Read: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 18:19
In today’s reading we have the famous prayer of Jabez. His name means “mire swept away” and that is what he did in his family. He was more honorable than any of his brothers which means they were the mire that he was born in. He prayed for God’s blessings on himself and his land and God granted his request.
We also read one of the saddest stories of a family and that was Reuben’s. Reuben was Jacob’s first born who would have gotten the birthright of the firstborn which according to Deuteronomy 21:17 was a double portion. Reuben forfeited this when he went into his father’s concubines. His double portion went to Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh. They were to divide this double portion giving them each the same as the other tribes. This story tells us how important it is how we live our lives because what he do does affect generations to come. We leave a legacy behind us that lives on whether it is a good one or a bad one.
In the Old Testament, they built towns and cities and named them after the founder so that their name would live on. The meaning of their name described the spirit of that place. When a new nation would take it over, they would change the name but the power of the first name still prevailed in that place. The only way to change the power was to drive out all the inhabitants carrying that power. It is a key to spiritual warfare. We have to know the original name of the spirit before we can drive it out. If we are dealing with a recurring sin in our lineage then we need to find the source of its entrance before we can adequately cast it out. God can show you that if you just ask.
In Acts, the leaders of Caesarea have changed and Paul’s enemies are hoping that the new leadership will bring him back to Jerusalem so they can prosecute him there. Fetus listened to Paul’s defense and didn’t know what to do with him since he hadn’t broken any of the Roman laws but to appease the Jews he asked if Paul would be willing to go back to Jerusalem and stand trial. Paul knew that would be fatal for him so he appealed to Caesar.
King Agrippa and his wife came to visit Festus and he told them about Paul and was in a dilemma because he didn’t know what to write in the papers he would send with Paul. He needed to give a written reason Paul was being charged when he couldn’t come up with anything. They agreed to listen to Paul’s defense.
This is a classic case of the world’s court trying to settle a spiritual case. There is no rules in the natural that make sense in the spiritual because the law can’t judge grace.
Lord, thank you that we walk in your grace and are no longer judged by the law. Help us to leave a spiritual legacy for our family.
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