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1 Chronicles 5:18-22 – Praying through the Bible – A Prayer that Breaks the Monotony
Another genealogy. Another spiritually beneficial interruption (see PTTB #123) (1 Chronicles 5.18-22). I wouldn’t be surprised if such interjections were purposely done so as to break the monotony. I wonder if such can be a life lesson: Can monotony hurt us spiritually, so that we don’t think of needing God, because we are numb by normality.
Geographically, Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh were Trans-Jordanian, on the east side. Historically they requested their inheritance on the outside of Canaan, liking what they saw as opposed to what they were promised. Being on the “outside” made them vulnerable militarily. Was such a decision short-sighted, just like Lot’s?
Waging war, they received help against their enemies because they cried out to God in battle, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. Their God granted their request because they trusted in Him. The Holy Spirit gives no clue as to whether they prayed before the battle; we only see them praying during the duress. If they prayed before, God had either decided not to protect them, or else He is blessing them with being tested. Would they give up on God in the middle of battle or rely on Him? If they had not prayed before, maybe they thought, “Hey God, we’ve got this one covered. No problem.” Then reality waged war against their normality.
Victory is theirs! Well, not exactly. Notice the all-important phrase, “it was God’s battle” (5.22). In turmoil, they prayed to and trusted God. Did they forget they needed to trust God before the battle, thinking, “This is too insignificant to pray to God?” Have we?
Do you trust God? Likely, you are shaking your head yes, or admitting you do but not as much as you want or should – “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mk 9.24). The only time we can’t trust God more is when we submit totally, even to the point of death: “In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hb 12.4). Have you had to trust God totally, facing eternity?
Are we aware of being in no-thought land, monotonously living, without thinking of need? Without interruption, we wake up unsurprised we wake up, drink our coffee, and fulfill responsibilities. It’s not that we are not trusting God. It’s just that relying on God doesn’t enter into our routine dead brain. We are too busy living and battling normal living. Genealogies are like the grind at work; or the boring routine of family life. And then chaos interrupts routine. Maybe the chaos is God breaking our monotony to get our attention. We cry out to God, and thankfully He hears. Yes, God hears even if we haven’t been thinking how much we need Him during normal, monotonous times. Life is like a genealogy, boring. Don’t get too bored to need God.
Prayer Challenge: Think of God today and pray when doing normal things realizing we actually need God for each breath we take. And how normal is breathing!
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