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Chronicles chapter 8 follows a specific line in the genealogy of the
tribe of Benjamin highlighting the first king of Israel. Benjamin
was the last son of Jacob. He was the kid brother, the baby boy. He
was treated special by his father who wanted to protect him. I’m
sure his brothers considered him spoiled. To add to the friction,
the choice territory of Benjamin was centrally located and protected.
It was wedged between the two most influential tribes and bordered
the Capitol city. We read “All
these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy,
and they lived in Jerusalem“.
Yet Benjamin was taken into Babylonian captivity along with the rest
of the nation. I have to admit that before I accepted Christ as my
Savior, I too thought I was special. Like Benjamin, we make a
mistake when we look around us for safety rather than toward God.
Luke 12:20 relates the story of a man that trusts in his riches. But
while he is focused on building of his business, God calls to him.
“Fool!
This night your soul will be required of you“.
Where do you place your trust?
The
chapter begins, “Benjamin
was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah
the third, Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth“.
Later the most famous member of the tribe is mentioned. “Kish
the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua,
Abinadab and Esh-Baal“.
King Saul, the first King of Israel was from the tribe of Benjamin.
1 Samuel 9:2 tells us he was chosen because he LOOKED like a king to
the people. “Saul,
an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites, a head
taller than any of the others“.
Remember Saul took on the role reserved exclusively for the priest
and this disqualified him to be king. “Because
you rejected the Word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king”
(1 Samuel 15:23). It is cool to note that even though Saul was
rejected as king, his prominent position in the genealogy is not
voided. Friend, have you fallen short of perfection? No one is
beyond God’s ability to restore.
It
is also important to note that one of the most influential men of the
New Testament was from the tribe of Benjamin.
The
apostle Paul said without hesitation, “I
say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am
an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of
the tribe of Benjamin“
(Romans
11:1).
After the captivity in Babylon, the tribe of Benjamin had a new
attitude. The tribe of Benjamin would gain importance and add
stability to the nation. The chapter concludes, “The
sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son
and Eliphelet the third. The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who
could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons“.
Often God uses times of “captivity” to prepare us for a new
work. The apostle Paul spoke this encouragement to those of us that
have been prepared through a challenge. “For
this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is
in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a
spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline”
(1 Timothy 1:6-7). God desires to use you for His special purposes,
are you willing?