Starting The Journey - Disciple Makers Series #1Sample

God chooses strange forebearers for His Son (Part 3)

These people in Jesus’ lineage are different.  We know nothing about most of them and very little of a few others.  They are the people who God knew – and chose to be in Jesus’ family, but we do not.  This is like most of the people in history.  We know nothing about them, but God knows.  It will be the same for most (maybe all) of us.  This world will not remember us, but God has special plans and He works it out in our lives.

Also, we see that this is the lineage of Joseph – Jesus’ step-father.  That is the way the Jewish people always determined lineage.  So the Jews understood what Matthew was doing in giving the names of people coming to Joseph.

Finally, 14-14-14 (this is the breakdown of the number of names in the lineage).  To the Jewish people this was significant as well.  2*7 (3 times).  “Seven” and “Three” represent completion and they see the picture that these numbers represent.  It is not intended to be a complete genealogy of Jesus – just a picture that Jesus came at the perfect time in history.

Time to Pray

Father, You fill out the line of Jesus with simple people.  I am so thankful.  You have a place in Your great plan for simple people.  The world around us may quickly forget us, but You do not.  Your promises are fulfilled by simple people.  Thank you.

Finally, Jesus came at just the right time.  The timing was perfect.  Father, that is the way You do things – at the perfect time.  So today as I ask for things, and call on You to fulfil Your promises, help me to remember that they will be answered in the perfect time – Yours.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.