Josiah: Part 1

By Amitabh Singh

In all of our families, there are family members who have not left perfect examples. The good news is that our destiny is not determined by our family.

Throughout the whole Old and New Testaments, you will find people who made countless mistakes. Read the first chapter of Matthew. 

It starts with Abraham, who was the patriarch of Israel but who also was a liar. He told people that Sarah was his sister, and he did not bother to tell them that she was also his wife. He did this to save his own life!

And we know that Jacob had conflict with his older brother, Esau, who should have had the birthright. But Jacob cheated Esau out of the blessing that was really his. And Jacob’s name, of course, was changed to Israel, and so that idea of trickery and cheating is right at the forefront of Israel’s history. It is interesting that Abraham and Jacob could be called two of the most influential people in Israel’s history. One was a liar, and the other was a cheat.

Then you look at the names of Tamar and Rahab.  Rahab was a prostitute. Tamar pretended to be one, once – and you wonder why they would be included in the pedigree and lineage of Jesus, the Son of God.

And, what about David and Bathsheba? They had an adulterous affair and tried to cover it up. Ultimately King David had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed in battle. King David was an adulterer and a murderer!

Why does God choose those with skeletons in the closet? God knows that those of us with skeletons in our closets can be honest and realistic with ourselves. Therefore, we can be honest and realistic with other people.

The good news is that your mistakes are not final. There are consequences, but they do not determine your life’s outcome.