First Chronicles 1:1

The Bible says in First Chronicles 1:1-10, “Adam, Sheth, Enosh,[2] Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,[3] Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,[4] Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.[5] The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.[6] And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.[7] And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.[8] The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.[9] And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.[10] And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.” The first several chapters of First Chronicles are primarily lists of genealogies. It appears that the book of First Chronicles was written after Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians and then by the Babylonians. It was important that the Jewish people remember where they came from. Notice the first name in verse one in this long genealogy: Adam. Every one of us on this earth have the same start to our own genealogy. That should be a fact of unity and equality. There are many other things that we all have in common: we are all sinners, God loves each of us, Jesus died for each of us, and we can each by saved by faith in Christ and thus become a part of the family of God and live in heaven forever. That is a lot of equality, and it all starts with Adam. Of course, Adam was created by God from the dust of the ground. God had a plan and still has a plan for the human race. That plan of God was in effect for generation after generation. The plan of God can be seen in the genealogies because God chose one particular lineage through which the Messiah would come to save the world after the fall of Adam. Adam was originally created in an almost perfect environment. Adam could not die or get sick or suffer in any way. There was no sin. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. Of course, God warned them that the day that they ate of the fruit of the tree, they would surely die. Sin and death entered into the world. But God had a plan. God would use man to fix the problems of sin and death that man caused. God would use a particular lineage to do that. It came down to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons. And eventually came David and Solomon, and then the Messiah: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so the genealogy is very important. The genealogy all the way from Adam tells the story of God’s plan. The genealogy all the way from Adam is proof of God’s work. God’s plan is still going forth. The man Christ Jesus will come to the earth a second time and show once again that He is God and the fulfillment of all the promises. Jesus will retore the human race to what it should have been.

Notice that First Chronicles 1:10 speaks of one of the current problems of the human race that started a long time ago. It says, “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.” Nimrod came very early in the human race as we see that he was a grandson of Noah, and the type of person that he was and what Nimrod did was extremely indicative of one of the main problems of the human race. It says that Nimrod was “mighty upon the earth.” He had power on the earth as opposed to power with God. Nimrod founded the original kingdom of Babel, otherwise known as Babylon. Nimrod was “mighty” compared to other human beings. He obtained power over other human beings. The statement in verse ten is a quotation from Genesis 10:8. Genesis 10:9 expands on that and says, “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” What did Nimrod hunt? He hunted people. He gained power over people. He was the first of the aggressive and power-hungry politicians. He created a kingdom based upon his power over others. He took away freedoms. Notice that Genesis 10:9 twice uses the phrase, “before the Lord.” That means “in the face of the Lord.” That means that the Lord saw it and did not like it. The Lord gives freedom to man. Men like Nimrod take it away. Sadly, as the course of human history has unfolded, men like Nimrod have increased in power and influence. As a matter of fact, men like Nimrod have ruled most countries most of the time. That is why true freedom is so rare and so valuable. Interestingly, the greatest manifestation of this control over people will come in the end-times as described in the book of Revelation when no one will be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast. No one will be able to worship the Lord Jesus Christ without the greatest of persecutions. In order to get a name for that kingdom of ultimate control, the Word of God goes all the way back to Nimrod and calls it Babylon. Thankfully, if there are any believers on the earth before the antichrist takes power, these believers will be raptured to heaven and thus not have to endure the time of the Great Tribulation when the antichrist rules. This is described in First Thessalonians chapter 4. Also, thankfully, the rule of the antichrist will be very short. According to the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, the Great Tribulation will last only seven years and then Jesus will return to the earth. It will be wonderful. Victory is assured. The Kingdom of God will come. The King will come. As it says in Revelation 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

The Bible says in First Chronicles 1:11-19, “And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,[12] And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.[13] And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,[14] The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,[15] And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
[16] And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.[17] The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.[18] And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.[19] And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.” Once again we see in verse nineteen that a quotation is made from the book of Genesis. The verse is not explained and so we must interpret it a little bit. Perhaps it means that people began to be divided as opponents and enemies. People divided into separate regions, separate ways of life, and eventually separate nations. This was one of the reasons for all of the wars in the history of the human race. Human beings tend to not do well when they divide for any reason. Jesus created the church so that people who believe in Him would be united no matter what is their country of origin, or language, of social condition in life. Eventually, every true believer will be united as brothers and sisters in heaven. There will be only one kingdom left: the Kingdom of God.

The Bible says in First Chronicles 1:20-28, “And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,[21] Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,[22] And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,[23] And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.[24] Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,[25] Eber, Peleg, Reu,[26] Serug, Nahor, Terah,[27] Abram; the same is Abraham.
[28] The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.” Of course, Abraham is a significant person in this lineage. Many things are written about Abraham in the book of Genesis. Verse twenty-seven mentions just one thing about him: the fact that his name was changed from Abram to Abraham. The fact that Abraham’s name was changed is recorded in Genesis 17:1-8 where it says to Abraham, “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.[2] And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.[3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,[4] As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.[5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.[6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.[7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.[8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” God gave Abraham his new name in order to emphasize the promises that God made to Abraham. God always keeps His promises. The promises were made to Abraham thousands of years ago, and the promises are still being kept. That is why the Jewish people still exist. That is why as it says in verse eight, “all the land of Canaan,” still belongs to them. Many nations can trace their lineage to Abraham because of God’s promise. The “seed” mentioned in verse seven refers to Jesus Christ. The “everlasting covenant” is entered into by everyone who believes in Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile. The last and the greatest of the kings that will come from Abraham is Jesus Himself: King of kings and Lord of lords. The reason that God made these promises to Abraham is the fact recorded in Genesis 15:6 and quoted in Romans 4:3 as, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Believe in Jesus and you also will be accounted as a righteous person.

The Bible says in First Chronicles 1:29-33, “These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,[30] Mishma and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,[31] Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.[32] Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.[33] And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.” There are many names in this list and we know almost nothing about most of them except for their names. That is one of the interesting things that we will learn in heaven. We will learn everyone’s story. At the judgment it will all come out: how God tried to reach them, and all the opportunities they had to turn to God, and if they did or did not become true believers. It will be extremely interesting and blessed and it will all glorify the name of Christ. It will be the true story of each life because it will include the spiritual forces that took place in each life. One of the things wrong with most of the Hollywood stories and most biographies is that they leave out the most important part: God’s work in that heart and life. One of the great things about the movie “Sergeant York” staring Gary Cooper is that the spiritual experiences of Alvin York’s life are included. Alvin York’s life was changed because he turned to Jesus.

We do know a few things about Keturah. In verses thirty-two and thirty-three are listed all of the sons that she had with Abraham. Keturah was Abraham’s second wife after Sarah died. The great promises of a lineage that were made to Abraham were fulfilled through Isaac, who was Abraham and Sarah’s son. But God still blessed Keturah and her sons because she was Abraham’s wife. Everything that Abraham did was blessed. The Christian life is like that. Once you are right with God through faith in Christ, the Lord will bless you and help you wherever you go. Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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