Names, descendants and more names. Scripture, reflection and prayer.

Remember we are reading beginnings and endings of books of the Bible.

1 Chronicles 1:1-10
1 Adam, Seth, Enosh,
2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.
4 The sons of Noah:Shem, Ham and Japheth.
5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
6 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
7 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.
8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
9 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.
Reflection. Where do we come from? Personal family history is important. I what to pull out two names from the list above: Ashkenaz and Nimrod.

To Jewish people's the name Ashkenaz will resonate. Broadly there have been two European Jewish 'clans'. Ashkenazi Jews and Sephardic Jews. I write this with tears as the Nazi largely destroyed the Ashkenazi Jews in the shoah (this is what Jews call the Holocaust). Shoah loosely means 'catastrophe'.

Now, Nimrod. Go onto YouTube and search for The Enigma Variations: Nimrod by Elgar and listen to the piece of music that comes up. Take the time to reflect on your family and to give thanks.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, we offer you our personal history and we offer you our life today and tomorrow. Amen.