The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; (I Chronicles 3:16 ESV)
Author! Author!
To earn some much needed extra credit in high school, I attended a privately produced drama at a small theater. I was supposed to write a review, describing what happened in the play, and what it meant.
After watching the actors perform, I had no idea what the play was about. I did not really even know what was supposed to have happened. It was one of those kind of plays.
The audience, at the end, applauded. And someone, perhaps the play-write’s mom, started to call out, “Author! Author!”
And the author stood up to receive his applause… and… explained what had happened in the play! And what it meant!
And I went home relieved.
This verse is actually debated among some scholars. Is this a direct line of ancestry? Is this two brothers, both sons of Jehoiakim? Are these men known by other names elsewhere in Scripture?
And in preparation to write these paragraphs, I followed a lot of rabbit trails. Academically, historically, linguistically, so many questions arose. It could have been confusing, discouraging, and mind-numbing.
But then I remembered the Author.
Even if I cannot at present unravel the strings and knots of this verse, I know Someone who easily does. Even if I cannot at present understand exactly what happened in this verse, and what it means, I know Someone who easily does. Even if I cannot at present unravel the confusion found in this brief list of names, I know Someone who easily does.
Knowing the Author makes all the difference.
In the same way, we might not understand what happened yesterday. We might not understand what some event means. We might not be able to see the big picture of our lives, and how we connect to all of God’s Kingdom.
Do not despair because a particular Biblical verse is confusing. Do not despair because we do not understand, even while those around us are applauding. Do not despair because we do not know.
We know Someone who does. And the meaning always has something to do with Jesus! That can let us go home in peace.