Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 1

 

From Adam to Israel

Many family records, or genealogies, exist in the Bible. These records are mentioned frequently in Genesis, Numbers, Chronicles, Ezra, and the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. While readers often skim or skip these parts of Scripture, the Bible's genealogies offer many important insights for our walk with the Lord.

First, the Bible's genealogies help confirm the historical reliability of the Bible. They give us insight into how God’s people fit in among the populations of the earth. This can have a strengthening effect on our faith as we see that Bible history aligns accurately with secular history.

Second, the Bible’s genealogies emphasize the importance of family and belonging. The family unit has served as the foundation of human society since Adam and Eve and their children. The importance of family is emphasized throughout the Bible. Family is a key component of God's plan for the happiness and progress of His children. The Holy Bible teaches that God established families from the very beginning, and it shows us many examples of strong families.

Third, the Bible's genealogies were also important in determining who could serve in certain roles. These included only Levites working in the tabernacle and temple, as well as descendants of Aaron who were to serve as high priest.

Fourth, the Bible's genealogies also prove many Bible prophecies and help confirm the identity of Christ, the Savior of the world. For example, the Messiah would be a Jew from the tribe of Judah and a descendent of both Abraham and David as Scripture predicted. When Jesus was born, His identity as the promised Messiah could be verified by matching up his family tree with the ancestors predicted and recorded in the Bible.

Though family lists may not seem as exciting as other parts of the Bible, each name and list represent important information that has significance in much of Biblical history. They also demonstrate the detail-oriented nature of God and His interest in individuals. God did not see Israel vaguely, as a random group of people; He saw with specificity, with precision and detail. There is nothing detached about the genealogies. They show a God involved in the lives of people. He is not a God who is far off, but a God who wants to get personally involved in your life. Just as the genealogies show the importance of belonging to a family, you can rest assured that you belong as your name is listed among the family of God in Heaven.