It may not be easy to read genealogies in the Bible, but the impact of them cannot be ignored. Included in the Bible are reckonings of generations from Jesus all the way back to Adam the first man created. Every name is a link in the chain which validates the creation of the world, man, and every living thing by God. Though the names are hard to pronounce and may seem to have little significance to us personally, the fact genealogies exist and can be confirmed by secular sources is awesome. For those who read them there are wondrous truths nestled in them, like coming across a tree loaded with ripe fruit when hungry.
Today I read of valiant men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh who went to war. 1 Chronicles 5:20-22 says, "And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. 21 Then they took away their livestock--fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys--also one hundred thousand of their men; 22 for many fell dead, because the war was God's. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity." In the battle the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, and He helped them because they trusted Him. These capable warriors did not trust their weapons, training, or strength to defeat their enemies but cried out to God in the battle. This is a good lesson of what true valiance looks like.
The men of Israel prevailed "because the war was God's." The KJV phrases this in a slightly different way, saying: "For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God." I suspect Christians are more familiar with the concept that the "battle is the LORD's" (1 Sam. 17:47) rather than any war could be "of God." The spectre of war is truly gruesome and horrible, yet this passage shows us God not only heeds the cries of people who trust Him in battle but also shows some conflicts are ordained by God which accomplish His purposes. War at times must precede peace, and war is also required to keep peace. In Ecclesiastes 3:8 wise Solomon said there is a time for war and a time for peace, and the order is significant. Exodus 15:3 says, "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name." There is no one mighty like God and at the same time He is no warmonger, for He can easily resolve conflicts without a shot being fired. Victory is His sovereign domain.
God is with His people not only in global wars or in violent skirmishes but in every personal battle we face. Jesus came not to wage war on sin by raising an army but defeated and overcame it by putting Himself in the line of fire. He spoke words of life and peace, but those who opposed Him were for war and death. Jesus has provided an example for us that the war we wage today as overcomers through Him is not a war fought primarily with sword or spear but through unwavering faith and obedience to Him. It is written in 1 John 5:4, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." Our battle is not against flesh and blood but is of a spiritual nature (Eph. 6). Should our spiritual defences fail we will not be able to stand in any conflict. But thanks be to God: when we find ourselves in a battle, it is glorious to have God on our side.
It is not by might, nor by power, but by God's Spirit a mountain can become a plain. Only God can bring the victory to the valiant. We can rejoice in God regardless if our victory involved plundering enemies or crucifixion because God has overcome and we are in Him. Take to heart the victory Christ has already accomplished as 1 John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Today I read of valiant men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh who went to war. 1 Chronicles 5:20-22 says, "And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. 21 Then they took away their livestock--fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys--also one hundred thousand of their men; 22 for many fell dead, because the war was God's. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity." In the battle the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, and He helped them because they trusted Him. These capable warriors did not trust their weapons, training, or strength to defeat their enemies but cried out to God in the battle. This is a good lesson of what true valiance looks like.
The men of Israel prevailed "because the war was God's." The KJV phrases this in a slightly different way, saying: "For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God." I suspect Christians are more familiar with the concept that the "battle is the LORD's" (1 Sam. 17:47) rather than any war could be "of God." The spectre of war is truly gruesome and horrible, yet this passage shows us God not only heeds the cries of people who trust Him in battle but also shows some conflicts are ordained by God which accomplish His purposes. War at times must precede peace, and war is also required to keep peace. In Ecclesiastes 3:8 wise Solomon said there is a time for war and a time for peace, and the order is significant. Exodus 15:3 says, "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name." There is no one mighty like God and at the same time He is no warmonger, for He can easily resolve conflicts without a shot being fired. Victory is His sovereign domain.
God is with His people not only in global wars or in violent skirmishes but in every personal battle we face. Jesus came not to wage war on sin by raising an army but defeated and overcame it by putting Himself in the line of fire. He spoke words of life and peace, but those who opposed Him were for war and death. Jesus has provided an example for us that the war we wage today as overcomers through Him is not a war fought primarily with sword or spear but through unwavering faith and obedience to Him. It is written in 1 John 5:4, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." Our battle is not against flesh and blood but is of a spiritual nature (Eph. 6). Should our spiritual defences fail we will not be able to stand in any conflict. But thanks be to God: when we find ourselves in a battle, it is glorious to have God on our side.
It is not by might, nor by power, but by God's Spirit a mountain can become a plain. Only God can bring the victory to the valiant. We can rejoice in God regardless if our victory involved plundering enemies or crucifixion because God has overcome and we are in Him. Take to heart the victory Christ has already accomplished as 1 John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
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