1 CHRONICLES 4:5 - 5:17
STILL MORE DESCENDANTS OF JUDAH: JABEZ AND HIS PRAYER: Jabez was born in obscurity. His name means "to cause sorrow"; "failure", "never amount to anything." Because his mother was sorry he had ever been born! BUT: "He was more honorable than his brothers." "He called on the God of Israel." He didn't want his name or his past to limit him - God took off the boundaries and "enlarged" him - gave him increase.
DESCENDANTS OF SIMEON: Part of their inheritance had been taken out of Judah (Mt. Seir), after driving out the Amalekites.
DESCENDANTS OF REUBEN AND GAD AND MANASSEH: We see here that the 2-1/2 tribes in the trans-Jordan declined, rather than growing. Reuben's "birthright" went to JOSEPH his brother.
RESPONSE: I wonder how my descendants will talk about me. Will I merit an interruption in the list (with a story, like Jabez)? I identify with Jabez, in that I was bullied in school, had problems at home, was rebellious, mean and hateful as a child. It wasn't until I was an adult with grown children that I really BELIEVED what God's Word said and actually TRUSTED God to love me and help me. My life then began changing radically, until now I am so happy sometimes that I can't stand myself! God did not allow my past to limit me, and actually "enlarged my borders". My influence reaches beyond my immediate family and I am not afraid to give. Now THAT deserves an interruption of the list! GOD IS ABLE!
ACTS 25:1-27
PAUL'S TRIALS: (1) Jewish mob. (2) Jew Council. (3) Roman Centurion. (4) Felix in Caesarea. (5) Festus in Caesarea. (6) King Agrippa in Caesarea.
PAUL'S DEFENSE: He did not speak against the Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar. Rather he declare the Gospel, which he called the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) - declaring that Jesus is alive.
RESPONSE: Through all this, Paul retains his joy. He said he didn't mind dying, but he didn't want to die because of false accusations by the Jews. He hadn't given them any excuses to execute him yet. In fact, because Paul preached from the Law and the Prophets, the Jews should have been on trial too! Paul is convinced that God is in control, that God has a plan and is working that plan, and that Paul himself is part of that plan. Even under great threat to his life, in the dangers of ancient travel, being falsely accused by hostile people.....Paul trusts God and is joyful. He is our "PATTERN": "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (1Tim 1:16). This means, that this great grace in his life is available to me, too. Trust God and be thankful. Be joyful, even. PSALM 5:1-12
SECOND TIME AROUND: Our enemy, the FLESH and the world-spirit of antichrist (See Rom 8:7), is secretive, deceitful, and lurks in ambush, and conspires against us. And so we pray for God to "lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness,...make Thy way straight before me." All who put their trust in God for protection, for victory, for wisdom, will be "JOYFUL". That word "joyful" means to "to sing or shout for joy".
PROVERBS 18:19
The hatreds of those closest to us are generally the fiercest. The closer the tie, the greater the alienation when the tie has been broken. It is a betrayal of the most hurtful kind, and very difficult to EVER be "fixed".
RESPONSE: Once a trust has been broken, it is almost impossible to restore it. BUT, forgiveness and trust are two different issues. We can forgive someone without trusting them. We must use wisdom, and trust only God. When we live in obedience to God, TRUSTING ANYONE becomes irrelevant. We make ourselves vulnerable when and if He tells us to, and trust HIM to do His will.
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