1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 1: God keeps His people's names

Begin in prayer

Before we read the long list of names in 1 Chronicles 1, let us turn to the LORD together. Ask Him to show us that He keeps the names of His people, and to lead us to Christ at the end of the line.

Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.

Malachi 3:16

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You keep the names of Your people, and show us Jesus at the end of the line. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

1 Chronicles opens with a list of names, and the first name is Adam, the first man. The list follows one family line through Seth, Noah and Shem down to Abram, who is also called Abraham. The book ends with God's people going home from exile (2 Chronicles 36 verses 22 and 23). The chapter also names the nations that came from Noah's sons. It ends with Isaac's sons, Esau and Israel, and with the kings of Edom.

As you read 1 Chronicles 1, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God keeps the names of His people, and the line of names leads to Jesus.

Chronicles begins with this list of names, and it ends with God's people going home from exile (2 Chronicles 36 verses 22 and 23). The record begins with Adam, the first man. Then the list narrows from all the nations of Noah's sons to one line, which runs through Shem to Abraham. God made His promises to Abraham (verse 27), and Israel is the name of his grandson (verse 34). A name written down is remembered, and Malachi speaks of a book of memory written before the LORD (Malachi 3 verse 16). This matters for any people who feel forgotten, because the Lord knows those who are His (2 Timothy 2 verse 19). It shows God as the One who remembers, and who keeps His promises across the ages. The line does not end at Israel. Luke follows the family of Jesus back through Abraham to Adam (Luke 3 verses 34 and 38).

How does 1 Chronicles 1 show us that God keeps the names of His people, and that the line of names leads to Jesus?

The list begins with Adam, the first man.

The first name is Adam, the man God made. Seth, Enosh and the others follow down to Noah (verses 1 to 4). Noah's three sons are Shem, Ham and Japheth. Every person alive comes from one of them, so this list begins with the whole human family.

God's line narrows to Abraham and his son Isaac.

From Noah's sons the nations spread out (verses 5 to 23). Then the writer follows only Shem's line, down to Terah and Abram, also called Abraham (verses 24 to 27). Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael (verse 28). Isaac's sons were Esau and Israel (verse 34), and Israel's sons became the twelve tribes.

This line of names leads on to Jesus Christ.

Luke traces the family of Jesus back through Abraham to Adam (Luke 3 verses 23 to 38). Matthew begins his Gospel with Jesus, the son of David and the son of Abraham (Matthew 1 verse 1). The names in this chapter are part of that same line. God kept them until His Son was born.

Memorise

Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

1 Chronicles 1:34

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I turned to Jesus, so that I belong to God's people?

This chapter starts with one name, Adam, and walks down the line to “Abram (also called Abraham)” and to Israel. Luke follows the same line all the way down to Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 3 verses 23 to 38). The names stop here, but God's promise did not.

Everyone in that line was a sinner, and no name on the list could pay for its own sin. Jesus came into the line to save His people. On the cross He carried His people's sin and bore its punishment, and His death paid for it in full. He was buried, and on the third day God raised Him alive.

Every name on this list belonged to a sinner, and Jesus came into the line to save sinners. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus. Whoever trusts Him is forgiven, and God keeps that name for ever.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God keeps the names of His people, and that this line of names leads to Jesus Christ. Parents, a long list is hard for children, so please read verses 1 to 4 and 24 to 34 aloud. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He keeps the names of His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

They shall be mine,” says Yahweh of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.

Malachi 3:17

Lord God, thank You that You keep the names of Your people, from Adam to Abraham to Israel. Thank You that the line of names leads to Jesus. Please turn each one of us from sin to trust Him. Keep us in Your care this week. Amen.