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Genealogy of Jesus

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From Noah to Abram

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

There are only two chapters in Genesis between Noah’s story and Abram’s. Yet, in these two chapters, phenomenal changes occurred. After the flood, the earth continued to reel. Man multiplied and was established on the earth. Then, in his pride, he reached toward the heavens. God in it all, prepared the world for His plans and purposes. In preparation for his plan, God set up the nations, created a geographical division, and scattered man abroad on the earth.

Sets up the Nations

In Acts 17:26 Paul speaks to the men of Athens in the midst of the Areopagus. He draws attention to the unknown God of their worship and proclaims the Living God, the creator of all the earth. He tells them that God made from one blood, every nation on the earth. He further states that this God determined the the times and boundaries of where they would live. In addition He proclaims that God did it so they would seek for Him, grope in their desperation and find Him.

Geographical Division

Something significant happened to the earth during these two chapters. Peleg is born. it was not his birth, but rather his name which records the seismic event. A geographic cataclysm, occurred. The earth was divided. Still, the God of the universe remains in control and from Peleg comes Jesus who removed the division between God and His people.

Scatters Man Over the Earth

As man grew on the earth, so did his aspirations. They planned to build a city with a tower to reach into the heavens. The mother of Jesus said it well, “He has scattered the proud in the imaginations of their heart.” God prevented their plan by confusing their language. Language, became the great divider.

God, in preparation for his plan, set up the nations, divided the earth and scattered man abroad on the earth.

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Christmas meditationGenealogy of Jesus

The Genealogy of Jesus (The Wife of Uriah)

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

When Nathan the prophet roused King David’s anger by telling him a story, David heard the words, “You are the man.” These words enabled David to see what God saw in his actions. This story reminds us of our humanity, our faithful, never changing God, and His story of forgiveness.

Humanity

This story disappoints us. David is a man after God’s own heart. We read the Psalms and find great comfort. We want David to be much more than he is. Instead, we find a man who gets tired, discouraged, and sins, then sins again to cover his sin. We marvel at the depth of his sin and can’t imagine this man of God, in this state. Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah was complicit in the adultery, a daughter of Israel, far below her calling. Through this couple we see humanity, the propensity of even the saintliest among us.

Our Faithful God

“But God, our faithful God never changes, in stark contrast to humanity. The Bible tells us that God was displeased with David. He held him accountable by taking their first child. Yet when David confessed his sin, his relationship with God was restored. We find his cry in Psalm 51. “Have mercy on me, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sin,” and “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” He knew God as loving, merciful, compassionate and the forgiver of sin.

God’s Story of Forgiveness

When Moses cursed the unfaithfulness of the Israelites, he included “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Jesus came as a baby, under every curse, but in Hebrews we read, “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” The whole point of the birth of Jesus was the forgiveness of sins to all who believe, by His death on the cross. We may look with disdain on David and Bathsheba. But God in His infinite wisdom, through the sin, confession and restoration of this couple, gave humanity forgiveness, an erasing as far as the east is from the west of our sin through that sinless lamb of God.

This story reminds us of our humanity, our faithful, never changing God, and His story of forgiveness. Praise His Holy Name.

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Genealogy of Jesus

Ruth (A Story of Provision)

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

When Elimelech left Bethlehem (House of Bread) due to famine, he travelled with Naomi and his two sons, to Moab, in search of provision. A decade later, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were widowed. When Naomi heard the rumour about bread back home, she prepared to return. What Naomi didn’t know, was the fullness of God’s provision, through Ruth the Moabites, a kinsman redeemer, and the Son of God.

Ruth the Moabitess

Naomi cared for her daughters-in-law. Thus, she encouraged them to part ways, to find security in their homeland. She could not provide for them any longer. One was okay with it, but not Ruth. Ruth saw no life apart from Naomi and made a covenant with her that centuries later, lovers repeat to one another on their wedding day. “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; Your people will be my people and your God, my God.”

A Kinsman Redeemer

Naomi knew she couldn’t provide the necessary male. She couldn’t produce the son necessary to provide for Ruth, nor the heir to keep her late husband’s inheritance. The Jewish law was beyond her capability. When she began to notice the extra provision Ruth brought home each day, it reminded her of a close relative who could fulfill this important role. She sprung into action.

The Son of God

Boaz was an honorable man, treating Ruth with compassion and provision. When confronted with her laying at his feet, he was honored that she considered him and not a younger man. He also knew that someone was ahead of him in regards to this position, but followed the legal customs of his day. In the end he gained Ruth as his wife. The men said, “May the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.” The women said, “Praise the Lord who has now provided a redeemer for your family. May this child be famous in Israel.” No one saw that from their union, the Redeemer for all mankind would come. God’s provision, the bread of life, the Lord Jesus. What Naomi didn’t know, was the fullness of God’s provision, through Ruth the Moabites, a kinsman redeemer, and the Son of God.

