How many of us know the name of our great-grandmother? Or, our great-greats? I have a Sara Jane and a plain Sarah. I also have a John Henry Carter back there, the only believing relative I’m aware of. Years ago I did an extensive genealogy search, complete with photos and stories. One family member was displeased with me for overturning dirt.
Most of us have come from a mixed heritage. We all have it, even Jesus.
It would be nice to boast of a heritage of those coming over on the Mayflower, but my family was more like the Irish immigrants stowed in steerage on the Titanic. Either way, our families are an heirloom, and we get only one group of humans assigned to us by DNA and God’s creative design.
Not even Jesus had a sinless lineage. In the first 17 verses of Matthew, we see a list of the boring begats, or are they? Genealogies are important because they demonstrate the mystery and majesty of God’s plan.
A few identifiable names among the unpronounceable include four women. In a time when women were not included in Jewish history, only father to son, it’s amazing to see the four names recorded as part of the royals leading up to the birth of the Messiah.
The God-inspired Scriptures deemed profitable for us tells of the ancestry scattered with shame. Jesus wanted His family recorded, all of them.
Tamar, the scheming widow yearned for offspring and posed as a shrine prostitute to trick her father-in-law, Judah, resulting in pregnancy to preserve the line (Genesis 38).
Rahab, the Jericho harlot, sheltered spies and later was known for faith and courage. (Joshua 2).
Bathsheba, the woman involved in infidelity with King David, yet years later became the mother of Solomon, an ancestor of Jesus. (2 Samuel 11).
And, the dear one, Ruth, different from the other ladies, but from the despised nation of Moab. Ruth was not a Jew, yet God chose her to be in the line of the Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 1-4).
Worthy accounts of a turn-around. . . a desperate housewife, two prostitutes, and an adulteress, all part of the Messianic family tree.
The stories are not about the sin, but about the grace of God.
Our Savior had a background much like you and me. Every one of us has a lifeline stained with sin, which is the reason for verse :18, Now the birth of Jesus was as follows . . .
When I look through the tattered scrapbooks, filled with black and white remembrances of long ago . . . I see grace on every page.
The photo above is my great-great grandmother, Lizzie. . . . she looks nice.
To my great-great-greats, I can leave a blessing or a curse by the way I live.
How can our lives influence the next generation?
The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1
Verna
Glenda Mills says
April 14, 2012 at 10:07 amGreat post about ancestry, Verna! Praise God we have been born again into God’s family. New life and a new future awaits. The best is yet to come. May our lives be a light to those who come behind us. Thanks for sharing.
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:54 amThanks, Glenda . . . yes, the praise that we are all a part of His family!
Jane Consiglio says
April 14, 2012 at 11:25 amVerna, My great grandmother was Sarah Jane also Irish. My aunt has a beautiful picture of her. What a woman of strength and determination. Thanks for the reminder. Blessed again by your writing!
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:53 amI’d love to see her picture . . . and you have an Irish Sarah Jane, also . . . maybe we’re cousins! (smile) We know we’re sisters!
joanietroester says
April 14, 2012 at 12:05 pmI love it, Verna! Thank you!
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:49 amThanks, Joanie – I hope you can continue to visit while ministering in Africa!
Laura Kilmer says
April 14, 2012 at 12:22 pmThanks for the encouragement for all of us. There is plenty of “dirt” in my family history. A good reminder that it doesn’t matter where we came from; it only matters Who we belong to now. Praise God!
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:48 am. . . and we belong to Him . . . the One who designed for good! Thank you, Laura.
asimplylovelylife says
April 14, 2012 at 12:35 pmVerna,
Received news that I will get the opportunity to speak to a group of young Burmese refugees. Many of these people have a past that would make many of us blush. Yet, I find that my own disturbing trail behind me is the greatest link to those that lay before me:) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:47 amI love this! Thank you, Jen . . . you will be a blessing to those you speak to . . .
Diana Leagh Matthews says
April 14, 2012 at 2:29 pmVerna, as a genealogist and historian I LOVE your post. So true that our ancestor’s influence our lives and factor who we are more than we realize. When you begin searching you never know what you’ll find. Thank you for the encouragement. Your GG-grandmother is precious!
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:43 amThanks, Lee — I remember you saying you were a genealogist . . . it reveals God’s amazing grace from the depth of our roots!
lizfurman says
April 14, 2012 at 3:22 pmAt a Women’s Retreat lots of years ago the speaker said to us that when we live a life for Christ and raise our kids in that atmosphere they can stand on our shoulders spiritually speaking. I loved that imagery that how we live in front of them really matters. But I also know that our GOD is bigger than our heritage (and His own). Our children get to choose for themselves who they will serve, but I know that having unceasing prayers lifted up on their behalf helps. Good one Verna!
vernabowman says
April 15, 2012 at 6:41 amI love that image, also . . . thank you, Liz.
Janeen Ippolito says
April 21, 2012 at 9:32 pmII was a “begat-skipper” until I began a thorough reading of the Old Testament–and began teaching it. Now I delight in pointing out to my students the crazy, sinful people who were Jesus’ human ancestors–all to show how God’s glory can shine through one and all, because it’s not about our innate goodness, but His love and mercy. Thanks for the reminder!
vernabowman says
April 23, 2012 at 4:13 pmThanks for this great addition to this blog piece, Janeen . . . so true!