Originally posted 10/7/23
My husband, his father, and his brother assembled a swing that has been in their family for over 125 years. My father-in-law recounted the story of how his father and uncles originally carried it down the street from a neighbor’s house. My husband has been restoring the swing for over a year. I heard many stories about the swing as various family members played on it. There were even conversations about what our great-nephew would do on it when he came to visit. This swing has generational significance to my husband’s family. The swing now sits close to the wishing well that I helped my grandfather build when I was 8 years old. My mother-in-law told me we have many items to hand down to our children to preserve our heritage.
The Bible is full of documented family history as well as genealogy lists. When you hear the word genealogy does it ignite excitement or boredom? I have developed a curiosity about my family genealogy in recent years. I completed a DNA test to attempt to fill in gaps in the family tree. I found several cousins and people who were complete mysteries.
My family genealogy has more brick walls than my house. My cousin gave me a copy of a journal that my uncle had written. It felt like I had struck gold. Finally, I had names to add to our family tree. I was able to track people back several generations. I could see why my DNA matched certain people and not others.
When was the last time you read any genealogy passages in the Bible? Do you skip them because you cannot pronounce the names? Do you think they are unimportant? Do you feel like you have struck gold when you read the names and find one you recognize?
There are several different places in Scripture where genealogies are included. I imagine listening to someone read the genealogy while pronouncing all the names correctly. The names would have been familiar to each person listening.
As we move to the New Testament, Matthew opens with a genealogy. God had been silent for 400 years and He starts with a genealogy. If God starts with a genealogy then it must be important. We have to remember the importance of the heritage of the Jewish people. Each name gets one person closer to our Savior. Imagine the joy of listening to names that you recognize and realize their importance.
According to Gotquestions.org, “the purpose of a genealogy is to document the proof of ancestry from the origin of the line to the person under discussion. Every individual need not be included, but only those necessary to establish the descending relationship. The author may legitimately abridge a genealogy to establish a point or to make it simpler. Matthew is correct in the factual material for his purpose, which is to document the ancestry of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, from Abraham.”
As we look at the names in Matthew, According to the Bible Project, “By linking Jesus to Abraham, Matthew is bringing the reader’s attention back to the promise of God’s rescue plan for the world. He wants us to see that Jesus is the long-awaited son of Abraham who will bring God’s blessing to all humanity.”
The detail in Scripture is mind-boggling to me. Our God is a God of infinite detail. Our finite brains cannot wrap our minds around the infinite and extensive details of God.
Take a look at the genealogies with a new perspective even if you still cannot pronounce the names correctly. Remember, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” [2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV]