Boring Bible Genealogies
Genesis 36 is among the most ignored chapters in the Bible. It records the descendants of Esau, where they lived, and who ruled over them. Like other biblical genealogies, Genesis 36 is a long list of hard to pronounce names that rarely, if ever, reappear in the Bible. Twenty first century readers tend to think it has no modern relevance. Is there anything we can learn from these genealogies?
The Bible's repeated use of genealogies demonstrates the value God places on family. Like it or not, our families are the largest contributors to our identities. Our families socialize us, decide our socio-economic class, root us in a geographical location (or series of locations), teach us a specific language, and create the early childhood experiences that form our subconscious worldview. When all these background factors are taken into account, our families are the overwhelming source of who we are.
Our families also provide all our DNA, even if we're separated from them at birth, and psychologists and sociologies are learning that a huge percentage of our abilities and personality tendencies are decided by genetics at conception.
Boring Bible genealogies may seem irrelevant to us today, but they serve as a reminder that God takes family seriously. He uses the family to build individuals and societies. In Genesis 36:8 it says "Esau is Edom." Edom was the nation that grew out of Esau's children and grandchildren. Ultimately, our families are so important that they become our nations, and nations are the sums of their ancestors.
The Bible's repeated use of genealogies demonstrates the value God places on family. Like it or not, our families are the largest contributors to our identities. Our families socialize us, decide our socio-economic class, root us in a geographical location (or series of locations), teach us a specific language, and create the early childhood experiences that form our subconscious worldview. When all these background factors are taken into account, our families are the overwhelming source of who we are.
Our families also provide all our DNA, even if we're separated from them at birth, and psychologists and sociologies are learning that a huge percentage of our abilities and personality tendencies are decided by genetics at conception.
Boring Bible genealogies may seem irrelevant to us today, but they serve as a reminder that God takes family seriously. He uses the family to build individuals and societies. In Genesis 36:8 it says "Esau is Edom." Edom was the nation that grew out of Esau's children and grandchildren. Ultimately, our families are so important that they become our nations, and nations are the sums of their ancestors.