Tag Archives: Jesus

December 17, 2023 · 11:02 am

Rahab – a Story of Acceptance and Faith

Today, we continue our look at the genealogy of Jesus and Joseph. Last time, we looked at Tamar; this time, we will look at the story of Rahab, the prostitute. What I love about the Bible is that the authors do not try to hide the good, the bad, or the ugly about people. It is all included so that we find that we are welcome no matter who we are or what we have done.

I am amazed and blessed that Tamar and Rahab were included in the story of Christ. Her story was filled with deceit and rejection, but nonetheless, it is a story of hope. As we look at the story of Rahab, a few things will help us understand it. The nation of Israel had finally left the wilderness. They had been there for forty years because of their disobedience. They could have entered earlier, but they spent forty years wandering in the wilderness because of their lack of faith.

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the promised land, they were to conquer it. While in the wilderness, God provided them with everything. He provided food, water, and safety. Now, they would have to fend for themselves. They were to possess the land but had to fight for it. They had to take it.

God had commanded the Israelites to take the land and destroy Jericho, but they were to do so in an unconventional means. They were to march around the town once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march seven times. On the seventh time, they were to blow their horns and shout at the top of their lungs.

Once they crossed over the Jordan River, Joshua sent the two spies into the city of Jericho. Jericho was a city surrounded by thick walls. There were two walls. The first was at least thirteen feet thick, and the second was seven feet thick. These walls were almost impenetrable because they were so thick.

Once inside Jericho, the spies encountered a young woman named Rahab. She is identified as a harlot or a prostitute in the story of Joshua. She befriended them and hid them in the stalks of wheat harvested on her roof. This was a big risk for her because her countrymen could have sentenced her to death for the act of treason. Since she did not know Josh, would he keep his word? As we study this, we see that she trusted God more than she feared those living in Jericho and more than her trust or non-trust for Joshua’s men. Rahab risked everything to save Joshua’s men and protect them from the onslaught by Jericho.

This is a story of grace and mercy. Rahab was an outsider. She was a Gentile. She did not have the credentials to serve God. Or so she thought. In our day, many would not have received her either. She had too many things against her. After all, she was a prostitute. For the Israelites, she was not of the Jewish faith. She was not in the right profession, and she was in the right group, but God used her. Have you ever felt unworthy to serve God because of your origin or what you might have done?

What saved her? It is because she recognized the power of God and began to acknowledge God as her king. This changed her life, and she was willing to take the risk on both fronts. Listen to her story of faith in Joshua 2:8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. She gave a testimony of the power of God to save. She recognized the power of God and gave Him praise.

As I read this story. I thought of the story of Mary Magdelene, who was about to be stoned when Jesus approached the crowd. He saw the elders of the church with their hands raised to stone a woman who they said had been caught in adultery. Jesus saw the woman, approached the woman, and then knelt on the ground. As he did this, he began to scribble in the sand.

Some would argue, but I believe that he began to write out the names of her attackers and what they had done. He made this statement. He, without sin, cast the first stone. One by one, her accusers left her. Finally, there was no one there. Jesus asked her where your accusers were. They are not there. Jesus said neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.

The stories of Rahab and Mary Magdelene are important because Jesus came to save the world. So why would his lineage not involve the world? All men everywhere were accepted by Christ and welcomed into the kingdom of God. It did not matter. What mattered was that God received them where they were.

How do we know this about Rahab? First, Rahab is included in the genealogy of Christ. Secondly, she was mentioned in two different passages that represent her faith. Listen to these.

Hebrew 11:30:31 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

James 2:24-26  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

So let me ask you:

  1. Have you felt rejected because of your past?
  2. Have you been in a place where you believed you were not accepted because you were not in the right profession or the right group? Explain how that makes you feel.
  3. Where have you seen the grace and mercy of God in your life?
  4. Where can you reach out to someone who seems on the outside but needs God’s grace? Make a list and pray for God to allow you to speak life and hope to them.                                                                

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December 16, 2023 · 9:28 am

Tamar a Story of Hope

Robert W. Odom PH. D

I love that the writers of Scripture do not whitewash the stories detailed in the Bible. Throughout Scripture, we find a discussion of some challenging situations. These include abuse, rape, deception, broken promises, and more. The question is often asked why this is. I believe that God allows this so that we see the need for a Savior and what life looks like when we do not follow the principles God has established for us. The story of Tamar is one such story.

