“The descendents of Caleb the brother of Jarahmeel were Mesha, his firstborn who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah, the father of Hebron.”  1 Chronicles 2:42

“Now the Lord said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house; to a land I will show you.  I will make you a great nation.  I will bless you.”  Genesis 12:1

I have to admit, there are some books in the bible, some parts of The Word, that are harder to get a message from, for me, than others.  The power of the burning bush, parting of the Red Sea, a Virgin birth, the birth, life, death and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are all so powerful.  But the beginning of Chronicles with chapter after chapter of hard to pronounce names and a lot of begetting, it’s tough for me to maintain focus.

Thank God Our Father Almighty that in His Mercy and Grace, He has sent the Holy Spirit to teach us that all parts of His Word, have something to teach us.  During a time when much power and property were handed down based on genealogy it would be important to know from whence you came, but what does it speak to us today?  In humble prayer and supplication, the Spirit gave to me some impactful insight into the wonderful impact on you and I today.

You see there was a man named Abram (God would change his name to Abraham).  He was the head of a somewhat successful family of shepherds and herdsman.  God came to him, called to him and made him a promise.  If you will pack up and leave where you are, leave much of your extended family and what you know, go to a far off land that I tell you is rich in all that you need; God tells Abram, if you will do this, I will make you a great nation. I will bless you.  Do know dear Sisters and Brothers, at this point, Abram had no children of his own, he had no idea about the land he was being sent to.  But Abram trusted God.  Abram answered God’s call, packed up his immediate family and one nephew (Lot) and he set off.

God kept His promise.  How do we know?  1 Chronicles.  You see that listing of genealogy traces back to Abram (and even beyond).  We can see that he, Abram, who had no offspring when God first called to him, truly became the father of a great nation.  Another part of 1 Chronicles is a breakdown of the area of the promised land each main branch, each tribe inherited.  Should you take the time to read through the names (which I highly encourage you to do), you’ll come across names that you’ll recognize.  There’s Jacob and Joseph and his brothers, Moses, David, Samuel the prophet and you might find yourself saying:  “Hey I know that one!”  We know from the Word, that not one of the people listed was perfect; they all stumbled.  However, that did not stop God from fulfilling the promise He made.

God will not go back on a promise.  His word endures for ever.  Today, you and I are or at least can be people of His promise.  “For God so loved the world that He Gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. God’s promise to us.  Also remember that Jesus Christ was and is God who came down to this earth.  So the promises He made concerning seeking and finding, the Love of His Father, giving peace, are all God promises.

Dear Sisters and Brothers, you may find yourself in a place of wilderness today.  You may feel you are in a place where God is far from you.  You may even be in a place where you doubt that God can hear you or cares for you.  You and I may have done something that we feel has separated us from Our Heavenly Father.  Our faith may waiver, but be assured of this, God’s faith never does.  God never turns from You and I even should we try to turn from Him.  God has made a promise to you and I and as long as we believe on Him, He will be faithful to that promise.  The prince of this world shows us how easily the promises of the world are broken into shambles.  He hopes to convince us that God’s promises will not last either.  Yet see in His Word, in a book like 1 Chronicles,  through names like:  Issachar and Abigail, how God is faithful to His promise.  A sacred promise is called a covenant.  There was a covenant with Abram that was shown in a sign.  There is a second, more lasting, more powerful covenant, shown through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, that God loves us.  God will keep us.  God’s face will shine upon us.  What’s in a Name?  What’s important about your and my name?  God knows it in His Heart.  God loves it and the person it represents.  God will fulfill His promise to it.  Praise be His Name.

Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father, we are in need of You.  We can not successfully navigate this world on our own.  We need a promise to hold on to, to get us through the day.  Thank you Dear Father, that You have made a promise to us.  Thank you most Merciful Father that You have seen fit to show us through Your Word just how faithful You are in keeping Your promises.  Help us to carry Your Promise in our hearts.  Being fully confident in Your Power to fulfill every aspect of the promise You have made.  In turn help us to rely solely and souly on You, forgiving us when we are weak and strengthening us so that we will be fully in You.  We pray this in the name of Your Most Precious Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen