Why does God list the descendants of Israel? — Heather of Conyers, GA.

Dear Heather,

There are at least two reasons for these lists (also called genealogies). First, God chose the descendants of Abraham (the Hebrews) to "bless all nations" (see Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus descended from these people and brought that blessing. Therefore, it was very important to keep a record of their history. The genealogies provide such a record.

Second, the Bible foretold that Jesus would be a king, and that He would descend from David (see 2 Samuel 7:12-13). The genealogies in Matthew and Luke show that Jesus descended from David. This qualified Him to be king (see Matthew 1 and Luke 3). Though they are hard to read, these genealogies are very important for Christians.