I Chronicles 1-3
Wait, what? First Chronicles? Didn’t we finish both First and Second Chronicles a while ago? Well, yes, but we originally skipped the first nine chapters, because these chapters go straight to where we are now in our chronology, getting to the very identity of those returning from the Babylonian exile by tracing their genealogies. It is through these genealogies that the returning exiles are tied to the ancient stories and to God’s unfolding plan of redemption.
Unfortunately for us, though, genealogies that are not our own do not generally make for the most riveting reading, and I doubt I’ll have much to say for the next two days. Even so, I hope that we do not just skip over these chapters. As you read through these names, recall the history associated with them. Recognize that these are not just names in an old book, but real people with real lives. Some of these characters, like Moses, Aaron, Samuel, and David, are well known to us but others not so much. But whether famous or obscure, infamous or virtuous, these are the people through whom the LORD chose to act to reveal Himself to us. Without these links in the chain, who would the returning exiles be? And who would we be?