Wayne Bridegroom, our Associate Pastor and proud MemberPartner weighs in today and tomorrow on Nehemiah. John & Marti are attending a 4-day conference on personal growth and our MembetrPartner campaign resumes on Monday.

The first seven words from the book of Nehemiah are, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hakaliah…” As you read chapter 3, an account of those involved in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, there are over 30 references to “the son of…” Then in 7:5 we read, “I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return.” That is followed by a long list of familial descendants. That’s to say nothing of the long lists of names in chapters 10, 11 and 12. Reminds me of the genealogical listings in Matthew 1 and Luke 3.

Evidently, this is a big deal with God. After all, how many times throughout Scripture are the Israelites referred to as the descendants of “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?”

Our human ancestry is important, perhaps even game-changing. Take my wife, for example. Her heritage is more English than anything else but what has been, literally life-changing for her is the recognition that her great grandmother was a full blood Indigenous American, Chickasaw. Why is that important? Well, her people, along with the Cherokee, Seminole, Creek (Muscokee), and Chocktaw were all part of the infamous “Trail of Tears of 1837.” Actually, we know that there were many trails and many years involved in the Indian Removal plan of President Andrew Jackson. The populist President wanted their fertile land (contemporary southeast US) for white farmers. To complicate matters, once past the Mississippi River the Native Americans already residing in that territory were not at all pleased with the forced invasion of the 5 tribes. What a mess.

But here’s the point for Beth. Unknown persons in her ancestral Kemp & Cheadle & Colbert families survived that horrid “Trail of Tears.” They also survived the ‘unwelcome greetings’ of those already occupying contemporary Oklahoma. Can I even describe the dignity that Beth now feels due to that ‘son/daughter of’ history and the joy when she showed me in a letter between two of her great Uncles that had an address of Pauls Valley, Indian Territory (obviously prior to Oklahoma becoming a state). Were it not for that ancestral survival, I would not have had Beth as a wife for 54 years. I am so grateful.

But Beth also has another ancestry, even more significant. Because she is committed to Jesus, she is his “little sister.” After all, don’t New Testament writers constantly speak of how we are “in Christ” and that “Christ is in us?” Wow! And since Jesus is the Lord of Lord and King of Kings I guess that makes Beth a princess!

Beth and I have plans this coming fall to return to Oklahoma for the annual nine-day Chickasaw meeting and festival. We even hope to visit northern Mississippi and western Tennessee, the original homeland and mounds of her people. We also intend to be in worship this coming Lord’s Day – and the one after that, and after that. Nehemiah, the son of Hakaliah, is more than just information. It is identity, and so is “brothers and sisters” in Christ.