The stories of Rahab and Ruth are as much a part of the Christmas story as the shepherds and angels. These two women, from pagan and even messy origins, found their names written in the lineage of Christ. Not as footnotes or bystanders, but as key players—like Mary herself—essential to the unfolding drama of salvation. Their inclusion wasn’t random; it was deliberate. A God who spins order from chaos, light from darkness, and holiness from the least likely places chose them to be part of His plan.
Take Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute. By every earthly standard, she didn’t belong. Yet, when she heard about the God of Israel, she chose faith. She hid the spies, risked her life, and declared her belief in Yahweh’s sovereignty. What did God do with her messy past and scandalous reputation? He redeemed it. He pulled her into His family and gave her a place of honor, even making her an ancestor of Jesus. Her story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Then there’s Ruth, the Moabite widow, who shines as a picture of loyalty and love. When she clung to Naomi, she clung to Naomi’s God too. Her faith wasn’t loud, but it was steady. She gleaned in fields, trusting that God would provide. And provide He did. Not just for her hunger but for her future. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David. God loves to use outsiders and underdogs to showcase His glory.
It’s a pattern we see all through Scripture. Mud and spit give sight to the blind. Pagan poets provide words for Paul to preach the gospel. Jesus welcomes prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners into His circle. This is the God who, as Paul says, “calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17).
And what about us? Rahab and Ruth remind us that God doesn’t just save us. He elevates us. He invites us into His divine life, transforming us from the inside out. At Christmastime, we celebrate that truth: a Savior who came not just to rescue but to renew, to take sinners and make them saints, to turn outsiders into beloved children of the King, partakers in the very divine life of God. That’s the beauty of Christmas—God’s redeeming love.
Maranatha
Jordy
