Day 29: 1 Chronicles 1:1-1 Chronicles 9:44 - 90 Day Challenge

Dissecting the Family Tree

A Journey through 1 Chronicles


So, if you didn't fall asleep during today's reading, you might have noticed there were quite a few names. If you're ever looking for baby name inspiration, you may want to consider checking out 1 Chronicles! 

In all seriousness, I did find it really fascinating to read the family tree from the beginning of the beginning all the way up to the end of yesterday's reading. (Actually, if you paid super close attention, you may have noticed we have a family tree slightly beyond what we read yesterday in 1 Chronicles 3:17-24.) 

It was difficult to get through all of those names though! Some of them were incredibly long, and it took me a while to figure out how my mental voice wanted to pronounce them. But I generally found it cool and interesting, and it sort of solidified a lot of things I had just assumed from previous readings. 

It may seem pointless to be reading all about these dead descendants who may not have had much of an impact, certainly not enough to be named in the previous books. However, a family tree, much like a real tree, has roots. 


We can use this genealogy, this family tree we've been provided, to further "root" our future readings. To provide a base from which we can continue reading. Have you ever heard the saying "I don't know where I'm going, but I know where I've been?" (aka the lyrics to "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake). Our past roots our future.  Without knowing the historical context, not only of the Israelites, but of the Old Testament itself, we cannot fully appreciate the New Testament, and can therefore, not fully appreciate Christ himself. 

I know reading the Old Testament can be trying, hey I'm reading it too, and there are a lot of things that we, as Christians, can look at and say, "Wow, that was wrong." There is a lot of murder. There is a lot of sacrifice. It can feel like the Old Testament is just dragging you down, (at least at some points), right? But know that we are reading all of this to get to the point where Jesus Christ comes to save. We are coming to the point where Christ rips through the shadows of the Old Testament and becomes the break of dawn, a beacon of hope, and light, not just in the world, but for the world. 

Hang in there, you've got this! 

Tomorrow's reading will be 1 Chronicles 10:1-1 Chronicles 23:32
I pray you have a wonderful start to your week!

Jill Jafarace
Director of Student Ministry
New Leaf UMC




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