Have you ever ordered your ancestry information to learn more about your heritage? Or possibly you have charts and data filling a file folder with historical data you tracked down? The importance of genealogy stems from history, and what better place to start than the Bible?!
Not every family will focus on genealogy which isn’t necessarily a bad thing (for instance, those with adopted children who have an unknown historical background may choose to not highlight lineage). However, there can also be great value to historical lineages that can often be overlooked.
It’s never too late to start….
1. Historical truths
History was a rather inconvenient part of school over here, the stories that drove learning about it stemmed from books that told stories. However, there is great value to seeing the facts that confirm truth. The Bible is a true and historical document. The importance of genealogy is seen that from Adam to Jesus, it is documented in history by many different authors.
Even secular historians confirmed the facts of the people the Bible talked about. If we understand that, a more sovereign view of God comes into play as we recognize that these people all had stories and God saw them as He sees us now.
2. Unique Characteristics.
Each author is unique and naturally adds their own spin to how they are listed. Remember the game telephone? You would sit in a circle and one person would whisper a sentence to the person next to them, and so on, and so on until the last person would reveal the “new” sentence?
The Chronicler, many think to be Ezra, grabbed out the bits and pieces of historical information and with oft used minor changes carefully arranged to present to an audience for the remnant of Israel. See, you think about the way we are wired as people. If we are struggling, a story of hope is inspirational. If we are in a chaotic season, a somber message could right our rudder.
3. Different Message.
Chronicles is often viewed as a supplement to Samuel and Kings, it is a different way of reading similar information but geared toward a different audience. An audience sitting in a seminar for lifelong CEOs would receive a much different message than new entrepreneurs in the same line of work.
Moses was establishing a nation and his message concentrated on forming a solid foundation. The author of 1 and 2 Kings focused on the significance of historical data after the period of the Judges with a focus on the importance of the covenant. In contrast, the Chronicler structured his historical data to restate the information with a focus on God’s relationship with the people and their hearts. It highlights teachable truths to the remnant who are entering into a new phase of their life.
For example, in chapter 3 the Kings of Judah are specifically listed with no mention of the Kings of Israel. Also, he specifies the royal line after the exile as that was of present importance to the postexilic remnant.
4. Important Points.
Not only does the Chronicler state factual data, he does so in an inviting way that draws you in to see the individuals. The Bible can come alive when you dive into the stories to picture the stories as real people just like you instead of characters in a movie.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
What seems to us as a random insertion, it held significance for the reader. They saw how God granted the request from one who called upon His name.
5. Significant Order.
You’ll see the order makes a difference in the Chronicler’s viewpoint. He first focuses on the part of the nation that mostly sought to follow God and abide by the covenant: Judah (and Simeon by default as their clan was encircled by the tribe of Judah). Next, he takes us to the clans on the other side of the Jordan.
You might wonder about the significance of this. Perhaps you have a relative you are a bit at odds with, maybe they stated something brashly you didn’t agree with and there has been a rift between you since then. Ever since the 3 tribes asked to be separated physically by a land barrier (the Jordan River), there was a bit of an emotional divide between the 3 tribes and the rest of the Israelites. The divide furthered with the misunderstanding when they built their own altar.
Yet, here, we see they are mentioned next. They are to be included with all of Israel. After this, the rest of the tribes are mentioned which comprised the whole of the Israelites.
6. Little Details.
While details can be looked over easily, the Bible includes them for a reason. In the midst of the explanation of chapter 5, a glimpse into one of the themes of the Chronicler emerges.
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in Him. They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.
1 Chronicles 5:18-22, emphasis added
Pointing the people back to the covenant relationship with God was his goal. He recalls a specific battle that God clearly fought for the people ‘because they trusted in Him.‘ It was no small feat and most army generals would agree that it’s not normal for an army of 44,760 with a victorious result when the surviving men they took captive were more than double their numbers. It was God. And why did God help them? ‘Because they trusted in Him.‘
We see the contrast point to this soon after. Just as a lot of the Bible joins together blessings vs. curses, good vs. bad, knowing your sin so you can understand mercy; the Chronicler points to a similar comparison.
The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses. But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.
1 Chronicles 5:23-26, emphasis added
There were consequences for disobedience. As the postexilic Israelites this served as a hefty reminder of why they had just been exiled and to obey the covenant and have a heart aligned with God.
Even the mundane can help shape us…
History best serves us when we learn it. The Bible best serves us when we learn it. Let’s pray for hearts to see the value in every portion of Scripture, as even though what seems mundane can help shape our theology.
Last Week
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Those long lists definitely make for some challenging reading, and het, they demonstrate the importance of individuals to God.