A curious fact is recorded in the Biblical genealogies: “Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal” 1 Chronicles 8:8. The writerContinue reading “Divorce. 1 Chronicles 8:8.”
Category Archives: Genealogies
Study Genealogies to Show Thyself Approved. 1 Chronicles 1:1.
Image: In 1946, Norman Rockwell produced this painting for the Saturday Evening Post following his visit to a one-room schoolhouse in Carroll County, Georgia. My son’s first-grade class learned two things “by heart.” They learned to sing the song of the U.S. presidents, and they used a sort of rhythmic chant to help them learnContinue reading “Study Genealogies to Show Thyself Approved. 1 Chronicles 1:1.”
What if You Have No Family Tree? Nehemiah 7:61-65.
Alex Haley’s book ROOTS includes a scene in which an African tribal leader expresses shock over any child unable to recite from memory his genealogy to the tenth generation. I have never met anyone in America that can recite from memory ten generations of their genealogy. I can’t do it. In fact, my written recordContinue reading “What if You Have No Family Tree? Nehemiah 7:61-65.”
Dust in the Wind. Jeremiah 47:6.
Image: The 1951 Golden Anniversary photo of Carl and Gertie Stadtlander, my wife’s great-grandparents who lived so recently, historically speaking, yet about whom we know so little–and our children or grandchildren will know nothing according to Ecclesiastes 1:11. The rock band KANSAS recorded a perfect little song in 1977. “Dust in the Wind” is slowContinue reading “Dust in the Wind. Jeremiah 47:6.”
The Bible is the Story of Human History. Hebrews 4:12.
The Bible is not some dusty, ancient book about some forgotten land, none of which is relevant today. The Bible is a cross-section of human history, a cross-section of humanity. When we get to heaven and look back on all of human history, we will see the Bible differently: it is a detailed record ofContinue reading “The Bible is the Story of Human History. Hebrews 4:12.”
Prayer, Fasting, and Generational Blessings. 1 Samuel 2:31-33.
“The child Samuel grew in favor both with the Lord and also with men” 1 Samuel 2:26. How can we have children like that? Is there a way to guarantee your children will walk with God? The short answer is “No, but…” That is, there is probably nothing godly parents can do to ensure theirContinue reading “Prayer, Fasting, and Generational Blessings. 1 Samuel 2:31-33.”
Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee. Ruth 4:17.
“Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For where you go, I will go. And where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried” Ruth 1:16-17. IContinue reading “Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee. Ruth 4:17.”
Adam and Eve Sinned. Why Was Punishment Delayed? Genesis 5:5.
Image generated with A.I. God tells Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil “for on the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die” Genesis 2:17. Next thing you know, the two sin. God shows up, pronounces judgment … and they do not die.Continue reading “Adam and Eve Sinned. Why Was Punishment Delayed? Genesis 5:5.”
FAMILY LINES. 1 Chronicles 23-26.
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 andContinue reading “FAMILY LINES. 1 Chronicles 23-26.”
FAMILY TREES. John 4:37-38; 1 Peter 2:9.
Things you think about while working on a family tree: The Bible contains two truths on this subject: First, your close family members will shape your life. You will reap what they have sown. “One sows and another reaps…. Others have labored and you have reaped the benefit from their labor” John 4:37-38. THANK GODContinue reading “FAMILY TREES. John 4:37-38; 1 Peter 2:9.”
Household Words: 