Exodus 6:13-27
Establish the need: When serving and following God seems hard and there’s opposition, can God’s work in the past in your family be a fuel for obedience?
Nevertheless, the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron and gave them a command concerning the sons of Israel and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 14 These are the heads of their fathers’ households. The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben. 15 And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon. 16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the length of Levi’s life was 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the length of Kohath’s life was 133 years. 19 And the sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Now Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was 137 years. 21 And the sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 24 And the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. 25 Now Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites according to their families. 26 It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their multitudes.” 27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the sons of Israel from Egypt; it was the same Moses and Aaron.”
Purpose: We need to see the five motivation fueled from thinking about God and one’s family to motivate one to follow and obey God even when it is difficult.
- Be motivated to obey God because God works through quirky family (v.16, 21, 24)
- Be motivated to obey God from past family members’ remembrance of God (v.15, 20, 22-24)
- Be motivated to obey God with the family’ privilege to serve God (v.16-19)
- Be motivated to obey God with warning of family members who rebelled against God (v.21, 24, 23, 20)
- Be motivated to obey God from the zeal for God from other family members (v.25)
Context
- In the context Moses had earlier told Pharaoh to let Israel go (Exodus 5:1) and Pharaoh ordered that the Hebrews have to work harder with no straws (Exodus 5:6-9).
- The leaders of the sons of Israel then complained to Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:19-21) and Moses was discouraged and talked to God about it (Exodus 5:22-23).
- So God in Exodus 6 addresses Moses.
- At first Exodus 6:13-27 seems to stick out; why suddenly a genealogy?
- To answer note the structure of this section.
- Both the first verse (v.13) and last verse (v.27) mentioned about Moses having the task of bringing out the sons of Israel out of Egypt.
- But sandwiched in between that is a genealogy (v.14-25).
- The genealogy mentioned only three tribes of Israel: Ruben, Simeon and Levi (Garrett, 260).
- Ruben is mentioned in verse 14 and Simeon in verse 15.
- However for both Ruben and Simeon only the immediate sons are mentioned (Garrett, 260).
- The focus is on the sons of Levi beginning in verse 16.
- For Levi’s line it actually go through six generations (Garrett, 260).
- This lineage cover that of Arron and Moses (Garrett, 260).
- I think the genealogy inserted in here is intentional as encouragement for us to see why Moses should be obedient to God’s calling. Thus we too must be motivated by these truths to obey God.
Be motivated to obey God because God works through quirky family (16, 21, 24)
Passage:
- “16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the length of Levi’s life was 137 years”
- “21 And the sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.”
- “24 And the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahite”
Proof
- Sometimes when we read the Bible we can think they were special and so different from us. But in reality we see that biblical families were quirky and ordinary like us.
- Yet God work through them.
- Quirky names shows they were ordinary!
- “Merari” (v.16)= The name means bitter (Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Merari.html).
- “Korah” (v.21)= The name means Bald one (Ryken, 183).
- “Nepheg” (v.21)= The name means clumsy (Ryken, 183).
- “Assir” (v.24) )= The name means captive or bound (Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Assir.html).
Practice
- Sometimes we imagine biblical characters as idealized: idealized environment, idealized spirituality and idealized strength; but they come from families and background that can be like us more than we realized. Does that dawn on you?
- Some of these biblical names show life is hard and others shows people are far from perfect. We too are not perfect and our life can be difficult; still we follow God just as others do too.
Be motivated to obey God from past family members’ remembrance of God (15, 20, 22-24)
Passage:
- “15 And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.”
- “20 Now Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was 137 years.”
- “22 And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri 23 Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites”
Proof
- Some of the names in Moses’ and Aaron’s family have rich theological truths.
- “Shaul” (v.15)= The name means “Prayer’s Answer” (Ryken, 183).
- Woman name “Jochebed” (v.20)= Her name means “God’s glory” (Ryken, 183).
- “Mishael” (v.22)= The name means “Who is like God” (Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/mishael/).
- “Elzaphan” (v.22)= The name means “God Has Treasured” (Ryken, 183).
- “Eleazar” (v.23)= The name means “God Has Aided” (Ryken, 183).
- Wife of Aaron was named “Elisheba” (v.23)= Her name means “God’s oath” (Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Elisheba.html).
- “Elkanah” (v.24)= The name means “God Has Created” (Ryken, 183).
Practice
- Did someone named you purposely a biblical name? Someone wanted to give you a biblical legacy.
- Besides names are there are things and actions of family members that reflect the importance of God?
- Maybe you are the first Christian in your family or first that you know of; still one of your motivation to obey God should be let your descendants know that God is important and should be remembered!
