"These were the leaders of the ancestral clans." 1 Chronicles 8:28
Our reading seemed a bit hum-drum and rote. I got bored quickly through the first few "sons of". It would have been easy to skip today and to be honest... I almost did. "Lord, I don't see any purpose in the repeat of the family lines. Can you show me purpose?" I asked.
It all sounded familiar. It sounded hum-drum and rote because it sounded familiar. Then it hit me, the very reason I almost skipped today's reading was the very reason I should have enjoyed it. It was familiar. I knew it. I had heard it before. I remembered it. (Which is saying a lot these days!) Am I making sense to anyone?
We also should have loved today's reading because it was familiar. We have made through 90% of the Old Testament. Woo Hoo. Can I say that in a devotion? (Smile) Yes, only the lineage of Aaron could serve as priests and make atonement for Israel. Yes, Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Mannasseh chose to live on the east side of the river. Yes, these were the ancestral clans. We knew these men and their history.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your faithfulness in our journey so far. Thank you for helping us be faithful to our commitment even if we haven't felt like it, missed days, or stopped and started back. We ask you to stay close to us during the reminder of our journey and look forward to learning more from you.
8 Comments:
Yes, you can say "Woo Hoo"!
Whenever I get to the tedius parts of scripture...like the familial lines...I always ask the Lord "please help me see Your treasures of truth here". I admit, I have glanced over some of the lineage here and there. But you are right...it is rich and purposeful.
I just read this morning the gates of the temple area are named after some of these folk! (Ez. 49) He brings it all together.
And it keeps me on my knees before the Lord asking Him to show our families His favor such that our names would be in the record books showing we honored Him and followed His ways and did what was right in His eyes and inquired of Him. ONLY BY HIS GRACE!
Woo Hoo indeed!
Clear back from the time of Aaron, the first high priest, until the Babylonian captivity, the names of the priest are written in detail. Every name and family was carefully listed. Names not included in the genealogy of I Chron., in the priestly or Levitical lines, could not minister in the Temple. I'm sure the Israelites searched the records for their own names.
God is just as concerned today with us as He was with the Israelites. Our names must be written in the Lamb's, book of life to guarantee our privilege in heaven. Rev. 21:27.
Thank you, Lord, for selecting Wendy to guide and serve us as we read through your Word each day. Thank you for drawing each one of us to your Word. Hold on to each one of us as we pursue you and continue to journey together through Your Word.
Woo Hoo. Smile!!! Lori - AZ
Woo Hoo indeed! Familiar = family! These are people we will meet in heaven...we would do well to remember their names and know their stories. It's true (as Wendy pointed out) that although we might feel there is nothing else to learn from reading a lineage...there always is!
God's promises are not piecrust promises. When he says he will populate the earth and assures numerous descendants, it happens. When he teaches we must obey or face destruction he carries through even though "{he} takes no pleasure in the death of wicked people." Ez 33:11
The descendants of the sons of Israel represnt the foundation of a glorious kingdom into which we have been adopted. That Most Certainly deserves a Woo Hoo!
Lord you have blessed us so as we have been walking with you. We thank you for your instruction and the breath of life you are breathing into each of us.
We are lifted!
Liz
AK
Good Morning Ladies!
I will confess that the genealogies have never been my favorite part of the bible. But you are right, Wendy, the more familiar I become with these names the more understanding I get from the reading as a whole.It also is one more sign of God's constant love and devotion to us, even when we fail miserably, just as the Israelites in these lists did.
The verse that I made note of this morning was this one:
1Chron.5:20 They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him.
This is on the same theme as yesterday's blog. Once more God is showing us that if we will just give up our pride, and let him, He will look after us. In the big things and in the little things.
Our family has been having an incredible month of seeing the Lord's hand in the smallest details of our lives. It has been incredibly humbling to know that the God of the universe loves us that much! So if He is in the little things, how can I not trust him with the big things?(Like the future of my kids?)I just need to let go...of my pride, of my need to control,of my fear.
Again today I am reminded that I just need to believe.
Have a blessed day.
Patty.
Hi ladies,
Still waiting on little Thumper although I am cautiously optimistic it will be very soon (today or tomorrow). I ask for your prayers for a safe and quick delivery.
I also ask for your continued prayers for my mother-in-law. As I posted previously, we just got word that she has developed breast cancer again. Please continue to join me in prayer for a mighty miracle on her behalf and peace for her and the rest of the family.
Looking forward to being able to update with news of whether Thumper is a boy or a girl soon :)
xoxo
Jodie
Woo Hoo......thanks Wendy and everyone for participating!
My nugget today is verse 18.....They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. Verse 20 - They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him.
Even though they prepared themselves for battle and had all the neccessities for success, they knew that their TRUST in God was the only SURE way to be successful in battle.
We all have battles, let us prepare as much as we can naturally and then let us cry out to God and trust him for the outcome. Lord let thy will be done in earth(me) as it is in heaven.
Blessings!
Debbie - North Carolina
Wendy, you turned my "Whew" into a "Woo Hoo"! This study hasn't been a drudgery, even in the genealogy parts! So many times before I would skip over the "boring" parts, yet we have gleaned something from every single daily reading! God's word will not come back empty - Woo Hoo!
Ladies, I'm asking for some serious prayer. I am having a breast biopsy done on Friday for a "suspicious" area. God's word has kept me in the eye of the storm - the calm place. Speaking on hope and redemption this week was perfect timing - isn't that just like God to do that for me?!?
In light of my current circumstances, I'm reminded of the importance of family genealogy. I don't have a family history of breast cancer, yet it is obviously an early warning for those who do.
My nugget, or encouragement, for today is 1 Chron 5:20, "They cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him."
Trusting God to fight for me, I need only be still. (Ex 14:14)
Hi Wendy and all! I've been away for a week, and although I kept up with my daily posts, I didn't have time to visit here.
I struggled through this days reading as well, so tempted to skip over names etc... The verse that took my attention was 1 Chronicles 5:24b "These men had a great reputation as mighty warriors and leaders of their clans."
Made me stop and consider my reputation. Years ago I sent an e-mail to several close friends asking them to describe me in one word. Their answers were revealing. I feel they were an honest reflection, but it was an eye-opening exercise as well. How we are seen vs. how we’d like to be known. Sometimes they can be polar opposites.
Regardless of all the adjectives and nouns that could be used in describing my character, more than anything I want others to see Jesus in me. I pray people would forget my name, but remember His. Would I be labelled as a witness? Am I accused of being an ambassador for Jesus Christ?
On her CD entitled, “Freedom”, Mandisa sings a song called, “The Definition of Me”. The lyrics in the chorus say:
“I want the One that you can’t see
To be the definition of me…
I want the truth that I believe
To be the definition of me.”
What one word would Jesus use to describe me?
Wondering,
Joy
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