Who's In Your Family

I Chronicles 2-5

“…and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the…”  Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, children and grandchildren…a great list of family.  The list includes Jabez and his famous prayer, David and Solomon and the names of the ancient potters for the king.  “these records are from very old traditions. They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah, resident potters who worked for the king.”

I love these lists…real men and women.  This isn’t history or genealogy, but humans, loved ones, living souls.  They’re walking on a new planet, under a new sky, warmed by a brand new sun and gazing at brand, sparkling, new stars.  Oh, the marvels they must have seen: clear air and clean water, virgin forests and newly minted stones.

I also love these lists because I love thinking about my own family, the new and the ancient ones.  Preachers and drunks, pastors and prisoners, builders, poets, carpenters turned painters and hillbillies and city folk, artists and teachers.  Who’s in your family?  Who are your ancients and your newest ones?  This might help you think: they are all children of The Most High God.