Be motivated to obey God with the family’ privilege to serve God (16-19)
Passage: “16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the length of Levi’s life was 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the length of Kohath’s life was 133 years. 19 And the sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations”
Proof
- Three of Levi’s immediate sons are mentioned: “Gershon, Kohath, and Merari” (v.16a)
- Following verse 16 each sons’ descendants are mentioned, with the sons of “Gershon” given in v.17, the sons of “Kohath” in v.18 and the sons of “Merari” in v.19.
- For someone who know their Old Testament the name of these three sons would conjure up the knowledge of how these sons’ families have the responsibilities and privilege of serving God with the tabernacle.
- Each of the son’s families were given specifically designated roles with the tabernacles (Ryken, 186):
- The responsibilities of the sons of “Gershon:” “Now the duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting included the tabernacle and the tent, its covering, and the curtain for the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 and the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its ropes, according to all the service concerning them.” (Numbers 3:25-26)
- The responsibilities of the sons of “Kohath:” “and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Kohathite families: Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Now their duties included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister, the curtain, and all the service concerning them;” (Numbers 3:30-31)
- The responsibilities of the sons of “Merari:” “Now the appointment of duties of the sons of Merari included the framework of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its bases, all its equipment, and all the service concerning them, 37 and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases, their pegs, and their ropes.” (Numbers 3:36-37)
- These roles are important but they are also the privilege of the Tribes of Levi.
Practice
- Don’t think serving God as a responsibility is mutually exclusive from serving God as a privilege; it is both!
- Do you thank God for the opportunity to serve Him?
- When was the last time you rejoiced in serving God?
- Do you need to repent of complaining when it comes to serving God?
Be motivated to obey God with warning of family members who rebelled against God (21, 24, 23, 20)
Passage:
- “21 And the sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.”
- “24 And the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites”
- “23 Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.”
- “20 Now Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was 137 years”
Proof
- Korah is mentioned in verses 21 and 24.
- Korah was infamous for leading a rebellion against Moses with 250 other Levites in Numbers 16:1-3.
- The consequences for the rebellion was grave: God in Numbers 16:31-35 had the rebels swallowed up by the earth and fire came out to consume the 250: “And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, and all the people who belonged to Korah with all their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” 35 Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.”
- “Nadab and Abihu” (v.23) were sons of Aaron
- These two were killed when they worshipped God in a way that wasn’t prescribed, using “strange fire” as recorded in Leviticus 10:1-4.
- Ryken states: “The death of Nadab and Abihu also rebukes those who count on their ministry to save them. Nadab and Abihu had a sacred office” (Ryken, 194).
- Concerning Moses’ father: “Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed” (v.11)= Amram married his own father’s sister, violating Leviticus 18:12 (Garrett, 261).
- Yet despite the imperfection of Moses’ and Aaron’s family God still used them and have them as His people.
Practice
- Don’t think the sins of your family mean you can’t serve God; be encouraged with these observations about Moses’ family and God still used Moses.
- Also be warned with the consequences of not obeying God especially with outright rebellion.
Be motivated to obey God from the zeal for God from other family members (25)
Passage: “Now Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites according to their families Proof
- Phinehas zeal for God and holiness is mentioned in Numbers 25:7-13.
- According to Numbers 25:1-2 there were the sins of infidelity with Moabite women and idolatry.
- In Numbers 25:6-9 Phinehas took drastic measure with a Moabite/Hebrew couple at the door of the Tabernacle.
- In Numbers 25:10-13 God commended Phiehas.
- Phinehas would have been a young man in that time (Garrett, 261).
- It is possible that Phinehas was born after the Exodus (Garrett, 261). This shows that sometimes when we are faithful to God it allows future generations the opportunity to be zealous to God.
- From our study we see how imperfect the Levitical tribe could be even though from them should be men who are priests; we thus long for a perfect High Priest and that can only be found in Christ: “There is a hint of this saving grace in Aaron’s genealogy. Aaron married Elisheba, who was the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon (Exod. 6:23). Those names are significant because Amminadab and Nahshon were both ancestors of King David, and thus they are both included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the great High Priest (Matt. 1:4). Even in the days of Moses and Aaron, God was working out his plan to send a Savior to deliver his people from their sins” (Ryken, 191).
Practice
- Again sometimes when we are faithful to God it allows future generations the opportunity to be zealous to God. Thinking of future generation being zealous for God because of your Christian faithfulness should motivate us to obey God!
- What a marvel: The same Christ who zeal for God’s house consume Him would also be our Savior! Will you trust in Him to save you from your sins?
The Domain for Truth 
What a great insight. That really brings genealogy home.
Love this: “Thinking of future generation being zealous for God because of your Christian faithfulness should motivate us to obey God!”
