Genesis 11:22-26: a reflection

22Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor. 23Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of more sons and daughters. 24Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah. 25Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and daughters. 26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Among the quiet lists of Genesis comes a genealogy that seems, at first, unremarkable: Serug became the father of Nahor, Nahor became the father of Terah, and Terah became the father of Abram. Generation after generation, ordinary people living ordinary lives, sons born and raised, the line continuing. There is nothing dramatic here; yet this quiet line was leading, generation by generation, to Abram, through whom God would bless all the families of the earth. God was working through these ordinary, unremarkable generations toward his great purpose, though nothing in the list itself announced it.

Notice how God's purpose advanced through ordinary generations. The list records nothing dramatic, only ordinary people living, having children, passing on the line; there is no announcement of destiny in these names. Yet through these quiet, unremarkable generations, God was advancing toward his purpose, bringing the line to Abram, through whom the promise would come. God's great purposes were being worked out through ordinary lives that did not seem, in themselves, to be doing anything remarkable. The unremarkable generations were part of God's plan, though nothing about them looked like it; God was at work in the ordinary line, moving toward his purpose.

That is worth taking to heart, for God works out his purposes through ordinary, unremarkable lives and generations, including our own. We can feel that our lives are unremarkable, that nothing dramatic or significant is happening in them, that God's purposes are being worked out somewhere else, by more important people; but God advanced his great purpose through the quiet generations that led to Abram. God works through ordinary lives toward his purposes, even when nothing seems remarkable. Do not despise your ordinary life as having no part in God's purposes; he works through the unremarkable, as he worked through the quiet line that led to Abram. Trust that God works out his purposes through ordinary, unremarkable lives and generations, including yours, as he advanced his purpose through the quiet line from Serug to Abram; for God's plan moves forward through ordinary lives that do not look remarkable, and your unremarkable life may have a part in his purposes that you cannot see.

Lord, among the quiet lists of Genesis comes a genealogy that seems, at first, unremarkable: Serug became the father of Nahor, Nahor became the father of Terah, and Terah became the father of Abram. Generation after generation, ordinary people living ordinary lives, the line continuing. There is nothing dramatic here; yet this quiet line was leading, generation by generation, to Abram, through whom you would bless all the families of the earth. You were working through these ordinary, unremarkable generations toward your great purpose. Show me how your purpose advanced through ordinary generations. The list records nothing dramatic, only ordinary people living, having children, passing on the line; there is no announcement of destiny in these names. Yet through these quiet, unremarkable generations, you were advancing toward your purpose, bringing the line to Abram. Your great purposes were being worked out through ordinary lives that did not seem, in themselves, to be doing anything remarkable. Take that to my heart, for you work out your purposes through ordinary, unremarkable lives and generations, including my own. I can feel that my life is unremarkable, that nothing dramatic or significant is happening in it, that your purposes are being worked out somewhere else, by more important people; but you advanced your great purpose through the quiet generations that led to Abram. Keep me from despising my ordinary life as having no part in your purposes; you work through the unremarkable, Lord. Help me trust that you work out your purposes through ordinary lives, including mine, as you advanced your purpose through the quiet line from Serug to Abram.