Background Check

Luke 3: ²³ Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, ²⁷ the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the sonof Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

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Fascinated with my ancestry, I asked my parents and grandparents to remember names of relatives as far back as they could go. I was amazed at the fortitude of my family and wondered how we even survived.

• Family history has strengthened my relationship with GOD.
• Family history has shown me the good and the bad of humanity.
• Family history has given me faith in GOD who controls everything.

JESUS’s human lineage was traced back to the first human, Adam. It is a wonder humanity survived. HIS ancestry was spread over years of violence that almost wiped out humans, BUT GOD intervened.

• GOD’s plan cannot be altered by wars and rumors of wars that affect my family.
• GOD’s plan cannot be changed by people in my ancestry who may have made huge mistakes.
• GOD’s plan cannot be modified by the difficulties of life that hurt my family.

Whether it was a depression, slavery or a hostile takeover of a neighboring village, my ancestors made it by the grace of GOD. JESUS shows me that good can come out of hurt and life can spring out of meager beginnings.

• Are you blaming your family on where you are?
• Do you think the circumstances of the times altered your family history so you would either fail or succeed?
• Can you look at the history of your family and be amazed that GOD has your ancestry as part of HIS amazing plan for you?