http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%201-2&version=NIV
1 CHRONICLES 1 - 2
A few weeks ago the Chinese celebrated Qing Ming Jie, a springtime festival when families gather to remember their ancestors. It’s an enormously important cultural occasion. A special effort is made to visit and clean up the graves of departed loved ones, and often the occasion is made more meaningful by the retelling to younger generations the life and contributions of their ancestors. Although the practice can have elements that constitute ancestral worship, there is no reason for it to bear any religious significance. As a Christian outsider looking in, I have a strong appreciation for the importance that the Chinese place on family and tradition. Occasions like Qing Ming Jie serve to remind us of who we are and where we come from.
The genealogies in 1 Chronicles were written to serve a very similar purpose: to remind ourselves of who we are and where we come from. But more than that, they tell us where we are going and who will lead us there. To those of us who are reading the Bible through the year, each name has a story behind it which reminds us of the very important fact that God is faithful. As you read the genealogies consider following each name with the phrase “to whom God was faithful.” From Adam onward, God has demonstrated His faithfulness throughout our family’s history, and He continues to demonstrate His faithfulness to us today.
Believe it!
Chad
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Thanks Chad for the post!
ReplyDeleteI’m going to use your phrase “But more than that, they tell us where we are going and who will lead us” I like that and will use your thoughts for a messaage. Thanks Chad. Genealogies used to be like reading the dictionary: dry, boring stuff that I used to think had nothing to do with me today. Not anymore, God promised Abraham that He would bring the Messiah into the world through his lineage. Satan tried his best to stop God’s promise but he could not. We are reading part of Jesus’ lineage here.
ReplyDeleteSatan could not stop the plan of God! God was faithful to His Word to bring Jesus into the world to save a sin sick world and we can be confident in God of His faithfulness to fulfill His promises toward us.