Devotional: 3 by 14 = 42. So what? A generational tale

The Bobs Your Uncle podcast doesn't usually delve into a maths lesson, but Matthew's genealogy calls us to ponder the 14 generations in each of 3 segments of Jewish history.  What's the deal with Abraham to David; David to the deportation (Exile) from Judah to Babylon; then the 3rd era from 586 BCE to the time of the Messiah?  We unpack this one. You might want to follow along using the transcript. 

This is the 4th (of 5) podcast in the interim season 2 of the Bobs Your Uncle pod. Enjoy. All focused on the genealogy of Yeshua as reported by Matthew.

Transcript

Devotional #4:   3 times 14 = 42

The Jesus Genealogy: What’s the point?

We read in chapter 1 of Matthew:
6 Jesse was the father of David the king. 11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. Matt. 1:17   So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

 I used to teach mathematics in the US in the 1970s. I still love puzzles and number quizzes I find online. When Matthew writes his genealogy, he breaks the history of Israel into three significant eras. From Abraham to David, then from David to the exile to Babylon and from that time to the time of the Messiah. Each is listed as being 14 generations. 

Unfortunately, the time of those eras is not even. It is approximately 1000 years from Abraham to David, then 400 from David to the exile from Judah, and finally 600 from that exile to the Messiah. But approximations work for me and for the biblical writers.

Even so, don’t be distracted by the unevenness of the eras. Matthew actually leaves out some people so as to make 3 equal lists of 14 folks, the ones who defined their generation. And the number 42 is used by John in the Revelation to define a maximum time for the difficulties of the people of God, which of course was also not exact, but simply spoke to the people of his day about the temporary nature of suffering. For John, suffering will end. Yeshua will come back, and victory will be permanent. 

But what else do we learn from the 3 x 14? It’s a useful tool to define an era, and was a very common method in Jewish history. People are more memorable than dates anyway.

And 6 units of 7s which also equals 42 are harder to keep track of. 3 units of 14? Much easier. And those three represent the highs and lows of Jewish life, from Abraham and David, serious high points, to the Exile to Babylon in 586 BCE… one of the lowest moments in Jewish history. 

But be assured, no matter the times in which you live, the good or the bad, the ups or the downs, for you or your family or your country… God is in control and at the end of the day, Messiah will rule. Suffering will end. Victory will be permanent. 

Thanks for joining me for this episode 4 of the interim season 2 of the Bobs Your Uncle podcast. Remember, when things seem bleak or uncertain, look up to God, he’s in his heaven, and Bob’s your uncle. Shalom from Sydney.