A Family Tree Rooted in God’s Plan

^“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4 NKJV)

Two weeks ago, I literally stood on my family’s past—in a hayfield that once belonged to my ancestors seven generations ago.

My husband and I moved to the Tennessee mountains 30 years ago, and my parents joined us here later. With free access at the local libraries for genealogy research, my mom and I pored through available records and discovered ancestors lived in our area before 1800…only two creeks away.

With some extra digging, we found more remarkable information:

My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather and his family were among the first European settlers in Tennessee.
He was literate, had books, bought wilderness land, and was part of the fledgling frontier church movement.
His handwritten will from 1810 is in the county archives, and we were allowed to hold it!
His son-in-law was an early publisher of shape-note hymns.
His great-granddaughter moved to Arkansas with a big black “hope chest” trunk that we identified as the one residing in our house now.
And two weeks ago, while searching through records at the county courthouse, I found deeds that pointed to the original family property during the late 1700s.

My mom and I drove a short distance to stand on the tract and imagine what it would have looked like when our ancestors lived on it. All original buildings are gone, a busy highway runs through it, and soon it will be commercially developed. But considering that the area has been inhabited for more than 250 years, it’s amazing that some of it is still farmland.

Finding and standing on my ancestors’ property coincided with my Bible reading for the week—1 Chronicles, a history record where Chapters 1-9 are stuffed with names of more than 1,200 people. That’s a lot of genealogy to remember, since ancient Israelites had no public libraries or internet. While my little bit of research covered a few generations, the Chronicler’s records spanned several thousand years, all the way back to Adam. Usually these lists are yawn-worthy for us modern readers who trudge through them on Bible read-throughs.

So why was this important to the early Hebrews? The Chronicler (possibly Ezra) was intent on encouraging Israelites returning to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. He wanted them to see themselves as heirs of God’s kingdom, using their ancestry as the proof of their identity. They needed assurance of the promises God had given them, that they were truly His people.

Fast-forward to the New Testament, and we find the apostle Paul warning Timothy to avoid useless arguments about “endless genealogies,” causing disputes rather than godly edification (1 Timothy 1:3-4). Instead, Paul focuses on the importance of teaching sound doctrine—based on faith in Jesus Christ and His commandment to love from a pure heart.

What Paul is trying to tell us today is simply this: where we’ve come from doesn’t matter, only where we’re going…and Who will take us there.

Only our faith in Christ sets the true course for our lives toward salvation in heaven. Unlike the people returning from Babylon, we can’t claim DNA as our registry into God’s kingdom, even if you’re a blueblood descended from royalty.

The same is true if you have a sketchy family history. Maybe you grew up in the shadows of outlaws, gangsters, or ruthless robber barons. I’m sure there are horse thieves somewhere in my ancestral lineage. But none of their sins—or our own—will prevent Jesus from embracing us in His arms and claiming us as His very own people. Even though we might not escape the consequences of our sins or those of our family, in Christ we are freed from strongholds on us.

If you like historical research, genealogy is fascinating and fun to uncover family stories. It’s not as important, though, as leaving your own legacy of faith for the future. Write down your personal testimony, and preserve it for the future. Let your voice tell your own story about your life with Jesus. Shine His light for the ones who follow you in the future, giving them hope for their own lives and families.

Friend, whatever your family tree looks like, trust that God has good plans for you—firmly rooted in His great love for you, down to the tiniest genes.

Creator God, You have made me so beautifully, incorporating me into Your worldwide family of people on this earth. Forgive me for failing to follow Your commandments for me, either out of selfish pride or generational sin. Help me to recognize Your grand plans in placing me in my particular lineage and to see my need to live out my faith in You for the next generation. Grant me joy in knowing You have had a plan all along for my salvation, in trusting You will never let go of me, in receiving the abundant life You give me every day. In Jesus’ name and in His goodness, Amen.

The hayfield that probably belonged to my ancestors 200 years ago

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.

© Copyright 2025 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #genealogy #family #history #ancestry #ancestors #propertyresearch #familytree