Blessings for a stunning weekend.
Thank you for this excellent study of these OT families and names. It just goes to show there is value in a name. Incidentally my name comes from a Celtic root for harmony or precious in German. I am the first Kearns as far as I know to have rejected traditional Catholicism and followed Christ as my Lord and Saviour, which made me more unpopular with dad. May God bless you this weekend brother, guiding your words for the brethren.
Wow are most of your relatives heavily Catholic then? Some reason I assume there were few Catholics in Scotland
In the past the predominant Church in Scotland was the Church of Scotland, with the falling away of many I wouldn’t be surprised if now it is the Catholic Church that is the biggest in Scotland. My dad’s family were/are Catholic but my mum’s family are Brethren (protestant) which made my childhood a bit mixed up, haha.
Wow. What a message for Christian obedience from Genealogy. To God be the glory!
Just preached this a couple of hours ago! I am always amaze at how God’s Word speaks to us! Doesn’t it seem the more we study it the more gold there is in the Bible???
Indeed brother. That’s why we need to dig more!
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
A great insight Jim. In my family that might work, especially relating to the quirky…
Thanks Frank for reading this and sharing lol. Is there a cold front or ice storm where you are at?
I wasn’t aware that a name can imply a “biblical legacy”. Good point: “still one of your motivation to obey God should be let your descendants know that God is important and should be remembered!”. Names are more important that I previously realized.
I hope it didn’t sound like I meant something super mystical by that. But meanings of name makes a point and when it’s spiritual it has a spiritual point. And names in the Bible even more so than our culture today. How is your weekend stating out Frank?
Loved this! Excellent grasp of what many would no doubt see as an obscure, perhaps even, mundane passage. My great-great grandfather was a former Free Mason converted to Christ who served as the Lord’s minister. My great-grandfather (his son) was a deacon in the church where he attended faithfully until his death in his early 50’s. His son (my grandpa) was an unredeemed sinner, but his son after him (my dad) served as a Christian minister for about a quarter of a century, walked away during a season of trouble but has since repented to the Lord and appears to be in the former state before he fell. Though I know less about my mother’s line I do know that at least a couple of generations back the men in that line served in similar roles. Ethnically I’m a mixed bag of nuts having Native American, English, Irish, German and French in my family heritage. My name “Kristafal” is, as far as I know, one of a kind; a derivative of Christ and if you take what I believe is the Scottish use of Fall refers to lambs when they are born. Of course it could also mean on who falls in disgrace. Since the Lord is Lord over the meaning of Names I will submit to His definition of my name to be revealed on that fateful day. Until then I plan on serving Him.
Thanks for sharing your insights. Love the deep digging. Definitely motivating for me personally.
In Christ,
Kristafal
Wow thank you for sharing that I hope your name lived out would be Christ’slamb. I imagine your dad named you when he was a minister? Did you come to Christ at an early age? Thanks for sharing your family history.
No, my parents named me before that time. I was born in 1979. They were born-from above-at a later date (early 80’s). His dad was the son of a deacon but he never knew the Lord. He (my grandpa) passed in 2017. My dad’s grandparents were the only Christian influence in his life. He accepted the calling into Christian ministry in the mid-80’s. My mom’s dad was a minister that walked away from the Lord in his mid-twenties (I believe he came from a Christian family). His tale is similar to king Manasseh of Judah for he had good influences in his life but turned to a life of sin until the last couple years of his life. The chains he bore was cancer, but the effect was similar…a broken, humble heart before the Lord. His wife’s (my grandmother-my mom’s mom) fervent prayer finally answered nearly 20 years after she went to be with the Lord.
As for my tale. I was confronted by Christ at the age of around 6 or 7. I remember having an entire He-Man collection that I burnt in our trash barrel on the farm as a gift of promise to the Lord. Realizing what the Lord had done for me on the cross I gave my most valuable possession at that time. A childhood notion but one of sincerity. I wish I could say that I was on fire for the Lord from that date forward but that’d be a lie. Once I reached my later teens I was hellbent on pleading myself. However God never gave me away. The Lord brought confrontation after confrontation into my life until I was broken in humility in February 2004. Since then His grace has been sufficient for me. Jesus my soter and kurios has blessed me beyond measure. His kindness is more than I deserve. And since my eternal state is ultimately in His power I trust that He will do what is right and my desire is to submit to that judgment in its finality.
You are welcome for the shared history. I truly enjoyed the lesson you gave. If that message is reflective of how you normally teach the people God has entrusted to you, then The Lord has truly blessed your ministry.
May He continue to do so.
In Christ,
Kristafal
Thank you for this good outline on the family genealogies in the Bible and for the exhortations. Our eyes tend to glaze over when we come to these passages but good lessons can be gleaned.
