Matthew 1

Tuesday,  Jan 5, 2016


There are three sets of 14 generations mentioned at the beginning of this chapter.   I did some quick math and determined that a generation in the first set (Abraham to David) is 31 years.  In the second set, a generation was 33 years, and in the 3rd set a generation is 38 years.   There are some people who say that all the generations aren't listed here, or they are incomplete... I find that hard to believe, since any additional family members would have the generational line down in the 20's, or even lower.   Except for the Exodus, we can clearly track Jesus's lineage all the way back to Abraham.   That's important because prophecy clearly says that the Messiah would come from the clan of Judah, and this lineage proves it.    It also demonstrates that God doesn't need us to be perfect in order to work through us.  Rahab was a prostitute who turned traitor on her own country and hid several Israelite spies.   Solomon was born to Bathsheeba, who slept with David while her husband Uriah was away at war.  Okay, you probably can't deny the king when he commands you, but I am not trying to place blame.  I'm just saying that God can use anyone.   David and Bathsheeba weren't a couple that God put together, but after David repents, God clearly blesses him and his wife.


Moving on to Joseph, I recall that there isn't much written about him.  This is one of the few passages we have.  I wonder what happened to Joseph.  I know he survives for their trip back from Egypt, and he and Mary have other children, but he disappears off the pages of history after that.
Was he an older man to begin with?  Did God take him home to heaven so he wouldn't be here to see his son tortured?  And if that's the case, why not take Mary?  Why allow her to suffer?   Maybe there wasn't a reason, maybe it was simply "his time".


In any case, I learn from Joseph that God's ways are beyond my understanding.  I need only to trust his guidance and do my best to remain obedient.  He will see to the rest.


It had to be difficult to look at Mary thinking she had been with someone else...and then later to think that she had given birth to the Messiah...to God himself.   What God commands isn't always comfortable...but it's always worth it.


PR