The Bible contains numerous genealogies—they make dull reading until you use imagination to see further. I ask myself what God is up to, why He chooses certain families.
The first, most obvious lesson when reading genealogies is: GOD CARES MORE ABOUT FAMILY TREES/HERITAGE THAN WE DO.
Clearly these things are important (and both Moses and Jesus were adopted, and all non-Jewish believers are regarded as being “adopted” into God’s family—so don’t think adoption is not important too). But my first point is, YOUR FAMILY HERITAGE MEANS SOMETHING; PAY ATTENTION.
Find out: WHO were those people? WHAT were their occupations, hobbies, likes, dislikes? WHEN and WHERE did they live? HOW did the Lord use them?
A second point is illustrated in the Old Testament discussions of the Tribe of Levi. God chose the Levites to be Israel’s priests and handle all the tasks of the temple—and there were hundreds of tasks: 24,000 priests handling every aspect of sacrifices, men to burn incense, to prophecy accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals, to give thanks, 288 musicians playing all kinds of instruments, gatekeepers, officers, judges, treasurers, heads of family lines, guards, and more. First Chronicles 23-26 details these jobs, noting for each that the task will be passed down from FATHER-TO-SON forever.
Why pass jobs from father to son? Why not let people apply for jobs like today?
There is tremendous power—and SKILL—when your parent is your teacher. If you grow up as your father’s apprentice, you will learn more in that lifetime of training than you could ever learn by taking classes. God handled the House of Levi this way to protect the priesthood—to ensure it would be staffed with capable, confident men who took the job seriously. No one can convey those lessons the way a diligent parent can.
Application? Never forget: PARENTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS CHILDREN WILL EVER HAVE. GIVE YOUR CHILDREN YOUR BEST. GIVE THEM YOUR ALL.
God, help us understand the amazing power of an interested, loving parent.
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