My mom loves to research her heritage. She is forever looking up her genealogy trying to fill in our family tree. I, on the other hand, haven't cared so much. I've always thought, the past is in the past, and lets leave it there. But God shows us in the Bible that our heritage, and His heritage is very important. In Luke 3, God shows the importance of HiStory, and yes I put an emphasis on the "S" because it is His Story.
"Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli....David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon the son of Nahshon....Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech...Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God." Luke 3:23,32,36d,38.
In Jesus' HiStory we see that all genealogies have their stories, and these stories can comfort us, strengthen us, remind us, encourage us, and guide us.
*Jesus was a grandson to David, a man after God's own heart, "For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!" 2 Samuel 7:28,29. And God did! *Jesus was a grandson to Boaz, who's mother was Rahab, the prostitute who saved the Israelite spies. "It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." Hebrews 11:31. And God listed her in the Hall of Faith! *Jesus was also a grandson of Obed, who's mother was Ruth, a woman who showed true unconditional love and faithfulness to her widowed mother-in-law Naomi."But Ruth replied, 'Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" Ruth 1:16-17. And God blessed her richly.
*Jesus was also a grandson of Noah, the only follower of God in his generation. "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him." Genesis 6:22. And God saved Noah and his family and began again.
But most importantly out of all these relationships, heritages, and genealogies: Jesus was the Son of God. "One day as the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you." Luke 3:21-22. And God saved us and gave us eternal life through Him.
Maybe it's time we learn from our own HiStory. Who were our grandfathers and grandmothers, what did they do?
God had a hand in everything from the beginning of time to the end, and He knew who would be in our past, who we could learn from, be encouraged through, and be guided by. "You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." Psalm 139:5.
Now it's our turn to take a look back. Learn and Grow. For ultimately your Story was HiStory first!
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