Articles
Lessons from a Genealogy (2)
Bible lists of names, such as Jesus’ genealogy recorded in Matthew 1:1-17, remind us that although many characters are unknown to us, God knows us all. Glancing through this list should bring to mind another vital truth: God always keeps His word.
Through the centuries, God made promises to several of these people, many of them directly related to their role in the Messiah’s lineage. He promised childless Abraham that he would become a father (Genesis 15:1-5), not just of one son but of many nations (Genesis 17:1ff), and that in his seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18; see Galatians 3:16). God then promised Judah that the ruler would come from his tribe (Genesis 49:10).
God promised David that his seed would sit on his throne, God’s throne (2 Samuel 7). That referred to a line of kings, culminating in the Messiah. The continuing line was conditioned on faithfulness (1 Chronicles 28:7). Unfortunately, many kings in the line were not faithful, and so God promised Jeconiah that even though he was like a signet, he would be “childless” as king (Jeremiah 22:24-30); the line ruling in Judah would stop with him.
Despite God’s people’s unfaithfulness and their resultant captivity, God promised a restoration. He promised Zerubbabel, one of the leaders of that restoration, that he would be a signet, “for I have chosen you” (Haggai 2:20-23). Interestingly, Zerubbabel is the common link between David and Jesus in Matthew and Luke’s genealogies.
Time and again, no matter how likely or unlikely a divine promise might have seemed, and no matter how much time elapsed, God always kept His word.
Thoughtless men and unbelievers ought to take note. God’s threats are not idle. The punishment for disobedience He has promised is certain (2 Peter 3). It is perilous for us to ignore the standard of conduct or the conditions of salvation He has revealed.
Christians ought to take comfort. God’s promise of salvation, and all the accompanying comforts and blessings along the way, are certain. In Paul’s words, were are living “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago” (Titus 1:2).
