Don’t you love the Avengers movies? If you’ve never heard of them, they’re a team of 6 superheroes that team up to save the world. Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Iron Man. Each one of the members on this team has different gifts that complement the others in wonderful ways. When put together, marvelous things can happen in the right situation. It almost feels like watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Saturday mornings. Ironically, there were also six superheroes on that team as well, and let’s not forget the Transformers! Am I giving my age away yet? If you don’t know any of these teams, Google can be of great help to you today.
As you think about all of these different teams that were presented before us to entertain or even babysit us at some point in our lives, do you notice some commonalities about them all? They all seemed to be a little like us in their real lives when they weren’t superheroes. The thing that made them all unique was their unique ability that could not be replaced in a time of need. The funny thing was that a “time of need” always showed up at some point in the film. If everyone wasn’t together and in place, there was a great chance that a huge battle could be lost.
We’ve been studying Jacob’s genealogy for the last few months. We’ve gone really deep, studying all the sons of Israel, some in greater detail than others. But now is the moment of truth. Jacob has become ill, and his strength is running out. He calls his sons in to give them his blessing or tell them what will befall them. Can you imagine the angst they’re all feeling in the pit of their stomachs as they prepare for this meeting? I’d imagine they all had some idea where they stood in the scope of things, but not he was getting ready to go public, speaking from the viewpoint of a parent who’s watched the character of his children as he’s watched them grow up.
Every one of them, like every one of us, had unique things that were pointed out about them. While some showed Jacob they didn’t have what it took to be a leader, it didn’t mean they couldn’t still be great in their own way. Others were called to be judges and to do greater works. In order for the equation God had in mind to be complete, there had to be 12. Although Joseph received a special portion directly from his dad, his sons received his inheritance, and Levi’s as well, who was said to be dispersed without an inheritance. They all ultimately had a beautiful part to play in the history of this world. Today, Israel is still alive and well.
God calls them His firstborn son, whom He surely loves with an endearing love. It is true that without them being part of us, the whole body of Christ would be missing a significant part. We were grafted in because God knew that without us, they wouldn’t be whole, for He always had us in mind. Just as the Avengers and the Power Rangers came from different places to unite to save the world, so each of us was called, chosen, and created with unique gifts and purpose to be united and save the world. Sometimes we can be distracted and that can cause division between us, but let the record show we in the body of Christ are family, and we have a family name or kingdom to represent well.
Why does it take 12 chapters to tell Jacobs genealogy and only 1 to tell his brother Esau’s? There were things God wanted us to know about their history because today we hear about Israel, not Edom. God is always at work, doing something greater than we can imagine
Thoughts we can take away:
While there are two theories, one of “The Big Bang” or Evolution, and the other of “Creation.” While one would imply we all just happened without purpose, I am of the creation theory, and that’s what the bible intends to prove.
We’ve gotta start somewhere, why not at genealogy? We don’t have to choose to live in the history our past designed for us however.
GOod Life Principles
KeviJ
