Tues.’s Devo - The Geneologies

Read: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 18:19 We are still reading the genealogy of Judah. In know you have heard about Jabez. He had a whole book written about him but he is noteworthy because God stopped the whole genealogy to say something about him. His mother had a painful delivery - so much so that she named him Jabez which sounded like a word that meant “trouble and travail”. It also means “mire swept away”. To be named ‘trouble and pain’ was to be born with a curse. But Jabez beseeched God and broke his bloodline curse. He turned his ‘trouble and pain’ into a blessing. Judah’s off-spring were the craftsmen. One clan worked in linen and probably made the linen garments for the priests. Others were pottery makers for the king. Judah was the most powerful tribe and produced the kings and leaders of Israel. Simeon was Jacob’s second born but his descendants didn’t grow like Judah’s. They were businessmen who got their wealth from trading. They were also farmers. Reuben was Jacob’s first-born but he dishonored his father by sleeping with his father’s concubines so he lost his birthright to Joseph, Rachel’s first born. Reuben was not listed in the geneology records as the firstborn son. He is listed after Simeon and before Gad. In Acts, Festus became the governor of Caesarea so the Jews from Jerusalem appealed to Festus to bring Paul back to Jerusalem to stand trial. They had planned to kill him in route. Festus refused but agreed to hear them in Caesarea. They went back to Caesarea and accused Paul of the same lies as before. Paul plead “not guilty” and when they wanted to bring him back to Jerusalem, Paul appealed to Caesar. Agrippa came to visit Festus and they discussed Paul’s trial. Agrippa asked to meet Paul. The next day Agrippa and his wife, Bernice went to the auditorium where Paul was brought in. Festus introduced Paul as the man who he couldn’t find anything deserving of death. He asked Agrippa to speak with Paul and come up with some charge so he could have a reason in writing for the Caesar. Lord, thank you that you defend us and protect us and know everything before it happens. Thank you for your great plan for our nation and our individual lives. May we live our destiny.