You are welcome. You are right it’s easy to miss these lessons. I read a technical commentary on Exodus some years ago and didn’t see all this until I read an easier commentary and then that lead to more rabbit trails and research; this shows us how much we need to dig through the Word for ourselves and pray for the Spirit to teach us amen? How is your shift and the weather today???
I need to get back to deep-dive Bible studies.
Re: shift & weather
Thanks! It’s only 18F, but thankfully it stopped snowing yesterday afternoon.
Pretty slow today, doing audits which makes for a very long day.
How’s your day starting out?
This is good stuff, but on the light side. I’m an older brother, and both my brother and I had nick names Mine Jerry. My brothers Dick. My grandfather had a pair of mules when I was a kid. Guess what their names were? That’s right Dick and Jerry. We kid each other that we were named after them.
What was the difference in years from you and your brother?
Just 4 years, but he was only 5 when our grandfather was taken.
Faith and obedience to God are wonderful legacies to leave our descendants.
Reblogged this on RG's 2 Cents Studios.
Such a thorough outline for us to glean from!
“Be motivated to obey God from past family members’ remembrance of God”
And, “Be motivated to obey God from the zeal for God from other family members” really spoke to my heart.
Firstly, my grandmother was a strong believer. At 15 yrs she survived a death March from Dikranagert Turkey into Syria.
She married another Armenian refugee, also a teen. Astrig (which means Star) never lost her faith, raised all her 5 kids with daily Bible study. She had a prolonged illness before she passed into heaven but even suffering blindness, she shared the Gospel to the end.
Such a humble woman and servant of God. (Btw, becoming a US citizen was such an exciting day in her life!)
Wow did your grandma told you stories about that march and life during those difficult years???
No, not at all. It was like unspoken inner suffering.
My other grandmother, Lousapar (which means ‘brings light’) saw the massacre of her village and, orphaned, tried to reach refuge with her 6 young siblings. Five perished on the way.
I lived with grandma Lousapar as a college student. While she had bouts of weeping and mentioned moments of terror, that was all. She wouldn’t speak of it.
PTSD was unknown then. The elderly often buried their grief and trauma, working hard to succeed in family and work.
But my father, who’s not a believer, does often speak of their life in Syria.
Thank you Pastor SlimJim for asking.
Wow, that was only “firstly”!
I was going to mention the zeal of brother Paul who, gravely ill in his 30’s, with wife & 2 toddlers, kept his zeal for Christ until his death at 38.
Stirring post, must have been a wonderful sermon!
Amen and Amen
Genealogies are so undervalued. You did it a great job as always, thanks for sharing!
I love when God uses His people to confirm/affirm truths in my life. For the past few months I have been really intentional on meditating on the names in the genealogies. These were real people who lived in real time and place. Paul on different occasions tells the church in Colosee and in Timothy to not put weight or stock in genealogies. Genealogies were of grave significance in the ANE. Even today we see a resurgence in folks wanting to know their ancestry as seen by all the different websites out there. Faith and obedience are two sides of the same coin. Praise God that we are not disqualified from serving Christ because of our ancestors, equally may we seek to live in a manner that does not bring shame or reproach to our future ancestors. Thank you for the effort you put into this post! Praying for your sermon and church! Please give my regards to all and that meeting everyone last week was a genuine highlight of my life!!!!!
Also good comment on the post with genealogy; this stood out with the reference to grace: ” Praise God that we are not disqualified from serving Christ because of our ancestors, equally may we seek to live in a manner that does not bring shame or reproach to our future ancestors”
Great post…thanks!
Yes! Yes! Sometimes when I’m not feeling terribly obedient, I remember how I have prayers in God’s queue to be answered pertaining to my family so I get myself back on track- with God’s strength.
Thanks for sharing that! I am encouraged with your love for your family, from your sons to your father sister! Hope your Monday has been going well??
Today was better than yesterday. That’s a plus!
I checked out my ancestry on ancestry . com
[…] Family Genealogy a Motivation for Christian Obedience […]
Seeing changes of a family is radical. It’s so wonderful, that you can actually see the change on the outside in pictures and in real life when a father comes to Christ and lead his fmsily. Soli Deo Gloria! ❤️☝️👑
hi
I’m melted to love God, this warmed my heart
His Love for His children is limitless remember that 😍😍🙌🏽🥰
Western Christians need to learn the importance of family
Pray for godly pastors! There’s many fake ones. You hear of the millionaire pastor getting robbed live on tc? Robbery is never ok. But shame on that pastor for having so much jewelry. Unless those are gifts he should practice what he preaches about values.
We got to get saved so then we can help others