Historically and contextually, the law of that day required that if a man died before he had children, his brother would marry the widow, and their first-born child would take on the name of the deceased husband. This would allow that child to have his place in the lineage of the coming Messiah.

This was the one hope of the Jewish people. They longed to be in the family lineage that would give birth to the Messiah. This expectation was that Jewish people would wait with wonder for the birth of the Messiah. They would have great expectations at the birth of every male child. They would often greet one another with the words, “Have you heard any good news?” This meant Have you heard of His birth? They waited eagerly for the coming Messiah, the savior of the world and the redeemer of all humanity. That is why this story is both sad and amazing at the same time.

Let’s look at the story. Tamar married Er, Judah’s first-born son. The Bible tells us that he was such an evil man that he died. The Bible says that “he was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death.” We do not know how or when. We know that he was wicked, and he died.

Onan, who was the second brother in line. He married Tamar according to Jewish culture and religious law traditions. He was to have a child so that the lineage of the Messiah would be established. He married her but refused to conceive a child with her. He faked everyone and lied about what he did. (Because this is a G-rated article, I cannot describe what he did). This action and the refusal for him to obey the law cost him his life.

And this is where it gets to be a real lifetime network movie. Tamar was promised Judah’s youngest son. He never gave him to Tamar for fear that he, too, would die. He failed to recognize the real reason his sons had died. They were evil. It does not say it in scripture, but I imagine he blamed Tamar, not his sons, for their deaths.

To get even, Tamar dressed up as a prostitute. Judah saw her, and he took her. Because of this interaction, she conceived a child (we later find out they are twins). She was brilliant because she requested a goat for her payment. Since Judah did not have one available, she asked for a security deposit. She asked for his signet, the cord, and the staff/rod. He gave them to her.

After they made love, he sent men to give her a goat to honor their agreement. But she could not be found. Three months later, Judah received word that Tamar was pregnant. What does he do? He calls for her to be burned, which was the penalty for having a child out of wedlock and breaking the law of the time. Do not forget that women were not honored that day.

Being the intelligent woman she was, she produced the evidence she had been holding. She asked him to identify them because the man to whom they belonged was the man who was the father of her child. Things changed quickly, and he realized he had wronged her and had been caught. He could not have her put to death because it would have jeopardized his own life and standing in the community. He also recognized that he had betrothed his youngest son to her but never allowed this to happen. He had forced her hand. She knew how important it was for her to keep her husband’s namesake alive, even though he had been evil. Tamar, an outsider, was more focused on the Jewish law of Messiah than Judah was.

In the end, she gave birth to twins Perez and Zerah. Here is the fantastic part of this story. Perez became the father of Boaz, who became the father of Jesse, who became the Father of David, who we now know was in direct line through which Messiah would be born.

Wow, what a story. And this is the G version. This story is complicated, messy, and filled with trickery. However, God used a terrible situation to bring about His will and purposes in the life of humanity. Ultimately, God cares about the widow, the hurting, and the forsaken. Remember, Christ came to minister grace and mercy in significant ways.

As we have noted before, our past does not dictate our future. While our past may form who we are, it does not have to define us. God does not use our past against us. He redeems our past so that we can live whole and complete lives in the present. God chose a broken and rejected woman to be included in the genealogy of Christ.

God takes the messy and broken pieces of our lives and restores them. Broken promises are a part of life, but God turns these hurts and wounds into opportunities for healing. We become more sympathetic and empathetic to those who hurt around us. We are filled with more compassion to see others in a redemptive light rather than one that judges and condemns.

