Genealogies are important. The Bible lists many genealogies. The book of Genesis is structured around genealogies (the Hebrew phrase “elleh toledot“, which means, “these are the generations” demarcates each macro-section of the book at large; see here for more). Emphasizing the importance of genealogies even more so is the fact that the Gospel itself begins with the genealogy of Jesus (the Gospel according to Matthew and Luke, in particular).
So why are genealogies so important? To start, genealogies connect us with our past. In other words, genealogies are important because our origins are important. God wants us to know from where we came—not just in a cosmological sense (the origins of humanity at large), but also in a familial sense. Where we come from makes up who we are.
Sandra Richter points out in The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry Into The Old Testament that the church today has lost sight of where she has come from. This is a tragedy. Believers today tend to live thinking that their faith and salvation is all about the individual because we have forgotten God’s greater, broader reaching world renewal plan to redeem all of the creation.
With this, where we are from has the capacity to change the point of orientation for living our lives. For example, when we approach our lives with the understanding that we come from apes rather from the image of God Himself, the sovereign, wise, loving creator of the universe our entire outlook on the purpose of life and ethics undergoes a massive shift. This is one of the things that has me sold on Christianity: Christianity has a high view of humanity. Secular humanism does not (which is interesting because it comes off as if it does have a high view of humanity but when you investigate it, it turns out that it’s view of humanity is quite a bit lower than its view of other living beings).
Moving on from here, the genealogy of Jesus in particular accentuates a couple of facts about the person and work of the Messiah. First, he is the fulfillment of God’s work that began long ago. As Paul points out in Ephesians 1:4, the great mystery of God that was revealed in Jesus, the death and resurrection of the long-awaited Messiah, was forever a part of God’s plan—the death of Jesus was not the result of some spontaneous or unplanned Divine idea. From the very beginning God planned on sending his Son to die on the Cross for sinners. Evil did not get the best of God (and never does). “God’s initiative in redeeming the believer from sin and death was not an arbitrary or whimsical decision but something God had planned all along “in Christ.” (ESV Study Bible, Study Note on Eph 1:4). From Adam all the way to Jesus God’s plan was set in place and each generation was a chapter in getting from point A to point B.
Second, the genealogy of Jesus accentuates the fact that God entered into real time and real space to perform his redemptive work. This is crucial. The historical reliability of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are essential for the efficacy of his redemptive work (the atonement). This means that God actually broke into the created order and performed his great act of salvation and this act changed the course of human destiny. If Jesus and his work are not historically reliable then nothing has ultimately changed. This, however, is not what happened. God, once again, extended his arm into history and changed the real course of real events.
Did you know God is still doing this today? He is still in the business of entering into history, into real time and space, and redeeming both people and events (herein lies the importance of prayer)?
A third dynamic in the importance of genealogies is that they remind us that we are simply a small part of a larger narrative. Our sin nature tries to deceitfully convince us that everything is about us and our times. This is not true. Even the life and ministry of Jesus on earth was for a short moment! Once Jesus accomplished the mission of God he sent out his disciplines to continue his work. We are merely minuscule threads in a greater tapestry of God’s great World Renewal Plan. His earthly ministry was for three years and beyond that the church has been cracking on with the Great Commission for 2000 more.
To finish, genealogies invite us to ask us two questions around which we can better orient our lives. Question 1: “where am I from”? and “where am I going?”. We’re in great danger when we believe that we’re the only branch in the family tree of the Almighty. Our strength to stand strong in the face of gusting winds rests in the long history of the family of faith (see Hebrew 11). We are merely a small part of something much greater. God’s plan reaches well beyond us and began well before us. Praise be to God.
