* My suggestion for how to get through passages like these and stay focused, is to make it an investigation. Look for something that is different...look for something that stands out, that breaks the pattern. There is a reason for everything the Biblical authors did and changes in structure will clue us in to important events.
4:10 - A best-selling book was created based solely on this verse right here. The prayer of Jabez. The author said that coming across this verse was like finding an oasis in a desert of names. I find it interesting that the prayer of Jabez sounds pretty selfish when you read it. He is saying, give me more land, protect me, etc. But God grants his request, so there has to be motivation there that is larger than selfishness. For one, Jabez is approaching the situation from a place of humility...he knows he can do nothing on his own and throws himself on the provision of God. For another, if he is asking for God's hand to be with him and fro his borders o increase, maybe his heart motivation if for God's name to be made great in the world. I don't think it is wrong for us to make requests of God, I just think we all have to have the right motivations - expanding God's kingdom and honoring His name.
5:25-26 - Another break in the endless list of names, but this one is not as heartwarming as that of Jabez' prayer. It says that the people of Manasseh have whored themselves after the false gods of peoples who have already been crushed by their own true God. It doesn't really make sense. What is motivating them to reject a real God for the false ones? Maybe they just want to fit in with the people around them. Maybe they just want an excuse for living free of any moral restrictions. Whatever it is, thy make an insane choice. How many people in our culture do the exact same thing? How many times do we have to see how horribly the false gods of alcohol, drugs, sex outside of marriage, materialism, self-service, etc...lead people down a path of destruction and depression? How many times? At the end of this passage, we see another example of God's control over all of creation. He stirs up the heart of the pagan king, who then chooses to follow God's urgings and attacks the rebellious Israelites.
3 comments:
4:10- reminds me of when I was really young. I use to pray for all these ridiculous things like money, materials, etc... Stuff that I didn't have much use for.
It was an OK book. It has been a while since I have read it, but my recollection is health and wealth mentality.
Your right, it is tough stuff to read, but I find it incredibly intriguing that they thougt it was so important to remember the lineages of their families. I wonder if there are any other cultures that have done this, record lineages from the beginning.
It certainly goes along with a common theme in the Bible of remembering.
Nah...the book was pretty lame...this passage just reminded of what he said about the oasis, that's it.
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