What's with all the Genealogies??

Luke 3:23-38. Go ahead.....read it

Today’s quiet time was the genealogy of Jesus from Joseph. Actually it was from Mary. To be honest, when I saw that this was what we were reading I was kind of bummed but God knows whats up. I initially wanted to just write down in the journaling portion of the qt book “Lord, help me to understand why this is beneficial and profitable for me.”....... and after reading the genealogy, I did. But God has His way of speaking to you. I am suppose to listen to Him when I read His Word. I started to read the commentary that came with todays reading. It began to show me the importance and meaning of this portion of scripture. Back in the day, Israel valued the genealogies or the Family Tree’s of people. One of the other gospel writers, Matthew, wrote his much differently. He focuses more on the significance of Jesus being the King of Israel, the Messiah. Luke was more centered on the humanity of Christ. He actually starts his trace from Mary instead of Joseph and goes all the way back to Adam, the son of God. When we read the portion that starts in verse 23 of Luke 3 that says “Joseph the son of Heli” Heli is actually Joseph’s father-in-law, Mary’s father, then in descends from his bloodline. I was pretty pumped to learn something new from the Bible today!

Secondly, some theological importance popped out like a sore thumb. In Genesis 3:15 God was speaking to an audience of three in the Garden: Adam, Eve, and the serpent. He made of reference to someone who will come and strike the head of the serpent and the serpent would bruise the heal of this one. This man would come from the seed of Adam and Eve. That someone was Jesus. Now let me ask a question. How important do you think this genealogy was for someone back in the day when Luke’s gospel was written, who knew these scriptures and knew the promise that God made to Adam and Eve and the serpent in Genesis? I could imagine the excitement of someone who was waiting on this promise and reading the gospel and knowing that Jesus was the one spoken of in Genesis 3. It may have been this genealogy that led some hard jewish leadership, those that knew the Torah in and out, to faith in Jesus Christ. That we will never know but its a cool thought.

I am glad I took some time this morning to read the Word. Even if it was a genealogy. God will teach you something if you are willing to stop, focus on Him, and open yourself to what it is He wants to tell you. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that “All scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.” Today, it most certainly was for me as I sat and read.

God is good. All the time.

....now back to packing.