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Genealogy of Jesus

Rahab (From Fear to Faith to Deliverance)

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

In Moses’ day, God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt. It was only the start of a greater deliverance but a generation entrenched in fear, fell short. God chose Joshua and Caleb to lead the next generation on the journey. It called for great courage but God promised to defeat their enemies. When the armies of Israel moved, the earth trembled beneath them. As they approached Jericho, Joshua sent spies to survey the land. Here we learn of Rahab, a woman of bad reputation, who looked to the true God, and through whom God brought mankind’s great Deliverer.

A Woman of Poor Reputation

Rahab’s home was built into the walls of Jericho, a fortress city. She was a harlot, and the spies found shelter in her home. It however did not go unnoticed. and it was told to the King of Jericho. Rahab hid the men and fabricated a story to send the King’s men away thus sparing the men and their mission.

Who Looked to the Supreme God

Rahab spoke to the men. She told them of the great fear shaking their land. God was doing awesome deeds to deliver them. “The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath,” she said. Then she negotiated an agreement to spare the lives of her family. The spies gave Rahab clear and strict directions, including the detail of hanging a red cord from her window.

Great Deliverance

Following Rahab’s instructions, the spies left and delivered the news. Take the land. The people are fainthearted. God then led them into a mighty victory and Rahab and her family were rescued along with all she had. The scripture states that she still lived among the Israelites because of her deeds. God rewarded her faith not only by offering protection in this life, but He gave her purpose and eternal deliverance through her line. He brought forth Jesus, the deliverer, the One who became flesh and blood so that by His death, the power of the devil, who held the power of death, was broken. Now He sets free those who are enslaved by the fear of dying.

There is the story. Rahab, a woman of bad reputation, who looked to the true God, reaped the rewards, and through whom, mankind received the great Deliverer.

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Genealogy of Jesus

Tamar (Part Two)

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

What Troubles Us

Having reflected on the story of Tamar in part one, there are things we find unsettled us. In part two, we turn our attention to what troubles us about Judah, about Tamar, and also what we learn about God.

About Judah

First we look at Judah. He was one of God’s chosen and possessed the promises of God. But he disappoints us. He lacked integrity. He lived his life according to his own desires and fears. To top it all, he sent Tamar back home, reneging on his responsibility for her.

About Tamar

Then we consider Tamar. She was denied motherhood and although she understood the role of her father-in-law, she did not know his God and took the matter into her own hands. It was deceitful and conceived out of Judah’s lust and the fears both Judah and Tamar held.

What We Learn of God

Despite our disappointments we learn of God. First we learn that God is true to His word. Through the words of Jacob He promised a Messiah through Judah’s line. We find the fulfillment in Matthew’s genealogy.

Secondly we learn of His compassion to the oppressed, the widow, the poor. He took special care of Tamar, despite her sinfulness, he enabled her to conceive not only one but two sons.

Thirdly we see His redemptive nature. We see a scandalous situation but God saw an opportunity not only to buy them back from their useless way of life but to give their lives the tremendous purpose of bringing the Saviour to all mankind, the One all will obey., the true Redeemer.

The four thing we see is that God’s work carries on. He uses both the good and the bad for His purposes. When we see only evil around us, we can be confident that God is still at work, fulfilling His promises.

We have looked to the story of Tamar and through the eyes of disappointment in God’s people we have learned more of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Biblical HistoryGenealogy of Jesusthe scripture fulfilled

Tamar (Part One)

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Tamar’s story lies in Genesis 38. It’s value rests in its connection to Judah the fourth of Jacob’s sons and in Matthew 1:3, a genealogy of Jesus. In Genesis 49:10, Jacob prophesied over his son Judah. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.” Tamar played a part in the fulfillment of this prophecy. Here is the story of Tamar and Er, Onan, and Shelah.

Tamar’s Story (Er)

Tamar became one of the family when Judah arranged her marriage to his eldest son Er. The Bible tells us Er was wicked so God took his life. In Deuteronomy 25:5-10 God’s law directs the second brother to marry the widow. Their first son would carry on the name of the deceased and provide for the widow. God made special provisions throughout the law for widows.

Tamar’s Story (Onan)

Judah initially followed the law by having his second son Onan marry Tamar. Onan married her but refused to father a son he could not call his own. It displeased God and He took his life also. Judah had one more son and therefore instructed Tamar to go to her father’s house and live as a widow until he was grown, but he feared Shelah would also die.

Tamar’s Story (Shelah)

After Judah’s wife died, Tamar learned Judah planned a trip to Timnah. Seeing Judah had not provided Shelah as a husband, she took the opportunity to disguise herself as a prostitute and received his pledge of payment. In time she bore twins and when Judah heard he wanted her burned alive because of the disgrace to his family because it. Then he learned the truth. He confessed that she was more righteous than he.

Here is the story of Tamar and Er, Onan, and Shelah. In part two we will reflect on why it troubles us and what we learn about God.

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