“Adam, Seth, Enosh; Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. … Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reau; Serug, Nahor, Terah; Abram, that is Abraham. The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. … Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. … These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Isachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. … Nashon became the father of Salma, Salma of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse. Jesse became the father of … David the seventh; … 1 Chronicles 1:1, 24-28, 34, 2:1-2, 11-13a, 15b The genealogy of humankind, the family of God, pre and post-flood up to David. A list of names, but more than a list of names. In each name is a story of God’s desired purpose for creation, those who did well and those who went astray. Still a spiritual blood line continues so as to fulfill God’s desires.

                       Wesleyan Life Application Topic – Family

God’s purposefulness guides the generations. For the Chronicler, Adam was no one’s son but an act of God. The fact that there is a subsequent trail of anguish, aging, and death reveals the problem with human existence. God then labored for generations, through Abraham, Israel, David, and Solomon; eventually Jesus reveals God’s relentless grace to set things right. Family chronicles also trace our roots and shoots, our tribes and our allegiance. We research them and hang them in our living room. But do we see the purposefulness of God that ties parent to child over the centuries? Our surname is precious. Our given name is more precious still. (Wesley Study Bible, pg 493)