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If you’re anything like me and read through the Bible a few times, the book of 1 Chronicles probably isn’t high on your list of favorites. Nine chapters deep into genealogical records, I found myself asking, “Why is this so important?”
So many books in Scripture have life-lessons leaping off the pages. They are easy to digest and convenient to apply; stories like David and Goliath that teach us bravery, or the faithfulness of Noah, for example. Narratives of birthrights and nametags, however, are a bit more difficult to comprehend. But instead of dozing off or gazing out the window the twelfth time you’ve attempted to make it through these chapters, I want to encourage you. As monotone as they may seem, these chronologies have a story to tell, and we all have one.
In 1 Chronicles 5:18-22, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh begin to face a difficult battle against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And though their names are listed, verse 20 remarks, “And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him” (1 Chronicles 5:18-22, ESV).
Did you catch that? Even in the list of records, these people were known for their trust in the Lord. And why? Because the “war was of God” (vs. 22).
Today, maybe you have your own raging war, even if it never leaves your mind. Perhaps you’re battling an addiction, family circumstance, or emotionally crippling disease and have no idea how to fight.
The good news is that if you surrender your battle to the Lord, He will fight it for you (Exodus 14:14, ESV). The bad news is if you try to succeed alone, you will quickly fall. I’d rather be David slaying the Giant than the other way around.
Even amid battle, the Lord rescues those who trust in Him and faithfully denote that the battle is already won because it is His to fight. And it always will be.
Agape, Amber
