Reading the genealogy of Jesus might be a challenge as you try to pronounce some of those names. However, verses 18-25 should fill us with thanksgiving for the faithfulness of God in keeping his promises and should give us a living hope for the future.
Matthew tells us that Jesus' birth happened "to fulfill what God had said through the Prophet" (v. 22 and see Isaiah 7:14). My friends, God keeps his promises. Notice verse 1 says that Jesus is "the son of David, the son of Abraham." The birth of Jesus not only fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy, but also fulfilled God's promises to Abraham and David. God told Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed and to David, God promised an heir to sit on his throne forever.
In Psalm 145:13 (NIV) David declares: "The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does." Read your Bible, believe, stand upon and rejoice in the promises of God.
We sing the great hymn "Standing on the Promises," but as someone said "you can't stand on them if you don't know what they are."
