Reading Genealogies

Weekly Update – July 17th, 2025 

On Sunday as I was reading through the 68 verses of names given to us in Nehemiah chapter 7, I began to wonder what I was doing.  Of course, I knew that I was in the middle of reading names, some of which are almost impossible to pronounce correctly, but larger than that, I began to wonder if this was crucial to what I was trying to accomplish through the preaching of the text.  The conclusion that I came to is, yes! Though you may have been tempted to nod off as you heard the number of sons Binnui had (7:15), I believe there is still great importance to us reading these names and including Nehemiah chapter 7 in our time of exposition.  Let me give you three reasons why.

First, we believe that “all scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching…” (2 Timothy 3:16). It is true that some passages may have more low hanging fruit so to speak when it comes to understanding and application, but that doesn’t mean we should skip over the more difficult texts.  With that said, texts such as Nehemiah chapter 7 simply mean that we may have to dig a little bit deeper into the richness of God’s word. For if we skip over this text, what prevents us from skipping over other texts that are debated or controversial? We must hold to every verse and mine the depths of every passage, as it is God speaking to us through his word.

Second, reading the genealogy of ancient believers connects us to God’s bigger purposes. The theme of Nehemiah is bigger than God’s people building a wall. Yes, chapters 1-6 chronicle Nehemiah’s journey and his complications to getting the wall around Jerusalem rebuilt, but chapter 7 clues us into the fact that there is more going on here.  The wall around Jerusalem was built to preserve a people.  For without a wall, God’s people are left vulnerable in their daily devotion to him, but also in their worship of him, as the temple would be left open to any and every band of marauders who passed by.  The wall wasn’t built for the sake of merely having a wall.  It was built to preserve God’s people, of whom we see listed for us in chapter 7.

Third, within the context of Nehemiah chapter 7, the names listed for us show that we are not alone in our faith. There are 49,942 people accounted for within the gates of Jerusalem.  They have been set apart by God and assembled for the purpose of gathering around God’s word together, as will be seen in Nehemiah chapter 8.  We too, as New Testament believers, have been set apart and placed within the church to assemble around the word of God.  This is how God works.  He calls his people to himself, to gather in his place, to worship him. This is meant to form a glimpse for us of the heavenly gathering that we are looking to. For one day, we will gather with those from Nehemiah 7 in a new city, where the gates will never shut (Rev. 21:25), whose designer and builder is God (Heb. 11:10), and His glory will shine forever (Rev. 21:23).

Though it may be tempting to skip over passages that seem mundane or even difficult to understand, we must scale the depths of God’s word with faith, believing that His word can further equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17) through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 2:10-13).

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson