Joining the Lineage of Jesus

In Ruth 4:6, a close relative of Naomi turns down the opportunity to redeem the land which belonged to their brother Elimelech. He tells Boaz, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it (NASB).” He turns it down because it would threaten his inheritance — a very selfish reason. Because of this choice, he removes himself from the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus:

“Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron, and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab, and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon, and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David (Ruth 4:18-22).”

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17).”

Jesus calls us to be a part of His family, to follow him. When we believe in him, we chose to become a child of God. We are family entitled to an inheritance of eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).” Don’t let selfish motives — concern about earthly inheritance — cause you to miss out of on becoming part of the lineage of Jesus.

© 2022, CGThelen

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. – John 1:12-13 (NIV)