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An ancestry.com dumpster fire – Part 5
Now if you do a Bible-in-a-year reading plan, when you get to 1 Chronicles, you probably do quite a bit of skimming. I know I do. Names, names, names. “I’ll take Jewish genealogy for $1000, Alex.” “Ding – Father of Gera” “Buzz – Who is Bela?” “That’s right!” (I Chron 8:3) No, you’re not going to see that as a Jeopardy clue. But you think we like to poke around and dig up secrets on ancestry.com? The Jews knew their ancestry. Take a look at the first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles. 9 chapters of names. It’s all genealogy, from Adam – the first man, to Abraham, to Jacob, and…
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King of the Jews: A curve ball named Zelophehad- Part 4
Matthew gives the genealogy of David’s royal line, establishing Jesus as the legal heir to David’s throne. Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us: And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7…
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So about that blood curse . . . Part 3
Through Jeremiah, the Lord said to write Coniah (Jeconiah) down as childless. For no man of his descendants will prosper Sitting on the throne of David Or ruling again in Judah. (See Jeremiah 22:24-30) Yet we know from Isaiah 9, the throne of David is “forevermore.” How can we reconcile this? Ancestry.com, of course. The first chapter of Matthew establishes Jesus’s legal right to the throne of David. He traces Jesus’s lineage, from Abraham, through David, to Joseph. This passage is affectionately known as the “begats.” Here’s the twist. Joseph, husband of Mary, didn’t beget Jesus. Legally, Jesus was Joseph’s son and heir. But the Father was Jesus’s father. No one saw that coming. But…
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What is the Blood Curse of Jeconiah? Part 2
Through the prophets Samuel and Isaiah, God promised Israel that the throne of David would be established forever. Nevertheless, Israel didn’t have a smooth ride. Because of Solomon’s disobedience, the Kingdom split in his son Rehoboam’s reign. God gave Jeroboam the Northern Kingdom, leaving Rehoboam with the remnant – Judah. The Northern Kingdom lasted for just over 200 years, from 930 to 722 BC, and in that tumultuous time went through 10 dynasties. For a visual, see this chart. Zimri’s dynasty lasted only 7 days! The backstabbing and intrigue could inspire many a telenovela. In contrast, David’s line survived, father to son, through every threat. Even when Queen Athaliah tried…
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Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? Part 1
This is the question the magi from the East asked King Herod, the crowned King of the Jews. That magi, AKA wise men, asked King Herod that question is almost laughable. Essentially, they were asking this Roman figurehead, “Where’s the real king?” Then again, they didn’t have the internet. Perhaps they didn’t realize how dangerous it was to ask this question to a man who executed three of his own sons to hang on to power. Although Herod had the title of the King of the Jews, he wasn’t even of Jewish descent. He was an Idumean, an Edomite, an enemy of Israel. The Roman decision to make him king…
