Monday, 21 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

Rehoboam the father of Abijah…

The scary thing about genealogies is that you can often see patterns (and ironies) emerging… Solomon had been incredibly wise while his son Rehoboam messed up his first decision so badly he split a nation in half. He ended up leading the southern kingdom Judah, but quickly abandoned God. God, however, did not abandon his promise to David or to Rehoboam’s ancestors.

Tuesday, 22 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat… Matthew 1:8

Patterns in family histories don’t take long to emerge. Solomon followed God yet fell away at the end of his life; Rehoboam consequently refused to acknowledge God; Abijah committed the same sins and kept the same silly war going as his dad Rehoboam had done; and Asa followed God yet fell away at the end of his life.

Wednesday, 23 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram… Matthew 1:8

It’s really exciting to recognise when God has broken into the genealogical patterns of family sin. Jehoshaphat is just one of those occasions in Jesus’ genealogy. Unlike his ancestors, Jehoshaphat was willing to repent and admit when he’d gone off God’s track. The sinful stubbornness of Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah and Asa didn’t win this time round!

Thursday, 24 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah… Matthew 1:9

Hezekiah, king of Judah, took a route many of us I imagine would have taken in his shoes. In the face of invasion by a superior force he sought to protect his nation by paying off the enemy king rather than trusting God.

He did something normal, even expected of kings in his position, yet, however extremely tough it is sometimes, God calls us to trust him and his alternative way of living.

Friday, 25 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh father of Amon, Amon the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah… Matthew 1:10

The Bible remembers Manasseh as the king who did more evil in the sight of the Lord than any of the other kings! In fact, such was his evil that the book of second Kings pretty much blames him for Judah’s exile to Babylon! Only in 2 Chronicles do we read how Manasseh eventually found God.

He’s certainly an unlikely character to find in Jesus’ family line…

Saturday, 26 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

…and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon… Matthew 1:11

Researching your family history is now a popular past-time and as you research you often imagine unearthing a relative who, unknown to you, was a hero of sorts.

Josiah is just one of those family-tree gems. He became king at 8 and even at such a young age devoted himself fully to following God. 2 Kings 23:25 even says that never before or since had there been a king like Josiah.

Cool.

Sunday, 27 July 2008 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Genealogy - Week 2

Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. Matthew 1:15-16

It’s like Matthew’s saying, by beginning with Abraham and ending with Jesus, that Jesus is the continuation of the Jewish faith. While at the same time also saying, by using Joseph’s genealogy (instead of Mary’s like Luke does)*, that Jesus is also a discontinuation of Jewish faith.

Jesus is linked to the old, but is doing something new…

* After all, Jesus wasn’t biologically linked to Joseph.