Actions of our Ancestors

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It is not to say that we can't take control of our lives and make decisions for ourselves, but the actions of our ancestors do have an impact upon us in some way.

Genesis 36:1-43

Reference: v.14 The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon, who she bore to Esau:
Jeush, Jalam and Korah. (NIV Bible)

Explore: If you are committed to reading through the Bible you will notice many passages like chapter 36, a whole list of names where you struggle to pick up anything of interest. I agree, and to be honest I do tend to skim over some of the names, particularly the ones I struggle to pronounce. However, as I read through the start of this chapter I was struck by the connectedness of all the people mentioned. No one was separate; everyone was somehow connected to someone else. I thought that verse 14 illustrated this perfectly - and besides I just loved the name Oholibamah (in my head I pronounce it "O-holy-bama"). Oholibamah is the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon, she is the wife of Esau and she had three sons: Jeush, Jalam and Korah. There's a fairly decent family tree already set out in one verse. And in that way she is totally surrounded by family.

Application: For me living in Australia today, family is very important but certainly not as interconnected as for Oholibamah. On this website I have not listed for you who my grandparents are and you are probably not in the least bit interested who my parents are and what they do. And yet, because of who they are and what they have done in the past, I am the person I am today. If my grandparents had not migrated to Australia my life would be very different. If my parents had not prioritized education, my life would be very different. The actions of our ancestors do have an impact on our lives. That is not to say that we can't take control of our lives and make decisions for ourselves, but their actions have impacted upon us in some way. We must not see ourselves as isolated beings, but a part of a greater web of connections that our family creates.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we feel alone and isolated but with our faith in You we have been brought into a greater heavenly family. May the communities that we are a part of bring us support and encouragement for the journey. Amen.

What impact have your ancestors had on your life?

David�s grace

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:12:04 +0100

David provides for his enemy’s descendent

2 Samuel 9.1-13

Reference: v. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Explore: David discovers an ancestor of Saul and wants to provide for all his needs. Now, let’s put this in perspective: David was seeking any ancestor of Saul, whether he was to be Jonathan’s so or not. I must say, David had an incredible love for Jonathan and an incredible capacity to forgive. It is beyond my comprehension that he would actually seek out an ancestor of Saul to show kindness to them to honour his friendship with Jonathan. He had been at war with Saul’s army for many years and while he had finally become king over all of Israel, it would have been understandable for David to still hold a grudge.

Application: No matter which way I look at it, I know that I would not be as gracious as David. To be honest, I can look in my own life at this very moment and see evidence that I have not been as gracious with some even simpler situations. David’s loyalty to God flowed through to his respect for Saul, as God’s anointed king, all the way to his provision for Mephibosheth, Saul’s disabled grandson. How should our loyalty to God flow through us to everyone we meet today?

Prayer: Lord, you were the perfect example of giving graciously, even to a world of people who do not deserve it. May I share that grace with people in my life today. Amen.

Blog Entries tagged 'ancestor'

Actions of our Ancestors

David�s grace