Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). 

Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). 

Obed was the father of Jesse. 

Jesse was the father of King David. 

David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

...

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. 

Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

Matthew 1:5-6, 16 NLT

At the beginning of the new testament, Matthew's gospel is the whakapapa of Jesus and one of the interesting things is the way some people are mentioned. 

Our friend Ruth is mentioned here. 

Famous women in Jesus's line, Rachel for example, are not mentioned. 

Of the 42 generations of men from Abraham to Jesus there are 5 women mentioned; Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bethsheba and Mary are. These women are all honoured here, they all have a story. 

If we ever think that our story is not good enough, that we're not good enough, not enough, then we can stand with these 5 people. When Ruth's husband died, when she comitted to living with & caring for Naomi (who at the time was bitter & angry), when she left her people & what she knew to honour her committment, she had no idea that she would be part of God's redemptive story, that she would be honoured by Matthew with just 5 out of 42 mums in Jesus line. 

Our God sees our story, and can use it for good. 

Ruth the Moabite, the alien, from "there", is seen and known and redeemed. 

Whatever your story, you're seen, known & redeemed.

#Godsstory