1 Chronicles 8:1: “Now Benjamin begot Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,”

August 27th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This chapter contains the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin. The name Benjamin means “son of the right hand,” referring to the son who is in the position of favor. In the New Testament, we learn that the apostle Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin. Paul wrote of his heritage to the Philippians so they would know that salvation is by believing and trusting in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone, not by being born a child of Abraham. Trying to find salvation through human effort, race, nationality, or heritage was meaningless. Only Jesus matters. Paul listed the human achievements he was the proudest of before his conversion:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee . . . [I] count [all these things] as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. (Phil. 3:5,8)

Paul lists these things because they had been important to him before he was saved, as they would have been to any Hebrew; but after he had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, he realized they were worthless for salvation. Paul placed them on the rubbish heap so that he could know Jesus Christ, the only way to obtain salvation.

This 1800-year-old conversation helps us grasp the futility of legalism. A young man asked, “I am in earnest about forsaking the world and following Christ. But I am puzzled about worldly things. What is it I must forsake?” Another man answered, “Colored clothes, for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical instruments and don’t eat any more white bread. You cannot, if you are sincere about obeying Christ, take warm baths or shave your beard. To shave is to lie against Him who created us, to attempt to improve on His work.” Although the list has constantly changed over the last 18 centuries, we can hear echoes of it in many messages being preached every Sunday.

“LORD, we have placed our hope in You and Your sacrifice alone, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”