Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”
(Ruth 4:18-22 ESV)
Let’s be honest. When we come to a genealogy in the Bible, we’re often tempted to skip it. We enjoy the stories and appreciate the lessons, but when we come to a long list of names, our eyes begin to glaze over. We wonder why the writer included all those generations in the first place.
The book of Ruth ends with one of those genealogies. After the drama of famine, loss, loyalty, redemption, and restoration, we’re given ten names stretching from Perez to David. It may seem like an unusual ending, but hidden within this genealogy is a significant Hebrew word: yalad (יָלַד), pronounced yah-LAHD. It means “to bear,” “to give birth,” “to bring forth,” or “to beget.”
The word appears nine times in these five verses and the repetition is intentional. Perez yalad Hezron. Hezron yalad Ram. Ram yalad Amminadab. Again and again, the same word appears. The writer wants us to see something important. God was at work not just in one generation but throughout many generations. Each person became a link in a chain that stretched far beyond his own lifetime.
Most of the people listed in this genealogy never led a nation. They never had a book of the Bible named after them. Many of them appear nowhere else in Scripture except in lists like this. Despite that fact, each one of them mattered. Each one played a role. Each one passed something on to the next generation.
That’s the beauty of yalad. It reminds us that God’s work often unfolds over long periods of time. We tend to think in days, months, and years, but God often works across generations. Boaz and Ruth probably had no idea that their son Obed would become the grandfather of David. David certainly could not have imagined that centuries later the Messiah would come through his family line. But God could see the entire picture.
Sometimes we get discouraged because we don’t see immediate results from our efforts. We teach a Bible class and wonder if anyone is listening. We pray for our children and grandchildren and don’t see instant change. We try to live faithfully, but our daily routines seem ordinary and insignificant.
The genealogy at the end of Ruth reminds us that God is doing more than we can see. Every act of faithfulness has the potential to influence generations that follow. A parent’s example. A grandparent’s prayers. A teacher’s encouragement. A church member’s service.
Like the people in Ruth’s genealogy, we may never fully understand what we’re accomplishing, but we need to remember that the seeds we plant today may bear fruit long after we are gone.
Prayer: Father, thank You for working across generations. Help us remain faithful even when we can’t see the full results of our efforts. Use our lives to influence others for Your glory, and remind us that every act of faithfulness makes a difference in Your eternal plan. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day