When you read through the genealogies in the Bible do you ever just skim through? I’m SURE you don’t do that. I’m sure you read every name and make sure you know how to pronounce each one correctly! But if you were to just skim, you might miss some important observations. For instance, did you know that there are 5 women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary – all of whom were involved in scandals of one kind or another, illustrating that God works in spite of imperfect scenarios to accomplish His plan.

But when you are reading, it would be awesome if you took the time to trace out every person in every genealogy to learn everything about each one. However, that would make a study in Matthew 1 take…quite a while. (It would be a very enriching study though.) But as you read, at the VERY least, read each name and ask yourself, “Have I heard about this person before, and if so, what do I know them for?

In Numbers, you come across a LOT of names. You can learn that Levi was Moses’ and Aaron’s maternal grandfather (Numbers 26:59). Aaron was famous for being the voice God provided for Moses when Moses offered excuse after excuse in Exodus 4. But he was also known for being the first High Priest in Israel. What is often overlooked is that he was the father of 2 of the most famous rebels in Israel’s history. Their names are found in Numbers 26:60-61: Nadab and Abihu. They were so well known for their sin, that a passing comment is made about their irreverence. It only took a passing comment because EVERYBODY knew what happened to them.The priesthood looked promising for them in Exodus 28 and Leviticus 8. They were dressed in fresh robes and their heads were adorned with headwear with a  golden plate proclaiming “Holy to the Lord.” In Leviticus 9:24, their hearts were awestruck by seeing the “fire [that] came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering.”

But in Leviticus 10, we read, “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” Just a short time removed from the peak of their existence, they emblazoned their moment of immortal infamy on history.We must be careful not only in the moments of weakness, but in the moments of apparent victory that we keep watch on our lives. Proverbs 4:32 says “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” and from 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”When you pass of the scene of this world, what will be the legacy that you leave behind? Will it be of faithfulness or failure? Meanness or meekness? Grace or greed? Take the lesson from these two “men of God,” and don’t be remembered for your obstinance, but for your obedience!