1 Chronicles 1:1-4 (NASBStr)
Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Why does God include all the genealogies in the Bible? What is the purpose of this book starting out with four chapters of names of people, we probably don't care to know? There are probably countless reasons, but let’s look at two:
1. It is important to understand the purpose of 1 and 2 Chronicles prior to reading all these names. Even though God's Word says that ALL of it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction (2 Timothy 3:16,17), we don't always see it. When the book was written the nation of Israel was being allowed to return to the promise land after years of captivity under three different leaders/countries. As they made their trek back to Israel in general and Jerusalem specifically, they found themselves without the structure and leadership of the past. They had NO king. They were under the rule of the King of Persia and had no political or distinctive Jewish structure. The temple was destroyed, the city in ruin and the leadership gone. Were they still significant as a nation? Did they still matter to God? Were the covenants with God still in effect and viable to trust? These are all questions those returning were asking. The chronicler wanted to remind them of where they came from and how special they were to God. He wanted to show them how they got where they were (including the disobedience). He wanted to trace their steps back to the past so they could fully grasps the future.
Most people don't like family reunions. Especially the younger generation. This book is a paper trail family reunion. It is written to show them they are connected with the past and still significant for the future. For the church today and the believer it is important to remember the connection God's plan has with the past. Nothing will derail what God has planned. His interaction in history has a purpose and it is all connected. Each name we read is important to God and a small piece of His plan. Just as our day-to-day walk with Him matters to us, but it matters more to Him. Our each step is ordained by God to accomplish His complete plan. We are tied to the past; the past is significant for the future. Don't simply forget it. It matters to God. It should matter to us. These names matter to God. But, more important to the reason the book was written, God wanted the people to know that He knew them and that He was in this with them. When putting a culture back together you have to give them a sense of their past (the Lover archetype) and a place in history. To start something (in this case a new Israel ... in their own land), you have to know you belong to something greater than yourself.
2. On top of knowing these connections and this history and this significance, these genealogies also trace the names from Adam to Abraham to Jacob to King David; what would be the line of Jesus, our Savior. If you read the genealogies in Matthew you see that Jesus is traced back to David. If you read the genealogies in Luke you see that Jesus is traced by to Adam. These genealogies give us the evidence we need to see that Jesus was able to represent us and was the chosen Messiah, becoming the Son of God and son of man.
These records show the integrity and veracity of God’s plan, God’s Word and God’s sovereign direction over the affairs of man.
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