May 11
Read I Chronicles 1 -- 2
The first nine chapters of I Chronicles appear to be a monotonous genealogy. But they let us see the well-planned design of God, who daily controls the destiny of each of His faithful followers and has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This ancient genealogy reveals the exact plan and choices of our Creator in selecting the people who qualified to serve Him, beginning with Adam, Seth . . . Enoch . . . Noah . . . Abraham, Isaac . . . . and Israel (I Chronicles 1:1,3-4,28,34; compare Genesis 5:1-32). Here Jacob is called by his God-given name Israel in accordance with the new covenant God made with him (compare 35:9-12).
This genealogy was exceedingly important after the Israelites captivity to see how God continued to protect the family line of the coming Messiah, whose descent was traced from Adam through Abraham and David. In Luke 3:23-38, we see the genealogy of the second Adam, Jesus Christ the Savior of mankind, as foretold by the prophets, and traced through the very names recorded in Chronicles (I Corinthians 15:22,45).
Unless a man's name had been included in this genealogy, he could not minister in the Temple. Our Lord is now drawing to Himself a second chosen generation, a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9), united not by a human genealogical bloodline that dates back to Adam, but united by a spiritual birth into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, the last Adam.
Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden brought about man's spiritual death, for by one man's offense (sin) death reigned (Romans 5:17). That is why Jesus said: You must be born again . . . of the Spirit (John 3:7-8). All who believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins who repent and receive Him as Savior and Lord have their names recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).
But this new Life in Christ is only the beginning. Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. . . . Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Romans 6:4,6). Christ is Lord of our lives and He is personally involved in every detail of our life.
You can be sure that things that happen to believers are never "accidents"; they are allowed by our Father, the Master Engineer, to prepare us to be the person He can use to accomplish the purpose for which He created us. As we prayerfully read all His Word, He continually reveals His will to us. Although we do not understand many of the things that God allows a Christian to suffer, we can rest assured that He has an eternal purpose for them.
This genealogy is a reminder that soon the final books in Heaven will be opened. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
Christ Revealed: By the first Adam (I Chronicles 1:1). Christ is the last Adam (I Cor. 15:45,49).
Word Studies: 1:6 sons of means descendants of; 1:10 begat means became the father of; 2:21 threescore means sixty.
Government Officials: Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (TN) and Sen. James Jeffords (VT) · BPM Staff: Mark Ketterer · Pray for Dr. Jerry Wiles, Executive Vice Chairman, IBRA · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast in memory of Clarence Bauder · Country: Guinea (8 million) on the Atlantic coast of western Africa · Major languages: French and tribal languages · Freedom for nationals, but strict limitations on missionaries · 83% Muslim; 12% tribal religions; 4% Roman Catholic; .6% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Diligently seek the guidance of the Lord (Proverbs 8:17).
Optional Reading: Romans 14
Memory Verse for the Week: Colossians 1:13