Begats and grace - Mountain Movers

“Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren…” (Matthew 1:2 KJV)

Have you ever used the word “begat” in a regular sentence when you were NOT reading the King James Version of the Bible? I don’t think that I have.

More modern translations, instead, use the phrase “was the father of,” which sounds more relatable to me.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers [who became the twelve tribes of Israel]. (Matthew 1:2 AMP)

It’s an interesting thing to think that two chapters of our Bible – Matthew 1 and Luke 3 – have sections that focus on the genealogy of Jesus. In Luke 3:23-38 scripture focuses on Mary’s lineage – the biological line – and traces it all the way back to Adam. In Matthew 1:1-17 scripture focuses on Jesus’s adoptive father Joseph’s lineage – the royal or legal line – and traces it back to Abraham and Sarah.

While these geneologies trace Jesus’s heritage back quite far, who they include is fascinating.

Abram rushed God’s timing.
Jacob deceived his father.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Ruth wasn’t an Israelite.
David committed adultery.

God knew these “messy” people and used them, anyway, for the ancestry of Jesus.

After being sold as a slave, wrongfully imprisoned, and forced to live in a foreign land, Joseph knew something about messes. Yet, when his brothers came to ask for mercy, “Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:19-20 NIV)

If you’ve ever researched your own genealogy, you might find a few “messes” there, too. In this bent and broken world, it’s hard to avoid messes.

Thankfully, messes don’t mess up God’s purposes or plans.

“Out of a family line that looks like a mess, God brings the Messiah.” – Ann Voskamp

God,

Thank you for the ways you use “messy” people to accomplish your Kingdom purposes. Thank you for the many examples of your mercy and grace in the Bible, and for the countless times we have experienced that same mercy and grace in our own lives. We are deeply grateful that you weave together the details of our lives for good. Help us remember that we are “jars of clay,” and that your all-surpassing power goes before us. In Jesus’s name we pray, AMEN.

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV)

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. (Romans 8:28 TPT)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)