Your Place in Human History
Today’s reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:2
My selection: I Chronicles 1:43 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel: Bela the son of Beor, the name of his city being Dinhabah.
My reflections: In the tedious genealogical list, most people are mentioned only in relationship to who their children were. But there are occasional comments. Here is a comment about the kings who reigned over the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel.
This is a reminder to the people of Israel or Judah who would read this book that there was life before their time and there would be life after their time.
What is the significance of a human life? Few make a difference. Few stand out. We are liable in our time to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. The people of Israel were not the center of the universe. Neither are we. But this passage is also a reminder that we are not nothing. We do have a part to play in the flow of human history.
My challenge: Our significance is not likely to be in our great accomplishments but in relation to God and His work in history. We can be faithful. We can make our contribution, small as it may seem to be. It may be merely to walk with God and seek to raise godly children. If we do His will, live for His glory and remain faithful to the end we have, as my pastor said in his sermon on Revelation 15, conquered.
Pray that you will be faithful today. You are not the center of the universe but your life does count. Many names are written here. They are not forgotten. The Lord will not forget you either.
Tomorrow’s reading: 1 Chronicles 2:3-4:23