Listen to the mission of Christ in His own words. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

God set Tamar free, and He can do that for you today. Trust Him. Turn to Him. Ask Him to help you. You might be surprised at the outcome.

So let me ask you:

  1. What lessons do we learn from this story?
  2. Have you experienced the grace of God like Tamar did? She deserved death, but she received life and ended up in the lineage of Christ.
  3. Where have you experienced broken promises and deceit? How did that impact you?
  4. How do you see the grace and mercy of God at work in this story?

© Robert W. Odom Ph. D. 2023

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December 10, 2023 · 10:03 am

Redemptive Grace of God

Robert W. Odom Ph. D.

I have been amazed over the last few years at the interest of people who want to know their heritage. Companies like 23 & Me and Ancestry.com are booming in sales. People want to know where they came from and who their ancestors are. Some of the tests available now can tell us how we were designed according to our DNA and if we are susceptible to certain diseases.

While the Bible did not have 23 & Me, Ancestry.com, or DNA testing, one’s heritage was important. There was often a discussion about their fathers and which of the tribes of Israel to which they belonged. This was critical for them, as the Jewish people longed for and anticipated the coming Messiah. So, they valued their genealogy.  The prophecies of the Messiah’s coming caused them to keep close tabs on their heritage. They hoped they would be the chosen family to be included in the Messiah’s lineage.

As we enter this Christmas season, one of the overlooked parts of the Christmas story is the genealogy of Christ in Matthew chapter 1. What sets this apart is that Matthew includes five women in his genealogical account. These women include Tamara, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. In our current culture, this does not seem unusual, but in the culture of that day, it was uncommon for women to be included in genealogical history.

Matthew took this step because he had been accepted into Jesus’ core group of leaders, His disciples. He had been a tax collector. Tax collectors were not loved in that culture. Tax collectors worked for the Roman government. They were most likely Jewish, as the Roman government wanted to use them to exact taxes from the Jewish people. The Jewish community had a disdain for the Roman government, and they did not have a love for the tax collectors hired by the Roman Government. He knew what it meant to be unloved and disconnected. Being accepted by Christ established empathy and compassion in him. For this reason, I believe Matthew included these women in the text.

Matthew had a story, and each of these women had a story. It was a story to tell and one we needed to hear. The overarching lesson is that we have hope for a better future no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we have done.  Our past or the things we have done do not disqualify us. God has a plan and will help us achieve that plan sometimes in the most remarkable ways. God does not use our family life or our heritage against us.

In these stories, here are some things we need to know. First, it was rare for the names of women to be used in the genealogy of that day. In those days, men held all the power and prestige. The man was king, and the woman had little input in life. She was a servant and served the man. Matthew was writing to the common man and wanted them to see the truth of the lives related to the story of Jesus’ birth. He was not about whitewashing the story. Matthew recognizes the value of women and that they are a critical part of God’s story.

Second, Matthew starts with the story of Jesus’ birth. He includes these women to emphasize that God chooses whom He will be a part of His story. Some have suggested that Matthew included these women to soften the blow of the fact that Mary was a virgin and had not had a sexual relationship with anyone at that time. Mary’s circumstances were difficult and scandalous at that time. He was reminding them that others had been used to bring about the birth of the Messiah.

The culture of the day was not favorable to women. Mary’s family and the Jewish community could have ostracized her.  It would have been hard for her to find a husband. In those days, the Jews treated the betrothal (engagement) the same as being married. Once she was divorced, which was the only way to get out of the engagement, she could not marry because they considered this adultery, and this was to be avoided at all costs.

Third, Matthew uses these stories to show that anyone can be used in God’s kingdom regardless of their background or what they have done. He also revealed that anything is possible with God. God took broken lives and messed up circumstances to show His love and grace. He does this to show that the power of redemption works for everyone. No one is left out, and no one is skipped over regarding God’s redemptive grace. These women served as an example of how God uses anyone at any time. God was redeeming them, and they challenged the status quo.

