The Treasure of Providence | Resources
Discussion Questions
1. What is the significance of Jesus Christ being in the line of David and the line of Abraham? Why is the genealogy in Matthew 1 so helpful?
2. What names and stories were you reminded of as you reread verses 1-17?
3. The only location mentioned in the genealogy is the exile to Babylon. Why do you think this specific event and location is mentioned? What significance did that event play in the biblical narrative?
4. In verses 16 and 17, Jesus is referred to as the “Messiah.” What does this term mean, and what is its significance?
Memory Verse
“I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (CSB)
Devotional
Let’s be honest, waiting is not very fun.
We don’t like waiting four minutes for our coffee to brew or the three little dots on our phone when someone is responding to a text message. We want things fast and don’t want to be told, “Hold on one minute.”
Can you imagine waiting like the Israelites? These names are real people with real stories who really had to wait. Take Abraham waiting on a son. Take David waiting to be King. Take those in the deportation waiting for God to bring them back to Israel. But with all these names and generations, what is the one constant thing?
The faithful promises of God.
Every person, every story, God was there. God was there for every heartache, struggle, moment of silence, and bad human decision. God never deserted his people. God never said “I’ll go try this with someone else.” From Abraham to David, through feeble and sinful people, God was working and ushering them toward the coming of Jesus.
This Advent season, will you be encouraged that God always keeps his promises? Will you be encouraged that the plan of God cannot be stopped? Will you be encouraged that in every story, every name, every generation, God is working?
Ultimately, to bring us exactly what we need at exactly the right time. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the World.