Three Tenacious Women
Three women have the honor of having their names recorded in the genealogy of Christ - Rahab, Ruth, and Tamar, and as I pondered what these three women might have in common “tenacity” is the word that dropped into my spirit. So let’s glean some gems from the lives of these three women – how each one exhibited tenacity in her own unique way.
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.
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! 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 immortalized words, Ruth prophesies her future (and this continues throughout her story). Ruth is resolved, as evidenced by her words, to continue on in her relationship with Naomi. She is resolved - she will not be dissuaded - to begin the journey into an unknown land and an unknown people and to see it through to its end. She had to have known the journey wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to follow the footsteps of Naomi into a new land. With her words Ruth set her course, and her words came to pass. Ruth worked hard, listened to wise counsel, but above all she was tenacious in her desire to stay in relationship with Naomi and her willingness enter a new land as a foreigner and start a new life
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. The men in her life didn’t do right by her, but she’s unwilling to be robbed of what was promised to her. Tamar determines therefore she’s going to have her baby one way or another 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. And in taking such a great risk, Tamar secures her place in the family lineage of Christ. Her behavior was scandalous, but in the end Judah acknowledges, “she has been more righteous than I” and Tamar gives birth to twins. Tamar didn’t give up and she reaps the reward of her tenacity.
Three women. Three situations. Three different expressions of tenacity.
What have you learned? What are the gems you’ve gleaned?
Are there areas in your life where you could apply what you’ve learned?
Is there a Scripture that comes to your mind? Here’s mine:
“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. Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to everyone, and especially unto those of the family of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10, paraphrased