The Explanation

Once, a long, long time ago, there was a man named Adam. God made him first.

Adam had a son. And that son had a son. And that son had a son too.

Names, and names, and more names. Like a long line of people, holding hands, one after another after another.

Noah was in that line. Big boat Noah, remember him?

After Noah came Shem. After many more names came a man named Abram.

God gave Abram a new name. Abraham.

Abraham had sons too. Isaac. Ishmael. And more.

And Isaac had sons. Esau, and Israel.

So many names. So many families. So many people.

What Does This Mean?

Why write down all these names?

Because every single one was real. Every one had a face. Every one had a mommy who kissed his head, and feet that got tired, and a bowl for supper.

God did not forget one of them. Not one.

He knew Adam's name. He knew Noah's name. He knew Abraham's name.

He knows your name too.

The Common Thread

Look closely at that long line of names. It goes on and on.

But it is going somewhere. Like a path through a forest, walking toward home.

Shem, then more names, then Abraham. Abraham is the one God chose to bless.

From Abraham's family, one day, a baby would be born in Bethlehem. His name is Jesus.

All those names, all that long line, was walking toward Jesus. Every single name mattered, because the story was going somewhere good.

For You

You have a name too. Someone said it softly this morning, maybe when you woke up.

God knows that name. He knew it before you were even born.

You are part of the story too. A small, important part, held in God's hand.

Talk About It

Can you say your own name out loud?

Who are the people in your family? Can you name them?

Praying Together

Dear God, Thank You for my name. Thank You that You know me. Thank You for Abraham, and Noah, and all the names. Thank You most of all for Jesus. Amen.