Daily Devotional for Monday, November 14

In the Messianic Lineage

The Bible is the story of redemption brought down through the ages by the family of God. From the very beginning it has been about Jesus, the Promised One. When I was a child, I wanted to be famous. I told anyone who would listen to me that I was going to be a great Olympic swimmer. I wanted to be fast, now. I wanted the result, right now. What I did not want was to practice, eat right and sleep right. God is prepared to take whatever time is necessary to see through to the end what He desired from the beginning. 

In the messianic lineage, we can see God’s mercy and grace. From Thamar, Jacob’s ignored daughter-in-law, who played the harlot to get Jacob’s attention, came Phares (verse 3). As we continue the lineage, we see that Salmon married Rahab the harlot (a Gentile) from Jericho (verse 5). Salmon and Rahab had Boaz who married Ruth the Moabite (a Gentile). Boaz and Ruth had a son that they named Obed (verse 5). Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of David the king (verse 6). David is identified in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). 

The mercy and grace of God comes through loud and clear as we examine the messianic lineage. From the beginning of time, God demonstrated His love, grace and mercy when He went and found Adam in the Garden of Eden. But God’s love was demonstrated to the highest level when Jesus died on the cross for our sins (Romans 5:8).

REFLECTION: What stories of redemption are happening in your life today?

David Thompson