Masterpieces

My George is a true genealogist…and revels in finding out more about our family lineage beginning with just two people: he and I!  He has over 700 people in his Ancestry tree.  He doesn’t just ‘take hints’ that Ancestry provides from other’s tree, but does the research from many sources to ensure validity.  It’s fascinating.  He adds pictures of all those who have gone before us and captures relevant news articles, census’ excerpts, etc., for the enjoyment of those courageous enough to delve into his masterpiece.

Each Advent season, we return to those passages that put the birth of Christ in the forefront.  Matthew’s genealogy tree flows down from Abraham to Jesus, while George’s tree flows upward.

Matthew 1-16 provides the genealogy from Abraham to Jesus.  If you are adventurous enough to read these sixteen verses, you will have the ‘Aha’ moment realizing that God wasn’t kidding…Abraham’s descendants are countless!!!  Matthew 1:17 sums up the preceding verses.  “Thus, there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to King David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the return from the exile to the Messiah.” NIV

That’s 42 generations that Matthew figured out!   On his Mother’s grandmother’s side George tracks ten generations, going well into the late 1600s!

Moving backwards into Isaiah’s historical chapter 10, he tells the story of the wars with Assyria. God reigns down terror in verses 33 and 34 to stop the invasion and free the Israelites:  “See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low. He will cut down the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.” NIV

So, the verbiage at the end of Chapter 10″ segues nicely into Chapter 11.  The first verse is one many of us may be familiar with: “The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David’s descendants.” NIV.  

Putting together these passages from the old to the new chapter, I am totally blown away.  From Isaiah to Matthew, it is filled with truths, substantiating and corroborating how God works from creation into eternity.   

 

Prayer: From Abraham to Jesus and beyond, Lord, you set up your earthly Jerusalem, showering us with faithfulness.  We are grateful, thankful and blessed by your written word, providing us history, genealogy, and visions of our future with you at the helm.  Amen.

Sue Healy – George-approved!