Through the Magnifying Glass

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” — Psalm 145:4 (NIV)

The Bible is filled with genealogies. Long lists of names, many difficult to pronounce, that we’re often tempted to skim over. But what might we discover if we stopped to look more closely?

A magnifying glass can bring the smallest details into focus, revealing things we might otherwise miss. I wonder if the same is true when we linger over Scripture’s genealogies.

Consider the opening chapter of Matthew. Before introducing the birth of Jesus, Matthew traces His genealogy through generations of kings and commoners, the faithful and the fallen. Each name represents a life, a story, and choices made along the way.

Genesis 5 records generations of men who lived, fathered children, and died. Yet one description stands out: Enoch “walked faithfully with God.” What a remarkable distinction to have recorded for generations to read!

Did any of these people understand how their lives would fit into God’s unfolding plan? Could they have imagined that their names would be read thousands of years later?

Your Family Tree

I find that remarkable, particularly when I examine my own family lineage.

In my family tree, for example, there is a notation about a woman accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. The only description I have mentions a pointed nose and black hair, which makes me smile since those characteristics aren’t unfamiliar in our family.

But the accusation itself is no laughing matter. Many innocent people were accused of witchcraft in those days, and I have no way of knowing whether the accusation against my ancestor was true.

What troubles me is that occult practices have surfaced among members of my extended family in later generations. I cannot know whether a spiritual connection reaches back through the centuries, but it makes me consider the consequences of choices made by those who came before us.

Scripture does not treat witchcraft lightly. In Deuteronomy 18:9–12, God expressly forbids divination, sorcery, and consulting spirits. His warnings are serious, and so are the spiritual dangers of turning away from Him. These warnings span the Bible to the Book of Revelation in Chapter 21.

Scripture also promises freedom. Jesus declared, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36, NIV).

Whatever patterns of sin, spiritual bondage, or brokenness may exist within a family, they need not determine its future. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, there is redemption and deliverance. A different legacy can begin.

From Broken to Whole

Some of us have family trees with branches that have been broken, grafted, or lovingly joined together. As a child adopted by kin after losing both parents, I’ve often considered the meaning of family and belonging. My own story took an unexpected turn before I was old enough to understand it. Yet the faith lovingly introduced to me in childhood became a foundation I would return to years later. My family tree was grafted into another faithful family tree, and I will be eternally grateful to my adoptive dad, Bud Fay.

I guess that’s why I’m drawn to stories that span generations. In my novel Jane’s Secret, the past and present intertwine, inviting readers to consider how the lives and faith of those who came before us can influence those who follow.

In my second novel, under contract with Ambassador International, a woman unexpectedly inherits a home from an uncle she never knew. What begins as an inheritance draws her into a mystery rooted in the land itself, challenging what she understands about creation and its Creator.

Both stories have caused me to ponder what we inherit without knowing its true value—and what we choose to do with it.

Of course, we don’t need to write a novel to influence the next generation. We do it through obedience to God’s Word and faithful acts. This can look like a prayer whispered over a sleeping child, or a Bible opened at the kitchen table. Extend forgiveness when resentment would be easier, or offer a story of God’s goodness to someone who needs encouragement.

Take a Closer Look

A magnifying glass can reveal details we might otherwise overlook. But when held beneath the sun, it can also concentrate light so intensely that it leaves a permanent burn mark.

We can examine our own lives. What have we inherited that is worth preserving? What patterns need to end with us? What seeds of faith are we planting for generations we may never meet?

We cannot rewrite our family histories. But through the redeeming power of Jesus Christ, we can be freed from what holds us captive and choose to walk in obedience to Him. And perhaps one day, when someone looks closely at our place in the family tree, they’ll discover something worth passing on.

Let’s not simply live, but live as we walk faithfully with God.