Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
1:28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
1:34 Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
There are long lists of children, yet in the midst these two short verses. God works through the few, the remnant, the insignificant.
"Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6).
1:28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
1:34 Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
There are long lists of children, yet in the midst these two short verses. God works through the few, the remnant, the insignificant.
"Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6).
2:3-4 Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death. Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.
More details are included for Judah because it is his line which leads to David. Judah married a Canaanite, yet God used Tamar to significantly impact his life.
"She is more righteous than I" Genesis 38:26.
2:3-4 Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death. Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.
More details are included for Judah because it is his line which leads to David. Judah married a Canaanite, yet God used Tamar to significantly impact his life.
"She is more righteous than I" Genesis 38:26.
3:9 All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.
The Chronicler spends a lot of time on David's ancestral line, with good reason:
(From Constable's Commentary) "One of the major themes of Chronicles is that the Davidic dynasty would be the instrument through which God promised that salvation and blessing would come to Israel, and through Israel to the whole world. The final Davidic king, Jesus Christ, was the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), as well as the Person who would fulfill the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants completely."
Chronicles was written for the returning exiles and they needed to be reminded of their history, God's faithfulness, and his promises of future blessings. And so do we.
3:9 All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.
The Chronicler spends a lot of time on David's ancestral line, with good reason:
(From Constable's Commentary) "One of the major themes of Chronicles is that the Davidic dynasty would be the instrument through which God promised that salvation and blessing would come to Israel, and through Israel to the whole world. The final Davidic king, Jesus Christ, was the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), as well as the Person who would fulfill the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants completely."
Chronicles was written for the returning exiles and they needed to be reminded of their history, God's faithfulness, and his promises of future blessings. And so do we.
4:9-10 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
So many details are left out of these brief stories. How as Jabez more honourable? What was his pain?
However, what we do know is: he had a good attitude. He was humble and poor in spirit acknowledging his need of God. He asked for what God had promised his people. (For Jabez that meant land.) And God blessed him.
These are attitudes which we can replica.
4:9-10 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
So many details are left out of these brief stories. How as Jabez more honourable? What was his pain?
However, what we do know is: he had a good attitude. He was humble and poor in spirit acknowledging his need of God. He asked for what God had promised his people. (For Jabez that meant land.) And God blessed him.
These are attitudes which we can replica.
5:1-2 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph).
Reuben's double blessing of being firstborn passes to Joseph, whose sons benefit.
(From Constable's commentary) God "elevated Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh to equality among Jacob's other sons . . . God's blessing of Judah with leadership was contrary to natural order."
We don't get God's blessings or leadership by natural order.
5:1-2 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph).
Reuben's double blessing of being firstborn passes to Joseph, whose sons benefit.
(From Constable's commentary) God "elevated Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh to equality among Jacob's other sons . . . God's blessing of Judah with leadership was contrary to natural order."
We don't get God's blessings or leadership by natural order.