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Chronologies and Genealogies

“So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies.” (1 Chronicles 9:1)

If you are like me, your eyes quickly become weary and you began to get a little sleepy reading chronologies and genealogies in Holy Scripture. Who can read lists of names and not become bored, even when reading those lists in the Word of God?

It is possible to fight off the boredom and the guilt that follows it. I do not suggest that the boredom can be altogether relieved. Flesh is still flesh! But, I promise you, this will help. — Every time you start to become bored with chronologies and genealogies given in Holy Scripture, every time you come to lists of names, records, and events preserved for us by divine inspiration, read them. Do not skip over them.

They all point to our Lord Jesus Christ. The genealogical records, so meticulously preserved by the Jews, clearly and undeniably show the rightful claim of the Man Christ Jesus to the throne of David as the Messiah. He who is the God-man is the Woman’s Seed, Abraham’s Seed, and David’s Son and David’s Lord.

Christ is he in whom the purpose of those records was fulfilled. It is as though the Lord Jehovah had said, concerning each historic document of Inspiration, “Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it” (Isaiah 65:8). The Lord Jesus was folded up in the seed of Israel, in whom all the family of God must be blessed. These genealogies, though they may not yield much comfort to our hearts or peace to our minds, are of great importance in tracing out the descent of our blessed Lord Jesus from Adam to his incarnation.

Oh, what grace! Oh, what mercy! Oh, what wisdom! — “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33).

As you read those records that seem so boring, always look for some display of God’s great mercy, love, and grace in them as well. Every word of God is pure, and all Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s