There are many of our detractors who would like to point out the "flaws" in life's owner's manual, the Bible. If you are looking for the mistakes of men, you can find them, for we all certainly make plenty. God doesn't. The problem is his plan is so vast so all-inclusive we cannot (or in some cases, don't want to) see the entire picture.
Again and again in the Old Testament God tells us of the coming Messiah, the Christ (the anointed one). He even describes him exactly in Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 12-10. But because Jesus cherishes humility (blessed are the meek) He does not come as a "supreme being" and he doesn't fit the picture most would like…so they reject Him. They look for the flaws, the reasons why not. Here's one example:
God gives several clues or conditions that the coming Messiah must meet.
1. He will be of the house (family) of David. 2 Sam 7:8-13
2. He must be born of a virgin. Is. 7:14
God promised David that this throne would endure forever. (The coming Messiah who will rule forever) The list if the descendants of David who have the right to sit upon the throne are documented in Matthew 1. It begins with David's son, Solomon and ends with Joseph, Mary's husband. The list goes through about 26 generations (about 500 years). Number 14 on the list is a guy by the name of Jeconiah sometimes called Coniah. I don't know what he did wrong but it must have been a biggie. God cursed him in Jeremiah "No man of his seed (descendants) shall prosper (by) sitting on the throne of David." Jer. 22:30.
Ah ha, they say, there it is, the contradiction. The messiah must be a descendant of David. Coniah was a descendant but he was also cursed by God (that none of his descendants would rule). So how can Jesus, a descendant of Coniah through Joseph be the promised messiah. How can such a dilemma be resolved?
The answer is in two parts: First Jesus was not a descendant of Joseph. Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit; remember that Mary was a virgin told by an angel of the Christ within her. This validates the Virgin birth requirement. Or else it wouldn't work, would it?
Well then, that means that Jesus doesn't fit the requirement of being a legal descendant of Joseph, therefore not "of the House of David." Another contradiction they say. The answer is found in the book of Luke (3:23-28) where Mary's family tree is recorded. Mary was also a direct descendant of David, but through another son named Nathan (v.31). Jesus was the legal son of Joseph (by adoption) and therefore assumed the legal right to sit on the throne but escaped the curse of Coniah because he was of the line of another son through Mary.
It's a little complicated…and that is just the point. The question becomes: Who could work out this wonderful plan spanning over centuries of human history? Only a designer who spans the centuries. He is called the Lord God.
