“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned, for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?” Job 8:8-10 (NIV)
Recently, I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can about my ancestors. I took a DNA test to discover all the places where my ancestors lived. God willing, I hope to travel to as many of those places as possible. I’m also asking older, living family members to share stories they know about the family members who came before us. Online, I’m researching my family heritage to see what clues I can find to connect the dots between the bits of information I have. It’s an exciting quest that makes me feel like an amateur detective. Sometimes the search is frustrating, leading to dead ends with no clear way to uncover more information. But sometimes I discover a detail that leads me to an inspiring story about something God did in an ancestor’s life.
The Book of Job reminds us of the understanding we can gain from our ancestors. This passage from Job urges us to seek advice from a former generation, to inquire about the wisdom of our ancestors. It acknowledges our limited understanding, highlighting the brevity of our existence compared to the vast continuum of human history. It prompts us to recognize the wealth of knowledge and experience that our family has accumulated over generations. Our ancestors have left behind a treasure trove of wisdom for us to explore. They celebrated victories and overcame challenges during their lifetimes. Their stories are not just chapters in our family history but living testaments to God’s work in their lives.
When we ask the Holy Spirit to help us learn from our ancestors’ lives, we can find lessons that resonate across generations. Their lives reveal what it was like for them as fellow humans struggling with living in a fallen world and – for those ancestors who chose to trust God – finding hope and discovering God’s wisdom. Learning about the lives of the family members who came before us sends us on a journey of discovery that leads us to uncover the richness of our heritage and the depth of our interconnectedness. Through their words, actions, and traditions, our ancestors can help us understand more about what it means to be human – and about the importance of trusting God. We can learn from their mistakes and triumphs, gaining clarity and perspective as we live our own lives. Through their stories, we can find details that relate to our own journeys – struggles that mirror our own, triumphs that inspire us, and lessons that show us the importance of faith in God. We realize that we are not alone in our quest for understanding.
Learning from our ancestors also leads us to a sense of belonging as we ponder how we are all part of God’s family together. We can also develop a deeper appreciation for how God’s love flows through people’s lives in ways that change our world for the better. Learning from our ancestors is not just a way to learn some interesting facts but a profound journey of connection that transcends the boundaries of time and space, reminding us of our profound connections together in God’s family.
So, let’s learn more about our ancestors and God’s work in their lives. Let’s follow the advice in this passage from Job to learn from family members who have gone before us and discover how their stories can lead us to God’s wisdom.
Dear God, thank you for giving life to me and all of my ancestors. As I go through my own life, I ask for your help and wisdom, just like some of my ancestors did. Let me be humble enough to learn from those who came before me. Make me a lifelong learner. Please show me the parts of my ancestors’ life stories that you want me to learn from, and help me apply wisdom from those stories to my own relationship with you. Just like Job learned from his ancestors, may I find your eternal wisdom as I learn their different stories. Guide me to walk through the days of my life with gratitude, knowing that I’m connected to a huge family of believers who trust you as their Heavenly Father. Thank you, my wonderful Father. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Sam Edwards
Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.
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