The Book of Genesis
Day 429
Ge 46:6 So they
took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of
Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. 7 His sons and his sons' sons, his daughters
and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to
Egypt. 8 Now these were the names of the
children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob's
firstborn. 9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch,
Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of
Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a
Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi
were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The
sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in
the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah,
Job, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun
were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These
were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter
Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi,
Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17
The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister.
And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.
18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter;
and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.
19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife, were Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were
born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of
On, bore to him. 21 The sons of Benjamin
were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and
Ard. 22 These were the sons of Rachel,
who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all. 23 The son of Dan was Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni,
Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These were the
sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to
Jacob: seven persons in all.
God is certainly a
great bookkeeper! Of course, this is not the only genealogy that you will find
in Scripture. Usually we find these genealogies at significant points in
history. Places and events where changes are about to take place. It’s like God
is saying, “there are changes coming, but I want you to know that I am aware of
them. I am aware of every individual involved in these changes, and I want you
to know that there will be continuity with My master plan.
Further evidence
of God’s penchant for bookkeeping can be found in the biblical references to
the “Book of Life.” Paul mentions it in
Php 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with
me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose
names are in the Book of Life.
We see reference
to this “Book” several times in the Book of Revelation. For instance in Re 3:5
we read, "He who overcomes shall be
clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
We know then that
“overcomers” will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life! On the
other hand, some will not bow their knee to the Lamb and thereby worship the
prince of darkness, and they will be missing from the Book of Life! Re 13:7 It
was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And
authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship
him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. (You are either with God or against Him!
There is no middle ground!) (Mt 12:30)
God not only keeps
books with names, but He also keeps a list of deeds. Now, pay attention here
because this is very important. Re 20:12-15 says, “And I saw the dead, small
and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was
opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their
works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it,
and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were
judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. 15 And anyone not found
written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Two sets of Books.
One set just filled with the names of men and their deeds. The other, just
names, no deeds. Just the names of those who will have eternal life. Your name
will be in one or the other.
Those who think
that they can get to heaven by being good will have their deeds recounted and
they will see how far short they fall. Those who are trusting in the finished
work of Jesus alone will have their
names and only their names in the Book of Life! Their deeds having been done in
Jesus, and therefore there is no need to list them in this Book. Those in
Christ will enter the holy city and live in eternal bliss with Jesus forever.
Those whose name
is found alongside their list of deeds that they trusted in for salvation will
be tossed into the lake of fire where they will be tormented eternally. The
very listing of their deeds serve as a testimony against them.
Is your name in
the Book of Life? Are you trusting in Jesus alone for your salvation? Are you
ready to admit that your perceived goodness is as filthy rags? Then repent of
your arrogance and throw yourself at the mercy of God. Believe that the Father
sent Jesus to die for your deeds, and receive Him as your Savior and Lord.
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