Who? - Devotion on Matthew 1

As you read through the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-17 (and yes, you should read it), what names do you recognize?

There are people whom we remember fondly from the Old Testament as being strong in the faith - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ruth and Boaz, King David, and King Josiah.

Then there are people who are a little more infamous - Tamar (who tricked her father-in-law into impregnating her by pretending to be a prostitute), Rahab the prostitute (who actually was a prostitute and betrayed her native city of Jericho),  and Bathsheba (named here only as the woman formerly known as Uriah's wife).

And, of course, you know about Eliakim in verse 13, right? (Not to be confused with Eliud in verses 14-15.)

Oh, you've never heard of Eliakim or Eliud? That's because the Bible never tells us anything about them other than their names. You see, the genealogy of Jesus shows us that God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes. To bring about the birth of Jesus, God used the famous faithful, the infamous, and the unknown, otherwise important people down through the generations.

Fortunately, you and I will probably not be counted among the famous faithful (who wants the pressure of being famous anyway?), or the infamous (yes, we sin, but no one is writing stories about us). Instead, we will gladly be counted among the unimportant in the grand scheme of things. The gladly unimportant whom God gladly uses.

He used Eliakim and Eliud to help bring the Savior into the world! How can God use you, oh, ye of little importance?