Family Ties

Genesis 36
40 These are the names of the leaders of the clans descended from Esau, who lived in the places named for them: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram. These are the leaders of the clans of Edom, listed according to their settlements in the land they occupied. They all descended from Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites.

Both Abraham and Isaac were promised by the Lord God that their descendents would be too numerous to be able to count. Grains of sand, stars in the sky kind of too numerous to count. We keep track more of the descendents of Jacob, because through his descendents come Messiah. However, it is interesting to me this morning to think that the folks occupying the Promised Land when the children of Israel came back to claim it had to have included some distant cousins through the family line of Esau. Same family; different belief systems. When we talk about sharing the Gospel message, we usually think about doing so with strangers, or acquaintances and friends. Family is the hardest people group to reach for the Gospel, but should this people group be ignored because they are difficult to reach? I think not. May our determination to share the Good News extend to our family, close relatives and extended ones, too!