ARE YOU READY TO BUTCHER SOME BIBLE NAMES?!
HERE WE GO:
Matthew 1 The Message (MSG)
1 The family tree of Jesus Christ, David’s son, Abraham’s son:
2-6 Abraham had Isaac,
Isaac had Jacob,
Jacob had Judah and his brothers,
Judah had Perez and Zerah (the mother was Tamar),
Perez had Hezron,
Hezron had Aram,
Aram had Amminadab,
Amminadab had Nahshon,
Nahshon had Salmon,
Salmon had Boaz (his mother was Rahab),
Boaz had Obed (Ruth was the mother),
Obed had Jesse,
Jesse had David,
and David became king.
Isaac had Jacob,
Jacob had Judah and his brothers,
Judah had Perez and Zerah (the mother was Tamar),
Perez had Hezron,
Hezron had Aram,
Aram had Amminadab,
Amminadab had Nahshon,
Nahshon had Salmon,
Salmon had Boaz (his mother was Rahab),
Boaz had Obed (Ruth was the mother),
Obed had Jesse,
Jesse had David,
and David became king.
6-11 David had Solomon (Uriah’s wife was the mother),
Solomon had Rehoboam,
Rehoboam had Abijah,
Abijah had Asa,
Asa had Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat had Joram,
Joram had Uzziah,
Uzziah had Jotham,
Jotham had Ahaz,
Ahaz had Hezekiah,
Hezekiah had Manasseh,
Manasseh had Amon,
Amon had Josiah,
Josiah had Jehoiachin and his brothers,
and then the people were taken into the Babylonian exile.
Solomon had Rehoboam,
Rehoboam had Abijah,
Abijah had Asa,
Asa had Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat had Joram,
Joram had Uzziah,
Uzziah had Jotham,
Jotham had Ahaz,
Ahaz had Hezekiah,
Hezekiah had Manasseh,
Manasseh had Amon,
Amon had Josiah,
Josiah had Jehoiachin and his brothers,
and then the people were taken into the Babylonian exile.
12-16 When the Babylonian exile ended,
Jeconiah had Shealtiel,
Shealtiel had Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel had Abiud,
Abiud had Eliakim,
Eliakim had Azor,
Azor had Zadok,
Zadok had Achim,
Achim had Eliud,
Eliud had Eleazar,
Eleazar had Matthan,
Matthan had Jacob,
Jacob had Joseph, Mary’s husband,
the Mary who gave birth to Jesus,
the Jesus who was called Christ.
Shealtiel had Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel had Abiud,
Abiud had Eliakim,
Eliakim had Azor,
Azor had Zadok,
Zadok had Achim,
Achim had Eliud,
Eliud had Eleazar,
Eleazar had Matthan,
Matthan had Jacob,
Jacob had Joseph, Mary’s husband,
the Mary who gave birth to Jesus,
the Jesus who was called Christ.
17 There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David,
another fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile,
and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.
another fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile,
and yet another fourteen from the Babylonian exile to Christ.
What have you inherited?
Sometime we inherit money- sometimes it's a temper or our blond hair. Sometimes is struggles- sometimes its talents. What have you inherited? Take stock now. Think of all the things your mom or dad left for you- or gave you. What you are given helps make who you are now. It helps push you right where you might of otherwise turned left. Gone onwards where you might have quit. These are all gifts. We have been given these gifts, passed on and on down the line from our family.
Often times when Im reading the Bible, and Im reading through the Old Testament, there are these horrible, terrible, boring long lists of names... and when I was working on reading through the whole Bible, I caught myself wondering why, why are these dumb lists even in here? They don't do anything for me or say much... until... pages and pages down the line... I realized how some random guy in a list way back when was actually the ancestor of the character in the story I was reading now. And they were often a ton alike. You can get the feel for who a person is like through knowing about their family and their past. You can feel who they really are. Feel the faint tracing edges of the character of their souls. Knowing who people are and how they're like is invaluable.
Something I've noticed, is how so many people really, desperately want to have answers- clarity- solid, nailed-down reasons for life- they are really wanting somebody Responsible or who loves them- they want God. And I don't know how many people I've talked with over the years sit there, puzzled as to what God is like- how he is.
But I think I can safely say I know, KNOW just a little of how God REALLY is. Take time and look back over all these old stories, if you ever find yourself wondering about WHO God Is. What his character is like... if you REALLY can trust him (not just because you're supposed to, or something)... is he the sort of guy you could count on to be there for you? To try and help you, even if it were inconvenient? Listen to you when nothing made sense? IS this somebody you'd like? Be friends with? Who, in your own experience, can you honestly say God is, and what is he really like?
Look back over this list. (This is his Dad's side- there's his Mom's side listed elsewhere, too...) Seek those people's stories out and see what and who they're like- because their running themes are also God's running themes- and you can really know how Jesus is like.
Do you realize what you've inherited? Everything- so much- already defining and guiding you...
And if you ever find yourself in need of encouragement- just realize that because Jesus is now our older brother, and God really is our Father and we are a family- all those character traits- all the faithfulness- all the sacrifice- all the care-worn service and strength also come out in your own life, now- through Jesus' own very real power in your own life and heart.
Like what you read? Join in with your own insights, stories and art- send them to ryanpfreeman1@aol.com. Thanks and God bless -Ryan
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