Brief History of Time

Scripture: After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest - this Ezra came up from Babylon. Ezra 7:1-6a

Observation: I usually glaze over - or completely skip - the lineage conversations in the Bible. However, this one caught my eye as it involved Ezra demonstrating his direct lineage straight back to Aaron.

Including both, there are 17 generations listed, and if one assumes 50 years per generation, that thus takes us back 850 years (or from ~450 BC to ~1,300 BC ... pretty much on the money for the timeframes of Ezra and Aaron).

In one quick shot through sometimes unpronounceable names, I was reminded of the breadth of Israel's history. They have just come out of exile, which was preceded by the divided kingdom that involved separate falls of both Judah and Israel. Before that, you had the kingships of Solomon, David, and Saul, preceded by the judges era. And that was all only after Joshua lead them into the promised, after Moses (and Aaron) lead them for 40 years of wandering, after the exodus.

To me, it's amazing that one list of names became 850 years of a unified history, linking the original head priest to the prophet that would usher in the new temple ... and write one of the very last prophetic books before the coming of Messiah.

Application: I need to remain in awe of the Bible!! It is the living word of God, and even the least bit of information can provide insight into God. In this case, we see a complete plan encapsulated through a reminder of history. God chose a people through which to show himself. It started with their salvation from famine, then their delivery from slavery, then through peace in a promised land, then through righteous judgment when they rebelled, then through forgiveness out of that judgment, and soon to be the final blessing to all mankind.

I think God had the Jews remember their lineages just so we could, from time to time, be reminded that he was in control that entire time. If he can control an entire nation for a millennium, I can trust him to control my life for my short time on earth.

Prayer: God, have your way with me. May my life a living sacrifice for you, not conforming to the world, but transformed through your word. Amen.