Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Matthew 1:1-17 NIV
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah
1 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.
What does it mean to you that God’s promises are trustworthy over the generations?
You are a big God. You created the heavens and the earth. How is it that You know all of the stars and planets in the universe but still You know my name? Out of all the people in the world since the beginning of time, You know my name! You know me. What a comforting thought! People matter to you. As I read the list of Jesus’ ancestors, it is encouraging to see that they include Tamar (the adulteress), Rahab (the prostitute), Ruth (the non-Jewish Moabite), Solomon (who was conceived after King David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba), as well as many others. Thankfully, You use sinful human beings and, therefore, can use me. Whatever is in my past, no matter how broken life may seem right now, You can use me to do something great with my life. You know me by name. I find joy in knowing that I am called by You and that my name is written on the palms of Your hands. Although it is amazing that You know my name, it’s salvation when I know Your Name. Your Name is above all Names! There’s no other Name given where men can be saved. Your Name is a healing Name, a soothing Name, a powerful Name, a demon scaring Name, a present refuge name, there is strength in Your Name and it is a Praise Worthy Name. I praise Your Name right now! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!! You call me by name not only for me but for my children and the generations after them. May they personally know You by name through my faithfulness. I look forward to the day that I hear You call me by name and say “Well done, good and faithful servant”. Amen