Tag: Genealogy

Morning Musing: Exodus 6:20, 26-27

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“Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. . .It was this Aaron and Moses whom the Lord told, “Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt according to their military divisions.” Moses and Aaron were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Every culture has ways of identifying who its elite members are. Today we give preference to graduates of certain universities. People who are publicly known for embracing certain social positions and who are also graduates of those same schools (although it’s hard to imagine many of their graduates come out not embracing those positions given how hard they work to indoctrinate their students into their worldview) can establish themselves even more firmly. But the most consistent way we have historically identified the best and brightest is by their family name. Names like Clinton, Bush, and Kennedy carry a lot of cultural clout. Just before we get into the real action of our story, the author stops to give us Moses’ credentials. Let’s talk about what’s going on here and why it matters.

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Morning Musing: Matthew 1:17

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“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Throughout human history there have been two questions that have had more to do with the kinds of opportunities a person would be given in life than anything else. These two questions could open doors to new careers, exciting adventures, and a lifetime of relative ease. They could also close them just as quickly. Various stories have been written featuring people heroically rising up and achieving great things in spite of having the wrong answers to these two questions. But those stories tend to be just that: stories. The way the world actually works is generally right in line with how it has always worked. And how it has always worked is that your life will be governed by the answers to these questions. Even in this nation which has long been known as “the land of opportunity” they nonetheless still hold powerful sway. They function as a way of keeping order in an otherwise unruly society. And if that order tends to be unjust, well, at least it is better than disorder. What these questions are and what they have to do with the Advent season is what I’d like to talk about with you this morning.

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