How Our Own Family Histories Show God's Providence

      I love studying the genealogy of my family as well as the families of others who have asked me to do some research for them. It is so interesting to me to find out the names of my ancestors and the countries from which they came. Likewise, I also enjoy reading the genealogies of the Bible, especially the genealogy of Jesus Christ, which can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke.
      If you have an interest in studying your own family history,  as many of us do, you will begin to see how many people were involved in you being here on the earth. Of course, God created us, and placed us on the earth, but our immediate and extended family members played a role as well. We all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents,16 great-great grandparents, etc. If one of those relatives did not exist, did not choose the spouse he or she did, or just decided not to have children, you would not be here today.  Through God’s providential love and care, we are here. I believe that God’s providence has been at work many times in my own family tree. 
      When we look at Jesus’ earthly family history, we can see God’s Providence fulfilled for Him to be here on the earth as the true Messiah which the prophets had foretold about in the Old Testament. While Christ’s Birth was a miraculous or “above nature” event that is very open and visible, while not being “behind the scenes,” there are many examples of providence throughout His earthly family tree. 
​      God’s Providence refers to His special operation in the lives of the faithful according to His purpose in which He works “behind the scenes” doing things to the laws of nature to bring about His will.  Providence is not “above nature” and “very visible” like miracles.  The miraculous having given and fulfilled God’s Word has ceased until Judgment Day with the completion of God’s revelation in the Holy Bible in the First Century A. D., for the Holy Scriptures are complete and thoroughly equip us for every good work containing within them all things pertain unto life and godliness (Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, I Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:3, II Timothy 3:16-17).  Romans 8:28 speaks of God’s Providence in the lives of the faithful, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
      Acts 17:24-25 says, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”.  We owe our everything to God.  If it were not for him, we would not be here.  Thanks to God, He brought each one of our ancestors into existence, and thanks to Him all things have come about for us to have been born into this world. 
      We are all here for a reason today, just as our ancestors were here to serve a purpose as well. All of our genealogies begin with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20).        God knows the future for all of us, and He only wants to best for us and our descendants. In Jeremiah chapter 29, God is speaking through Jeremiah to the people, telling them about how they will be placed in Babylonian captivity and how that the captivity will last for 70 years. In verse 11, God says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Within this verse, we see a principle about God and His Nature toward His children, as God always works things out for our benefit if we are faithful unto Him. Even if some of our relatives were not faithful to God, they still helped us to be here, so that we can serve the Lord, and take as many people with us to Heaven.  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”  Our reason for being here on the earth is to fear God and keep His Commandments.  May we then remember that God is in control of everything in our lives, and if He wants something to happen, it will.
      It is amazing to see how God is involved in our lives every day. Looking at our family histories can make us more mindful of how God’s Will is always done. We should always put our faith and trust in the Lord to take care of us, and to help us on our journey to a home in Heaven!
 

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