The detailed genealogy of the sons of Israel continues in 1 Chronicles chapters 5 and 6 with the lineage of Ruben and Levi. It is amazing to see the connectedness of all the people from the Bible stories. I’ll be honest that I have dreaded reading through the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles because I knew from my previous times glancing through them that they are filled with so many names that didn’t have a connection with. Thankfully I was wrong about how impacting these book of the Bible are.
Ruben’s sinfulness by sleeping with one of Israel’s concubines happened in Genesis and see how that act of sinfulness had effects a many generations after Ruben. What acts do we choose to commit today that will have lasting effects for good or bad for generations? We are deceiving ourselves if we believe that our actions today have no bearing on the lives of the generations that follow in our footsteps. When the sons of Levi are listed it is interesting how they are first listed by birth and then their function within the Tabernacle in service to God is listed.
How did these lines of descendants remain pure for so many generations? When I think about the cultural melting pot that has been created within the United States in the last 300 years it is remarkable that the Israelites kept such clean lines in their genealogy. Does the purity of the genealogy throughout their history reflect their dependance and relationship with God? Is there a parallel between the genealogy of Israel and the development of a person’s faith in Jesus Christ? Since we are children of God through Jesus Christ do we enter into a genealogy?
It is a challenge to look at the book of 1 Chronicles objectively without any preconceived ideas to seek out the truth of scripture. I am thankful to be reminded of the great story that is seen throughout the Old Testament and to realize that I am a part of that same story today. The story of 1 Chronicles chapter 5 and 6 may seem to have less of an impact than the books of Joshua, Ruth, or Genesis but it is not devoid of having value if take time to reflect upon it in light of the story of scripture.
