Thurs.’s Devo - Your Place in the Army

Read: 1 Chron. 5:18 - 8:28
We are reading the history of the tribes and today we read about the rest of the tribes. Remember there were two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) that opted to stay on the east side of the Jordan and not take their inheritance in the promised land. They had 44,760 great warriors who called out to God for help during one battle and God fought for them. But they turned to the gods of their enemies and were taken into exile.
Aaron’s descendants were the priests who aren’t numbered and didn’t have an army. They were taken to Babylon during the exile.
The warriors from the tribe of Issachar numbered 87,000. Benjamin had 20,200 warriors. Of the descendants of Naphtali, only four people are mentioned. In reading the descendants of Manasseh, no warriors are mentioned, but a few women are. Ephraim must have not be a warring tribe either because no military is mentioned. Asher had 26,000 mighty warriors and outstanding leaders.
Benjamin is mentioned again and though we don’t have a military count, we know that they had warriors because they drove out the inhabitants of Gath and occupied Jerusalem.
It is interesting to read about the tribes because we are all a member of one of them. Some of us are leaders and fighters and others of us are more comfortable in the background doing our job. All of us are vitally important to the body of Christ and we need to get in our position and do our calling. We are all called to war against the powers of darkness, but we all are positioned at different stations. Some are on the front lines, some are in the nurses tents tending to the wounded, others are recruiting new men, others are training these new recruits, others are studying the enemies strategy. The Bible calls this the five-fold ministry: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. We perform our duty with the gifts of the spirit: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpreting tongues. (1 Cor. 12:8-10)
Lord, help us to find our identity in You and know where we are suppose to be serving. Thank you for the gifts you have given each of us so that we can come together as one powerful force.