Why the Genealogies?
We recently received a question asking, “What are some reasons for believing in the bible that is ofc, independent from the bible? I'm not asking why Christianity over other religions. I'm interested in why people believe in the bible, to begin with.”
I thought this was an exceptional question, and I found myself giving a strange answer that I wouldn't have thought possible a few years ago. As a missionary, I was asked to speak at a church while the Pastor was gone on vacation. The pastor was a dear friend of mine, and I was humbled and honored at the opportunity to preach. I asked if there were any series or scriptures that the Pastor would like me to preach on, and it just so happened that the church was going through the book of Genesis and had come to the list of names in Genesis 11. My friend encouraged me that I didn't have to preach that passage if I didn't want to, I was more than welcome to pick another passage. Perhaps out of ignorance or some other motivation, I simply accepted the text and began studying the genealogical passage. This set me on a small quest that has over the years developed into a love of the lists of the bible. These lists have been a tremendous help in my faith, even as I have conversed, shared, and preached Christ crucified to many.
Genesis 11
The genealogies that are given throughout scripture are meticulous regarding the authenticity and historical validity of the text. A few quick examples:
The list in Genesis 11 brings us up from the time of Noah and Babel to the time of Abram. This gives us a significant claim regarding the continuity of the story of creation, rebellion, and scattered humanity. This list of names then gives us a reason for why the story of Genesis shifts from a general story of humanity to a particular story of a given family. The names given in Numbers help to solidify a sense of the people of Israel as they emerged from Egypt and lived in the wilderness. These lists of names are often skipped or glossed over (with some understandable reasons as many of the names are strange to us and have almost zero meaning at first glance). However, these names stand as a timeless recounting of God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 and 17-18 that he would make Abraham into a great people. The lists of places given by allotment to each of the tribes and families of Israel in Joshua are then verified and juxtaposed with the failures of Israel in Judges chapters 1-2. It's a tremendous case-and-point comparison between the texts. God gives the land to specific families of specific clans (tribes mentioned in Joshua 18-24), and then in a systemic fashion the people fail in their stewardship of the land (Judges 1-2). The places give us a tangible historical account of the special land that was set aside for Abraham. Once again a fulfillment of God's promises to the specific family descending from the list mentioned in Genesis 11.
1 Chronicles
The lists in 1 Chronicles are incredibly detailed regarding the lineage of the kings, and the leaders and heads of households. While some lists of names are arranged with a specific meaning other than a direct linear progression, others are listed with a specific meaning or application. 1 Chronicles gives us a classic progressive list that details the governance and leadership of the people throughout the OT. The lists of returning exiles in Ezra and Nehemiah are intense and pragmatic in their contemporary time. The land that was promised by God to Abram, then given to the exodus of Israelite children (the wilderness generation) was gobbled up in a feast of debauchery and divine discipline at the hands of Babylon (and their allies and mercenaries). During the time of the exile and post-exile period, maintaining a lineage would have been paramount for anyone who ever hoped to return to the promised land and claim the land of their ancestors. For us today it's a wallet, a password to an email account, or car keys, we all have things we must remember where we last put them. For the exiled Israelites, their lineage was their claim to the land. We see this in the detailing and double recounting of names (almost the same as Ezra and Nehemiah) as post-exile Israelites came home to the promised land and began to rebuild, restore, and reclaim their ancestor’s promised blessings from God.
Matthew 1
The list in Matthew chapter 1 ought to hit us like a 10-ton truck as we read through the names. In comparison to the lists already mentioned, this list is relatively short in length, but big on meaning. Nearly every name has multiple scriptural references if not outright explicit narratives about the names mentioned. The reader of Matthew 1 who has familiarity with the names of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Rahab, Boaz, Ruth, Jesse, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Zerubbabel all ring like a VIP list of persons throughout the OT. These aren't just mention-able, worthy names with neat little parable-style stories, these are the names of a lineage of Kings with direct connection to the great God who promised himself to Abraham, who rescued Noah, and who made all things good in the beginning. The final name given in Matthew 1 is that of "Mary the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah". The name above every name, the VIP of VIPs, the fulfillment of all the OT promises, the promised land made man, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is the culmination of this list of names.
History
These lists give the reader of the Bible a historical account that shapes an overarching story worthy of reading, worthy of remembering, and worthy of our study. This doesn't mean I don't have questions regarding the Bible. Indeed almost daily I wake up and have questions for God, about his revealed Word. This is one reason why I consider it such a privilege, such a blessing, to live in a time such as this, where God's Word is available to me in my native tongue and I can follow as so many others have done, to have questions, and then take up and read to seek for answers.
Let me ask you today, what is your answer to "Why the Bible?". Maybe your reason is one from past experience, thinking back to when you first began to read the Bible. Maybe your reason is from an experience you had while listening to the Bible taught or preached. Maybe your reason comes from God's stirring your heart. What are your reasons for believing the Bible? Someone may ask you today, in fact, let me correct that, I'm asking you today! What are your reasons for believing the Bible?