Corona Devo 910

The following were the Levite clans, listed according to their ancestral descent: (20) The descendants of Gershon included Libni, Jahath, Zimmah, (21) Joah, Iddo, Zerah, and Jeatherai.  (22) The descendants of Kohath included Amminadab, Korah, Assir, (23) Elkanah, Abiasaph,  Assir, (24) Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, and Shaul.  (25) The descendants of Elkanah included Amasai, Ahimoth, (26) Elkanah, Zophai, Nahath, (27) Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah, and Samuel.   ~I Chronicles 6:19-27

At first they all seem like foreigners to us, don't they?  
...But I recognized someone.  

Elkanah.  

He was married to Hannah.  She couldn't have a baby.  She was so broken by it.  She prayed and prayed...and prayed.  And the Lord gave her a son.  Samuel.  

(Now we recognize two people!): 
The descendants of Kohath included... (23) Elkanah...
(25) The descendants of Elkanah included... (27) ...Samuel.  ~I Chronicles 6:22-23, 25, 27
 
Hannah was so thankful for Samuel that she dedicated him and his life to the Lord.  Not just in word and in spiritual upbringing, but in deed and actual presentation.  Hannah proposed to dedicate Samuel not with a sprinkling of water or with a single service and a prayer, but she decided and declared that she would literally present her son to the Lord, as in dropping him off at the temple around age three to be raised by the resident priest (Eli).  She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.”  (I Samuel 1:22).

And Samuel (descendant of Elkanah) grew wise and strong in the Lord and His ways.  He became a pillar in their community and a beacon of God's light and teaching into his town and into the townspeople.  Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.  ~I Samuel 2:26

We might have missed that whole (awesome) account if we just read/skimmed/glazed-over these names and verses, but every word in the Bible is much more than mere words and verses: there is a story and a purpose to each one.  Just as there is a story and a purpose (instilled by God) in each one of us.  (All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (17) God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.  ~2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Read the Bible!  Its rich with history and accounts of real people just like us.  From afar (and without any effort put in on our part), they are names on a page.  From a church pew or seat, Biblical names and accounts can seem like strangers we pass once in a Sunday sermon and never meet again.  But get-to-know this Book, (The Bible!), and its people become familiar and they will catch our eye on a page crowded with many foreign names.  

If we will work to get to know the Bible, it will work it's way into us and The Bible will get to know us!  

The true tales of men and women seeking God in days past will encourage us--if it was true for them it can be true for us.  
Their struggles will assure us--we are not alone in the trials we face.  
Their triumphs will give us hope--we can persevere, trusting in God just like they did.

Instead of foreign names and strangers on a page, if we will dig in and engage...
Bible people and their faith are like lions in a cage.
Waiting to be released, and they will jump into our lives when unleashed.
Crack your Bible.  Invest the time.  We'll never be the same.
God will weave His Word and direction into our days...and we will recognize the names!

The descendants of Kohath included... (23) Elkanah...
(25) The descendants of Elkanah included... (27) ...Samuel.  ~I Chronicles 6:22-23, 25, 27

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com  

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