end Judah acknowledges, “she has been more righteous than I.” And in taking such a great risk, Tamar end up with a double portion, twin baby boys, and secures her place in the family lineage of Christ. Tamar didn’t give up and she reaps the reward of her tenacity.
Three women and three different expressions of tenacity in apprehending a better portion. Three women who believed God had something better for their lives and followed through in pursuit of it. Each one took the first step in changing the course of their lives, in seeking something better, greater. May their lives inspire you as you ponder what tenacity might look like for you in this season and what the Lord is calling you to apprehend through tenacious faith. Faith forward!
From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth and passionate people have taken hold of its power.
Matthew 11:12 TPT
“So let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint, give up, lose heart, or grow weary. Galatians 6:9