Largely Unknown, Never Anonymous
Davy Ellis
Anonymity is one of my fears in ministry, and I suspect my fellow pastors share my worry. We marvel at men like Luther, Owen, Spurgeon, and Packer. We spend seminary reading D. A. Carson, Thomas Schreiner, Alec Motyer, and T. Desmond Alexander. These giants have written numerous books, preached to thousands, or changed the course of the gospel cause in their time.
Then we look at ourselves.
We pastor churches of maybe 100. Anything we write will likely be read only by our mothers and spouses. A hundred years from now, we may be forgotten. In a thousand years, we will be forgotten. We feel anonymous. If we dwell on that thought for too long, we soon wonder what the point is. First Chronicles 1–9 can help.
Desert of Names
Preachers and laypeople alike often overlook the books of Chronicles. One reason is the long list of hard-to-pronounce, largely unknown names in the first nine chapters. There are about 200 names in Chapter 1 alone. Mark Dever designated these chapters a “veritable Sahara Desert of names in which the best intentions of so many readers eager to read the Bible straight through have perished.”
There are some recognizable people in these lists—an oasis or two to help us through the Sahara. Shem in 1:17, for example, is the son of Noah. We can read about him in Genesis 6–10. Judah in 4:1 is one of Jacob’s 12 sons. There’s much about him in the later chapters of Genesis.
Preachers and laypeople alike overlook the books of Chronicles. One reason is the long list of hard-to-pronounce, largely unknown names in the first nine chapters.
Other names are recognizable, but they’re not the people we know by those names. Obadiah and Joel appear in 7:3, for example, but they’re not prophets. They sound familiar, but any knowledge we think we have of them is a desert mirage. There’s nothing material to it.
Most of the names contained in this list belong to people who are simply unknown. We know virtually nothing about them. As we read these names, they’re like the rolling sand dunes of the Sahara: endless, repetitive, and unforgiving.
Participants in the Story
These genealogies are like a movie’s end credits. Virtually all the names that crawl up the screen are meaningless to us. Yet their appearance in the credits affirms they were participants in the story. So too with these genealogies. These names appearing in the biblical record remind us they’re participants in God’s story.
Two key truths emerge from reflecting on these passages of Scripture that should bring us comfort if we fear the anonymity of ministry.
1. Individuals are part of God’s people’s story.
Isn’t it incredible that two people named Lahad (4:2) and Idbash (4:3) are mentioned in the Bible? Who were they? What did they do? Was Yahweh the recipient of their worship? Did they hope for the Messiah?
Though we can’t answer these questions confidently, the mere fact their names are recorded here tells us these individuals, along with thousands more, played a part in the story of God’s people. Whether they realized it or not, they contributed to the unfolding drama of God redeeming a people for himself.
The same is true for us. We’re part of the story, no matter how small our contribution or how unknown our name is. While we may not find our name in Scripture, the appearance of our name in a church directory, seminary’s student register, or list of pastors of a small church in an overlooked town points to our presence in the story of God’s cosmic purposes. More significantly, as followers of Jesus, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27). What an encouragement that individuals like you and me, whose contributions are often so meagre, are still part of a global revolution.
2. God knows everyone individually.
While the people listed in 1 Chronicle are anonymous to us, God knows every individual contained in this list. It’s good to remind ourselves God is above and beyond us. He knows all there is to know about the nearly 8 billion people who presently inhabit the planet—and about you.
While the people listed in 1 Chronicle are anonymous to us, God knows everyone contained in this list individually.
The most important person in all history knows each of us intimately. Loves us intimately. Rules our lives for our good and his glory. No matter how we feel about ourselves and our contributions, God sees them, God remembers them, and, by his astounding grace, God uses them.
We may remain largely unknown through the rest of our lives (and beyond), but these long lists of alien names in Scripture assure us we’re never anonymous. Jesus calls each of us by name (Isa. 43:1; John 10:3).
Significance in Every Moment
The smallest congregation I’ve preached to consisted of four people, including myself. There was me, my wife, and one other couple in the church where I’d been invited to minister. It was a humbling experience. As I reflect on that evening in the light of these chapters in 1 Chronicles, however, I’m encouraged. Why? Because on that evening, I participated in God’s people’s story and God knew me. Every apparently insignificant action leads us ever closer to God’s appointed goal for us and his people.
With the passing of time, we’ll become largely unknown, but throughout all eternity, we’ll never be anonymous. Our participation in the life of Christ by his grace adds significance to every moment. I’ll continue to wrestle with the fear of being unknown. But the lists in Chronicles assure me that my name, like yours, is simply in service to the greater name: the Lord’s. The desire to track books sold, blogs viewed, and followers accumulated is checked by Chronicles where the fame of God’s name is cherished above the fame of any other. If, in some small way, I can participate in the spread of the fame of God’s name—if I can hold forth the beauty of Christ—I’ll be content to remain anonymous.
