Beget, Begat, Begot

Blah, blah, blah….That’s how a lot of people read the long genealogies given in Scripture. Although essential to the Jewish people, if we’re honest, most of us will speed through those sections or skip them all together. They don’t really interest us.  However, we should remember that these “begots” were real people with real lives, and stories all their own. Just think about it, heroes like Moses and Elijah; or villains like Jezebel and Judas, all had mothers and fathers! What are their stories, I wonder?

I don’t think people are interested in a “family tree”, unless it’s their own. In fact, there are whole industries that capitalize on the desire of people to know where they came from. Many will pay lots of money to swab their DNA and search databases, hoping to find out something about their ancestors, or themselves. I guess we want to know if our families were famous or noteworthy. Did they come over on the Mayflower? Am I related to Benjamin Franklin?  Am I part Cherokee or Korean?

Those that came before us, do matter; and those that will come after us, of course matter too. But, I guess what I’m pondering is…what are we doing that matters? What are we doing with the life “in between” the begats and begots? What heritage will we leave behind? A bit of cash or a condo? Grandmother’s diamond ring? Dad’s pocketknife?

What if we could leave behind something that will never tarnish, devalue, or be spent? I think we can!  Because no matter what our financial status or ethnic heritage, as followers of Christ, we can leave behind an example of a life well lived. One of loving and serving. A life lived with faith in Christ. Now that’s something worth passing on to our families, isn’t it?

I’m sure my name will never appear in a list of famous ancestors, but I pray that one day it may be said of me as it was for Timothy’s mother and grandmother, when Paul wrote this: 

“I remember your genuine faith, [Timothy], for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” 2 Timothy 1:5 NLT

What a heritage! As it is written in 3 John 1:4, there is “…no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth”.  Amen to that!

On a personal note, our daughter begat a son….. we’re grandparents!