God’s purpose, which he is now working out, did not just begin with Jesus and the apostles, nor with Moses, nor even with Abraham. This is the implied message in this genealogy which stretches back to Adam. The writer of Chronicles, writing sometime after the return from exile in Babylon, is reminding the Jews that their previous rebellion does not nullify God’s faithfulness to his purpose. God was giving them the chance, after 70 years in exile, to start over afresh. That’s the context in which the story of David and the kings of Judah is told in Chronicles. Luke also, in introducing the ministry of Jesus the Messiah, begins with a genealogy stretching back to Adam. Both Luke and the Chronicler are saying that God’s purpose has remained consistent since the beginning of creation. This consistent purpose is represented by an unbroken lineage of grace, a divine family stretching back to Adam and Eve which now includes everyone who is connected to Jesus Christ. The message of this unbroken lineage is that God’s purpose has not been thwarted since the beginning. Yes, people, beginning with Adam and Eve, have rebelled against God’s purpose, but that has not thwarted God at all. As Paul says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). So, if we fall away from God, we can always be restored, and, if we do this, we will find God’s purpose unbroken. We always have the opportunity to make our imperfect lives a part of God’s perfect purpose.
Recommit yourself to God’s purpose and pray for opportunities to serve him today.
Read 1 Chronicles 1-9 and Look over the genealogy that stretches from it.
