Author Archives: Dawn Voskuil

About Dawn Voskuil

Although Dawn Voskuil has a degree in Education, she has spent most of her adult life in lay ministry. She has taught Sunday School, facilitated Bible Studies, and spoken at youth gatherings. She has chaired a Women's Ministry program and has led a Moms In Prayer group for many years. She has opened her home to the work of the Lord. During those years, others have commented on her ability to see things often missed in Scripture and her God-given talent of "bringing the Bible to life." They have encouraged her to write down and share her thoughts. Thus, the purpose of this blog. Dawn lives in Northern IL with her husband. She has three grown children, two of whom are married, and three grandchildren. Dawn is currently serving part-time as the Dean of Women at Ellerslie Discipleship Training. When she isn't writing or ministering, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and being out in nature.

So, This is What Blessed Feels Like

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Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! … Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.  Luke 1:42, 45 ESV1

Read Luke 1:2-38

Those words were spoken to Mary by her relative, Elizabeth, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Mary had come to visit Elizabeth shortly after Mary became pregnant by the power of the same Holy Spirit. Mary had unquestionably accepted this strange happening with the words, “‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your [the angel, Gabriel’s] words’” (Luke 1:38). And Mary had excitedly agreed with Elizabeth’s announcement, saying, “‘From now on all generations will call me blessed’” (Luke 1:48). And Mary was blessed like no other woman on the face of this Earth has been blessed. But did Mary have any idea what that blessing would entail?

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Noble Joseph

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Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.   Matthew 1:20b NLT1

Read Matthew 1:1-25

As he worked in his carpenter’s shop, did Joseph ever ponder the fact that he was a descendant of the great King David? His ancestors, for fourteen generations, had been kings of Israel, the leaders of God’s chosen people. Did he ever wonder how his life would have been different had Israel faithfully served God and still had a king on the throne? He could have been raised as a prince, not a pauper. He could have been preparing for the throne instead of building a blue-collar business.

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The Colorful Past of Jesus’ Ancestor, Bathsheba

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The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary to whom Jesus was born…  Matthew 1:1a & 6b,16 ESV1

Read 2 Samuel 11:1-26, 12:1-25, 1 Kings 1:5-53

Bathsheba, Jesus’ 25th Great Grandmother, was the beautiful wife of Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was one of the leading men in David’s band of the toughest military warriors who were credited with heroic feats. They fought next to David during the years Saul was trying to kill him and were an invaluable part of David’s army during the time he was king. These men fought bloody battles and did amazing, almost crazy, deeds like single-handedly taking out 300 men with only one spear, killing lions barehanded, and snatching spears out of the hands of 7 1/2 foot-tall enemies. (See 1 Chronicles 11 and 2 Samuel 23).

Because Bathsheba was married to such a wild man, I doubt she was a mousy, little woman who was afraid of her own shadow. We don’t know when Uriah and Bathsheba wed. We don’t know if Uriah was with David for the entire 8 years David was hunted by Saul. But if Bathsheba was with Uriah even part of that time, she could have lived on the run for years finding shelter in caves. She could have had her home burned and been temporarily captured (see 1 Samuel 21-31). A wife of a wild man would have had a wild life. True, opposites do attract, but my guess is Bathsheba was as rugged as she was beautiful.

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The Color Past of Jesus’ Female Ancestor, Ruth

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The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born…  Matthew 1:1a, 5b & 16 ESV1

Read Ruth 1:1-18, 2:1-23, 3:1-18, 4:1-13

Ruth, Jesus’ 28th Great Grandmother, was a foreigner, a Moabite maiden, the daughter-in-law of Naomi, an Israelite woman. The book of Ruth tells us that Naomi moved with her husband, Elimelech, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion to Moab to flee famine in Israel. During their time in Moab, Elimelech died. Then both of the young men married Moabite women. Shortly afterward becoming husbands, Mahlon and Chilion also died. This left Naomi alone in a foreign land, with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, and with no man to provide for and protect them. Imagine the mourning in that household!

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The Colorful Past of Jesus’ Female Ancestor, Rahab

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The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born… Matthew 1:1a, 5a & 16 ESV1

Read Joshua 2:1-24, 6:17 & 22-25

Rahab, Jesus’ 29th Great Grandmother, was a successful businesswoman in the pagan town of Jericho. Unfortunately, the best business opportunity for a woman in her town at her time was the business of selling one’s body. Rahab was a prostitute with an international clientele. From her house in the city’s wall, she could easily advertise her business to travelers and merchants of all kinds.

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The Colorful Past of Jesus’ Female Ancestor, Tamar

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The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Judah the father of Perez … by Tamar … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born…  Matthew 1:1a, 3a & 16 ESV1

Read Genesis 38:1-30

Although they played just as vital a role as the men, there are only five women named in Matthew’s record of Jesus’ genealogy. We are familiar with Mary and her valuable role as Jesus’ mother. But what about these other women? What is so important about each of them that their names are specifically mentioned? Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

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