Think about your life. Your past does not disqualify you. Your family history does not disqualify you. Christ’s birth was central to the story of redemption. He used those who could not receive grace from the society in which they lived. But God gives grace, and He still does this today. He takes the pain of our past, rejection, wounds, and hurts and gives us amazing grace.

The next few posts will look at these stories to understand God’s grace in these lives. We will look at their grief and the trauma they experienced. The goal is to offer a message of hope and encourage all of us to continue to push through our pain and hurt.

So let me ask you:

  1. In your life, where have you been wounded by culture or family issues? Where have you felt like you were on the outside looking in?
  2. Where have you witnessed God’s redemptive grace in your life?
  3. How has God’s grace used your past to make you more effective today?
  4. Where do you need the grace of God today to overcome hurt and wounds created by others? Or your actions?
  5. Sometimes, we have to look for the grace of God because the pain is so deep and hard. Spend some time in prayer and meditation to see where God is working.

© Robert W. Odom Ph. D.

Rev-odom.com

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May 20, 2019 · 11:15 am

Make Disciples

Peninsula Community Church 

May 19, 2019 

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Acts 1:7-8 He said to them,“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In the movie Citizen Kane, the last words Charles Foster Kane utters on his death bed are the words “Rosebud.” These words served to frame the movie’s narrative and provide the key to understanding the man’s tragic but world-changing life. In Jesus’ final days, He also spoke powerful words to His disciples that frame the narrative that would guide the rest of their life. These words continue to guide us and direct us as passionate followers of Christ, even today. You see Jesus gave us a “Great Commission” that helps us focus on our purpose and the reason we live in this world torn apart by sin and the depravity of mankind. It gives us purpose beyond our existence today.

The statements before us answer the life long question that so many ask. “Why am I here?”  “What am I suppose to do with my life?” “Can I really make a difference?” Mark Devers in his book “Disciple Maker” has suggested that disciplining is a ministry of how, but it is really a ministry of why. Discipling others involves modeling faith and godliness with our lives. Paul called those in Philippi to imitate what he had done and the life he lived (Philippians 3:17). Effective discipling also imparts the reasons for believing in and living for Jesus. Paul called Timothy to entrust to others what he had learned from Paul (2 Timothy 2:2). So discipleship is in fact a means to show why the way of Christ is the way to go. It is to answer the question “why Christ.” “Why should I believe?”

The truth is we are always disciplining. We are always effecting others. To disciple others we  must be passionate followers of Christ ourselves. Anyone can imitate Christianity for a while without any real conviction, but that kind of “faith” will not last, and it will not save. False Christianity is a hindrance to people receiving what they really need. The fact is those who look to us need the truths we believe, the truths behind how we live, but they need more than just a good person to follow, they need Jesus. You can never teach anyone all the how’s, but when you teach them the why’s, you prepare them to exercise wisdom and generate their own how’s long into the future.

As we look at the words contained in this passage, we find that through these words Jesus laid out three exclusive means to be disciples for Him. I say exclusive because this is reserved for those who have experienced a saving knowledge of Christ. These three elements include the following. He gave us a plan. He gave us a promise. He empowered us to accomplish the task that He called us to do. That is what I love about Christ. He never calls us to anything that He does not equip or prepare us to accomplish. Hudson Taylor the great missionary to China had one of the greatest quotes ever. He said Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. How many times have you been assigned a task but were not given the tools or power to accomplish the task? God never does that. He always provides everything we need.

So what is discipling? Mark Dever suggests that “At its core, discipling is teaching.” He says, “Your discipling should help people understand more. Through discipling, you want people to know why Christians pray, why we share the gospel, why we join the church, why knowledge of God’s sovereignty impacts how we live, and more.” To do this we must have been impacted by the Gospel message ourselves. We must have been changed by the radicalness of the Gospel.

