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. (Matthew 1:17)
During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam took time to share the significance of the number fourteen. We learned that, just as the number seven signifies completion, the number fourteen signifies the certainty of the completion: it is, as our pastor shared, a "complete complete". There is no doubt that the hand of God is at work when Scripture evokes multiples of seven.
Joseph, therefore, is a critically important figure in the Advent narrative. The angel sent to speak to Joseph gave a significant salutation: "Joseph, son of David..." (Matthew 1:20). Why is Joseph addressed as "son of David"? Pastor Sam showed us that the name David, in Hebrew, is also an expression of the number fourteen. Joseph is not a random actor, but rather a hand-picked participant in God's project. He is a "complete complete".
Our great and gracious God has chosen certain people to be included in His salvation plan through the ages. The men and women in the Matthew 1 genealogy list may have had obscure beginnings in the world's eyes, but they were special to God! What a privilege to have been chosen by Him.
The Scripture testifies: "Mary's husband-to-be, Joseph, was a man who did what was right." (Matthew 1:19).
God could count on Joseph. Can He count on you?
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