Born with a Purpose…
Opening Prayer
Oh God, we thank You for supplying us with a savior.
Read MATTHEW 1:1–17
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little… out of you shall come forth… The One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings are from old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2).
Genealogies, at first glance—apart from your own—may not seem that interesting, but this one is fascinating and significant for us all. Here is the story of God’s activity among his people. Down through the centuries, it brings us to Jesus, the Christ (16), God as man, about to be born into our world. (Read Luke 3:23–38 for a different perspective.)
Matthew crafts his account with orderly care and purpose. Leaving aside the issue of missing generations, here is a wonderful, sweeping overview of how God’s loving involvement in people’s lives has prepared for the advent of the Messiah, the bringer of Good News for all. Familiar names recall the stories of the patriarchs (2), of David and the kings (6–11), of the exile and the return to Jerusalem (12–16). Interwoven throughout are God’s promises, the failings of his people and the welcoming love of the Father, constantly working to fulfill his purposes. Not only the great and the virtuous star in this story. There’s Tamar (3), the adulteress; Rahab (5), the pagan prostitute whose noble actions enabled the conquering of Jericho; Ruth (5), the immigrant alien, great-grandmother to King David; Uriah the Hittite’s wife (Bathsheba) (6), another foreigner; and Zerubbabel (13; Hag. 1:1,12–15; Ezra 3:8; 4:1–3; 5:2), the returning exile who encouraged his people to rebuild God’s house; and finally, Mary (16), the peasant girl who was willing to become the mother of Jesus.
These words should inspire us to worship the God who put it all together. Ever contemporary, God’s Word challenges us here as we consider his loving welcome of the outsider among us. Or, maybe as we live life for today, we’re prompted to consider again our own role in God’s purposes.
Apply
Reflect on Mary’s submission as she says, “I am the Lord’s servant… May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
Closing prayer
Lord, we struggle to fully comprehend Your eternal purpose, but we rest in the assurance that Your way is the only way.
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