THE BROAD VIEW OF TIME
Matthew 1:17
"So the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until Christ are fourteen generations."
Sometimes we need to look at the broad scheme of time to appreciate where we are today. Time is measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and centuries. It is also measured in generations (grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren). And time is measured by significant people or events. American history is marked by July 4th, 1776; by the Civil War; by the Great Depression; by World War II, and the Viet Nam War. In a broad view, Matthew divided Jewish history into three epochs – from Abraham to David, to the Babylonian Captivity, to Christ's birth. Then he narrowed it down to generations and individual people. Jesus' lineage recorded in Matthew shows how God chose certain people to be a part of the ancestral line, including some who seemed to be odd additions – a deceiver (Jacob), illegitimates (Perez by Tamar; Solomon by Bathsheba), and half-breeds (Boaz by Rahab the Canaanite harlot, and Obed by Ruth the Moabite). It was undoubtedly difficult for these people to realize that they fit into the broad scheme of God's plan, but God was working His plan all the way through. God is in control of time on this earth from Creation, to the Flood; to Jesus' birth and Resurrection; to the Second Coming. It may be difficult to see how people and events fit into God's plan. On a personal level, God has been in control of my life from birth through youth, to marriage and graduation from college, to pastoral years, and to retirement years. In the nitty-gritty of living one day at a time, it was sometimes hard to see God's hand at work in the daily routines of life. But as I look back at the broader scene, I can see how God arranged people and events to bring me to this season of my life – and it is good!
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God is in control of the seasons of time, and will work things according to His plan.
[end]
Have a "timely" day. Love you.
Matthew 1:17
"So the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until Christ are fourteen generations."
Sometimes we need to look at the broad scheme of time to appreciate where we are today. Time is measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and centuries. It is also measured in generations (grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren). And time is measured by significant people or events. American history is marked by July 4th, 1776; by the Civil War; by the Great Depression; by World War II, and the Viet Nam War. In a broad view, Matthew divided Jewish history into three epochs – from Abraham to David, to the Babylonian Captivity, to Christ's birth. Then he narrowed it down to generations and individual people. Jesus' lineage recorded in Matthew shows how God chose certain people to be a part of the ancestral line, including some who seemed to be odd additions – a deceiver (Jacob), illegitimates (Perez by Tamar; Solomon by Bathsheba), and half-breeds (Boaz by Rahab the Canaanite harlot, and Obed by Ruth the Moabite). It was undoubtedly difficult for these people to realize that they fit into the broad scheme of God's plan, but God was working His plan all the way through. God is in control of time on this earth from Creation, to the Flood; to Jesus' birth and Resurrection; to the Second Coming. It may be difficult to see how people and events fit into God's plan. On a personal level, God has been in control of my life from birth through youth, to marriage and graduation from college, to pastoral years, and to retirement years. In the nitty-gritty of living one day at a time, it was sometimes hard to see God's hand at work in the daily routines of life. But as I look back at the broader scene, I can see how God arranged people and events to bring me to this season of my life – and it is good!
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God is in control of the seasons of time, and will work things according to His plan.
[end]
Have a "timely" day. Love you.
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