1 Chronicles 1:1–4: “Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

August 20th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

1 Chronicles begins with a list of names—an abbreviated genealogy that isn’t duplicated anywhere else in Scripture. It starts with Adam and traces the genealogy of the tribes up to the time of the author of 1 Chronicles (some time during the Babylonian exile). This genealogy reveals several things to us. First, it is an introduction to the background of the nations of the earth. Noah and his 3 sons survived the flood and became the basis for all nations in the post-flood world. Second, this genealogy gives a panoramic view of God’s dealings with humanity.

When this genealogy and the genealogy of Jesus found in Luke 3 are considered together, the careful reader will observe that it is the godly line of Adam’s third son Seth that eventually led to the promised Messiah. Because of this it has been rightly called the “scarlet thread” or “the road map of redemptive history.” God walked with Enoch and called Noah into the ark. He called Abraham out of idol worship, and then sent him to Mount Moriah, with his son Isaac, to be a living parable of God’s own redemption plan that took place 2000 years later on the same mountain, when His Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

This genealogy is a summary of God’s love spread over many familiar names, each playing a critical role in God’s sovereign redemptive strategy. Scripture tells us God’s eyes are upon us, as King David wrote in Psalm 34:15: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” Even though we cannot see Him, we know He sees us. And even though most have not audibly heard His voice from heaven, we know that God answers our prayers.

“LORD, hear our prayers and lead us this day. We desire to serve You and be a part of Your Kingdom.”