Advent Journey - Following the Seed From Eden to Bethlehem Sample

Day 13

SEED ESCORTS

Hezron (25), Ram (26) , Amminadab (27) , Nahshon (28)

After Jacob’s sons died, the families remained in Egypt (remember, they moved there to escape famine and live with Joseph). The Israelites multiplied quickly and eventually became slaves of the Egyptians. 

Bible historians believe it was precisely 215 years from when Jacob’s household relocated to Egypt with Joseph – to the time the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian slavery by a man named Moses (more on this man below). 

Hezron (son of Perez) was among the seventy people of the “house of Jacob” (Gen. 46:12, 26, 27) who traveled to Egypt to live with Joseph. 

During this 215 year period in Egypt, Ram, Amminadab and Nahshon were born. 

Nahshon was the assigned military commander of the tribe of Judah, assembled under the leadership of Moses (Num. 1:7, 2:3, 10:14). Nahshon had command of a force of 74,600 men. That’s impressive authority! (Num. 1:26, 2:4).

While wandering in the wilderness, the Israelite leaders rebelled against God and spread negative reports throughout the twelve tribes. So God extended their wilderness vacation to forty years and did not let that generation enter the Promised Land (that’s Canaan). 

Nahshon’s son, Salmon, was likely among the “little ones” (Num. 14:31) who grew up and crossed into the Promised Land with Joshua and Caleb.  

And what’s so famous about Salmon (besides his fishy name)? We’ll save that for tomorrow. 

Up until Abraham, the Bible has been mostly focused on characters in line of the Seed.

Joseph was the first major Bible character who fell outside the path of the Seed. 

There’s another faith champion who walked alongside the tribe of Judah to escort the Seed carriers – Moses, a Levite (tribe of Levi). 

The next great leader outside the Seed line was Joshua (tribe of Ephraim). He succeeded Moses and had the awesome privilege of escorting the twelve tribes into the Promised Land. 

Although men like Joseph, Moses and Joshua didn’t fall directly in the line of the Seed, their role in the biblical story is critical. 

Think of them as police escorts leading a VIP limo through a city. But instead of riding motorcycles with flashing lights, these men were fearless faith warriors, leading tens and hundreds of thousands of Israelites into battle to inhabit a very special land. 

A land that would one day occupy a city…that occupies a manger…that houses an ordinary traveler and his pregnant wife who would give birth to this very special Seed. 

We’re getting closer to Bethlehem. 

Reflections:

The twelve sons of Jacobs were brothers. All their children became cousins. And their children became second and third cousins… and their children became fourth and fifth cousins… and so on. 

All of these Israelite characters were related: cousins to varying degrees.

To illustrate to your children how tribes (families) multiply over time, consider your own family and identify the lines of cousins (first, second, etc.) that they know (and don’t know). Maybe you’ve had a family reunion in the past that can put this into context.