Even the most enthusiastic reader of the Bible would probably agree that the genealogies are not very exciting. Lists of names, mostly difficult, are hard to get through and even harder to learn anything from. Still, here and there, we can find a little lesson. This passage, from the early chapters of 1 Chronicles, that longest stretch of geneaological data, contains a simple, timeless truth.
The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war. They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.
– 1 Chronicles 5:18-20 (NKJV)
Daily we face the onslaughts of the world, the flesh and the devil. We’re stupid to try to fight these battles on our own. We’re way too weak and we ought to know it. So what hope do we have for victory? The same hope these ancient tribes of Israel possessed. We can cry out to God in the battle and put our trust in Him.
Central Reflections 
Dave… Thank you. I have had too-little regard for ‘the begats’ as I’ve quickly skimmed over them. But not long ago I realized they reinforce the ‘plain’ understanding of Genesis.
In this day and age of trying so hard to reconcile evolution and Christianity, I’ve heard of pastors describing the story of Adam & Eve as an ‘allegory’… ie, ‘poetic’… not to be taken at face-value.
So I now ask them if Jesus was historic — “Yes, of course.” Ok, let’s back up some begats… Was King David historic? “Yes of course.” Ok, as we back up further through the begats, at what point does the genealogical trail go ‘poetic’?
The begats are what they are. A steady link back to the first man. And we can trust God at His word.
Darwin? Not so much.
Great point. Another reason why we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.