I am a big Duck Dynasty fan. I was somewhat late to the party when it comes to following this show, but I am now fully hooked. Being a fan of a television show in 2013 is an interesting thing, though. I cannot tell you what time or what channel this show is on. Isn’t that funny? Growing up, I knew that the Cosby show was on at 7PM on Thursday nights on NBC. In College, I could tell you that Seinfeld was on NBC on Thursday nights at 8. However, today, I have no idea where or when the show is located.
In 2013, television life is just different. Ever since the advent of the DVR and streaming entertainment online, I am no longer tied to a TV Guide. I simply locate the show once, select “record all” and then watch it at my convenience. One other side benefit of having a DVR is that I also no longer have to watch commercials while watching my favorite show. (NOTE: At least I still watch sporting events in real time, allowing me to appreciate the Geico “Hump Day” commercial . . . the greatest commercial ever made in my opinion.)
But I digress . . .
Watching TV on DVR has conditioned me to bypass anything I see as “filler” to get to the main course. Sadly, too often I take this attitude with me when I read my Bible . . . a book that has NO FILLER. All of the Bible is God breathed and intended for my edification, therefore, I should fast forward through none of it. Yet, too often I come to certain sections of God’s word and want to double tap the right facing arrows, speeding up progress until the “main story” resumes. One such section of Scripture we are tempted to fast forward through is found in Matthew 1:1-17. For just a moment, let’s pretend like it is 1993 all over again, and NOT DVR our way through this important passage. Pause for a moment and read this rich section of God’s Word again:
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.”
In these verses, the genealogy of Jesus is given. Most all genealogies in the Bible tempt me to want to skim through them. After all, I only recognize a handful of names . . . however, to do so in this case would be to miss a number of great lessons. Lessons like:
- Notice the fact that Jesus is a direct descendant of Abraham. This means that Jesus would be the One through whom all the people of the earth would be blessed according to God’s promise (Genesis 12:1-3)
- Notice that Jesus is also a descendant of David, thus having a royal lineage. This also makes possible God’s promise to David of his descendants sitting on Israel’s throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
- Notice all the women listed in this genealogy. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheeba, and Mary are all mentioned by name in the genealogy. This was very uncommon for the day in which the New Testament was written. The women’s names carry a significant set of messages, including God’s love of both men and women and His intention to use both extensively in His plans. Also, these women all have very trying stories recorded in the Bible . . . it highlights God’s interest in Gentiles, the abused, and the misunderstood. The grace of God shines beautifully through the prism of these females.
- Notice also the history of God’s people mentioned here. God’s call to Abram, His provision of a King, His discipline in the exile, and His restoration of the people are all mentioned here. God had a long history with His people that He did not want them to miss!
If you DVR your way through Matthew 1, you will miss some very important stuff. This Christmas, as you read the Christmas story, read all of it . . . and be blessed. Don’t duck the Dynasty described in Matthew 1:1-17.