God Remembers

Intro

Question: If you had 29 chapters to tell the story of Haven, what might you include in the first 9 chapters?

1 Chronicles spends its first 9 chapters (25%) with genealogies.

Genealogies in the Bible

📜 Old Testament

Genesis – Multiple genealogies tracing creation to Israel’s tribes

Examples: Adam to Noah (Gen 5), Noah’s sons (Gen 10), Shem to Abraham (Gen 11), Esau’s descendants (Gen 36), Jacob’s family (Gen 46).

Purpose: To trace the line of promise and blessing leading to Abraham and his descendants.

Exodus – Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

Exodus 6:14–27 lists the family of Levi to establish the priestly line.

Numbers – Tribal leaders and census records

Especially Numbers 1, 2, 7, and 26 (the two major censuses).

Purpose: Organizing the nation for travel, war, and worship.

Ruth – Genealogy of David

Ruth 4:18–22 connects Boaz and Ruth to King David.

1 Chronicles – Extensive genealogies (chapters 1–9)

From Adam to post-exilic Israel.

Purpose: To reconnect God’s people to their heritage after exile and highlight the Davidic line.

2 Chronicles – Brief genealogical notes

Especially in 2 Chronicles 11–13 (Levites and kings).

Ezra – Lists of returnees and priestly families

Ezra 2, 7–8 contain genealogies proving descent from Israel’s tribes and priests.

Nehemiah – Lists of returnees, leaders, and priests

Nehemiah 7, 10–12. Similar to Ezra but with updates and details about temple service.

✝️ New Testament

Matthew – Genealogy of Jesus through Joseph’s line (legal descent)

Matthew 1:1–17 traces from Abraham to Jesus.

Luke – Genealogy of Jesus through Mary’s line (biological descent)

Luke 3:23–38 traces from Jesus back to Adam.

Three Ways to use Genealogies

Question: How many of you struggle with reading genealogies in the Bible?

Since genealogies can be difficult we often just overlook them. But they are an important part of the Bible. They are Scripture!

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Today we are going to talk about how we can find Bible passages with genealogies profitable and useful for growing in our understanding of God in a way that helps us receive instruction in righteousness.

1. Research Them

Genealogies often mean less to us than they did the original audience because the names don’t mean much to us. How can we solve that problem.

A. Commentaries

B. Study Bibles

C. Cross references

D. Make lists

Look for connections

Look for anomalies (women, Gentiles, non-eldest son etc.)

Look for categories

2. Look for Nuggets

There often more than just names included. The additional details can sometimes reveal powerful truths.

1 Chronicles 4:9–10 HCSB

9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez and said, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez called out to the God of Israel: “If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.” And God granted his request.

This little story sprinkled in the midst of a list of names is a solid gold nugget with plenty of personal application.

A. Jabez was remembered for his prayer. How will you be remembered?

B. The name Jabez shaped his identity. He felt destined by his name to cause pain. How do are words and actions impact young people? How do define our identity?

C. God granted Jabez’ prayer for blessing, more land, presence, and protection. Are we sometimes afraid to ask God to meet these types of needs for us?

D. Jabez asked for those things in order to not cause others pains? Our our prayers based on selfish desires or a desire for the welfare of others?

E. God gave Jabez a new identity. How has he given you a new identity in Christ?

3. See the Big Picture

Sometimes the lesson isn’t just in the small details but in the big picture. God’s inspiration to start with a genealogy had a powerful message to Israelites returning from exile and an even more powerful message for us today.

Bonus: What Can we learn from the genealogy starting with Adam?

The creation accounts in Genesis are real history.

All humans are one race. We may have different nations, tribes, and families but all trace to our common ancestor Adam.

A. Why does God spend 9 chapters listing people’s name?

God remembers people.

B. Why would a genealogy be important to Israelites returning from exile?

God remembers his people and protects them.

C. How does the lineage David fit into the big story of the Bible?

God remembers his promises to rescue the world and fulfills them in Jesus.

1 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary 1. The Tribes of Israel (1 Chr. 1:1–9:44)

‘From my (Gentile) point of view,’ he reflected, ‘I have often wondered why God allowed so much space in his Word to be “wasted” on such trivia. But to a Hebrew (and to many other kinship-oriented societies around the world), genealogical lists of this nature demonstrate in the clearest way the specificity of God’s love and concern that lie at the heart of the gospel.’

Opening Up 1 Chronicles Chapter 1: From Adam Till Now (1:1–3:24)

The writer of Chronicles wanted to show the people of Israel that, far from genealogy being a ‘benign form of astrology’ or a ‘fairly random progression’, ‘God is working his purpose out, as year succeeds to year’ and as generation succeeds to generation. The God of Israel had a plan and that plan was on course, despite the captivity. From Adam to Abraham, and then from Abraham to David, and then continuing through David’s line, the gracious purposes of God had been, and continued to be, worked out. The wonderful thing about these purposes is that they had not been ‘derailed’ by the sins and foolishness of God’s people, or by the punishment of their sins in Babylonian captivity—they were still ‘on track’.