My uncle starting looking into the Chauncey genealogy several years ago. He searched on the internet, libraries, and even took trips to check out information. We, being the good southern family with roots in Georgia and Tennessee, were certain he would discover our southern roots. Jonathan was devastated to find out that one of our ancestors is honored for the Civil war with a large monument, only it was for fighting for the Yankees. Now my son has never been prejudice about color of skin, nationality, etc. But for some reason, it was very important to him so be Southern bred and born. Finding out his genealogy was a great disappointment to him. He holds on the fact that the Hightower and Goins blood is at least Southern.

For the Jewish people, this was a bigger deal than a kid wanting to be from the south. God's promises were given to the Jew, they were expecting God to make of them a great nation through this Messiah. So Matthew starts by giving the genealogy of Jesus. I want to focus on the women mentioned.

Pherez (Phares) by Tamar (Thamar) - Now Tamar is the first woman mentioned in the genealogy. (Genesis 38) What a terrible story of man's vile sinful nature. Yet God included it in His Word and in the ancestry of His Son. It is a story of deceit, dissobedience to God's Law, immorality, and incest. Yet God used these people in the ancestry of the Mesiah. It only proves the sinfulness of man and our great need for a Savior.
Salmon by Rahab - Rahab is the second woman named in the ancestry of the Messiah. Her story is found in the book of Joshua. Rahab was condemned to die. Her people were wicked, ungodly people. God had told Israel to destroy them. Rahab heard they were coming. She knew that she was condemned along with her people. Yet, she believed that the God of Israel was all powerful and that He was the "God in heaven above, and in earth beneath". She dared to hope that He might have mercy on her. When God brought the spies into her life, she acted on that faith and saved their lives and asked for mercy for herself and her family. God granted that request when she obeyed the Israelites command to put a scarlet rope from her window so that the soldiers would know that mercy was to be extended to Rahab.
Boaz by Rahab - This is the third woman mentioned in the line of the Messiah. The Book of Ruth is written about this relationship. Ruth was not an Israelite by birth, she was a Moabite. Having just learned about Israel's journey to the Promised Land, you will remember that they were the enemies of God and Israel. Because of the lack of faith on the part of Elimelech to supply his family's needs, he took them to live among the enemy Moab. Living in that land, their sons married Moabite women. In spite of the fact they were living with the enemy, there was something about this family that touched the heart of Ruth. When Elimelech and his sons died, Naomi wanted to return to her people - God's people. Ruth was determined to go with her, stating that where Naomi went she chose to go. Where Naomi lived, she chose to live. She chose to make Naomi's family her family and most importantly she chose Naomi's God to be her God. Her faithfulness to that choice led her to a rich, righteous, related man named Boaz. Boaz became her kinsman redeemer.
Through Tamar, we saw the awful sinfulness of mankind and his desperate need for a Savior.
Through Rahab, we see the mercy of God on the sinner. No matter how great the sin, the sinner who repents and believes will receive mercy from God. Rahab shows us a merciful Savior.
Through Ruth, we see the grace of God in giving a Redeemer to pay the debt we could not pay.
Who knew that a boring genealogy could be so amazing? God was so meticulous in His plan of salvation, that even the people in the ancestry point to His great love for us and His desire to save all who come to Him in faith.