Reading the list of fathers and sons for dozens of generations isn't exactly what most of us are after when we look for a verse to guide our lives. But don't miss the value in this: Jesus was connected to a real family. Not just a family, but a family full of scoundrels, prostitutes, and cheaters. This is a great relief. Even Jesus had some nuts in his family, and many of their stories are told throughout the Old Testament. The way God chooses to form his people doesn't always make sense, but we can find peace in the fact that God is in all of it.