A careful observation of this passage reveals that the only command in this text is really to make disciples. While go is a command. Teach is a command. Baptize is a command. In the original language, the major command here is to make disciples. All of these are the actions to be taken in order to disciple those around us. In essence, the passage could be translated something like this . As you are going, make disciples. As you are teaching, make disciples. As you are baptizing, make disciples. The emphasis, the pinnacle of this passage, is on discipleship. We reach people and bring them to a knowledge of Christ and help to deposit in them a hunger for more. 

As we consider these words, let us look at what He has done for us. First of all, Jesus gave us a plan. The words we have before us are just as powerful and just as important as they were 2000 years ago. Notice what He communicates to His disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples.” This is more than just winning someone to Christ. It is turning hearts to the ways of Christ. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you in such a way that people would want what you have. I think, based upon this text, Jesus would say there are three things that are true for disciples. Disciples have been adopted by God, disciples are being formed by God, and disciples are empowered by God for life and mission.

We have focused at times so much on the evangelism aspect of what God wants us to do, we have missed the discipleship aspect of what He has called us to do. Not too many years ago one of the largest churches in America, Willow Creek Church, realized an important missing component in their ministry philosophy. They had done a good job of bringing people into the church through evangelism, the problem was that they had not been as successful in discipling those who came into the church. 

Listen to Hybels own words. ”We made a mistake… What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and became Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self feeders. We should have gotten people (and) taught people how to read their Bible between services (and) how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.” Hybels indicated that the emphasis on programs and meetings did not produce disciples. Did you get that? Programs and ministries do not produce disciples. We must engage the gospel personally to grow in Christ. 

The problem was that while the church was growing, they were not making disciples. While there is something to providing an atmosphere that encourages people to come to the church and feel welcomed. It is another to provide opportunities for people to grow and become disciples. How do we know that people are disciples of Christ? A true disciple of Christ makes disciples of others. That is disciples make disciples. That is why it is noteworthy that Christ commanded us to make disciples and not just evangelize. Evangelism therefore is a subset of discipleship because without accepting Christ, discipleship is ineffective. 

Jesus said that we are to go into all of the world. The question however is where is our world? In other words while we all have a sphere of influence sometimes we need to move outside that sphere of influence to reach others. The world is our ministry. Where ever God plants you, that is your field of service for Christ, that is your world. No matter where you are, make disciples of all men. It is not your job to be selective, but to reach those you are given the influence to reach.

Secondly, He has given us a promise. He will be with us. He will be there and will guide your words and your voice. For this reason, we do not have to fear or for that matter worry about what we will say or do. Be confident in the fact that He is with us and that He is watching out for us. Be confident that He is leading us and directing our steps. Man makes plans in his heart but God directs his steps. 

Thirdly, He has empowered us. Jesus promised that He would not leave us without empowering us to accomplish the task at hand. He has empowered us by way of the Holy Spirit. There are some in the world who have a mistaken idea of what the Holy Spirit does and what His role is in our life. Based on Acts 1 His responsibility is to empower us to evangelize and disciple others. 

How does He do that? We only have to look at some of the amazing stories of the Book of Acts to see how this is worked out in us. Peter stood and preached a message where 3000 came to know Christ in one service. The disciples were empowered to meet daily in homes to encourage one another, teach the word, and share life with one another. The Holy Spirit also empowers in miraculous ways. Remember when Peter and John just walked by people and their shadow alone healed those they encountered. Stephen was empowered to preach a powerful message while men had stones clenched in their hands and were about to throw them at him. 

While these things are sensational, the Holy Spirit’s task is simply to empower and make a way for us to share Christ in every day life and existence. It is that simple. It is not complicated. Know this that Jesus has a plan for your life and He has promised to be with you so that no matter where He leads you He will be with you. He has imparted to you His Holy Spirit so that you are empowered to do what He calls you to do. 

So what do we do with this. We recognize that Jesus has a plan. We recognize that He has promised to be with us. And He has empowered us to accomplish His task. Let’s go for it. 

For an audio of this message go to http://pccministry.org/messages.

Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved Robert W. Odom

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