How does 1 Chronicles 4:22 illustrate God's attention to individual lives and actions? Setting the Scene 1 Chronicles 4 is a long genealogy tracking Judah’s descendants. Tucked inside the list, verse 22 records: “and Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. These names are from ancient records.” Observing the Verse • We meet five obscure entries—Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, Saraph, and Jashubi Lehem. • God notes where two of them “ruled in Moab,” pinpointing not just who they were but what they did. • The chronicler adds, “These names are from ancient records,” underscoring that every detail has been preserved on purpose. What the Details Tell Us About God • He records individual names—even those lost to human memory—showing no one is unimportant (cf. Isaiah 49:16). • He remembers specific actions (“ruled in Moab”), proving He tracks the course of each life (Psalm 139:1-3). • He bothers with seemingly incidental data in a long list, highlighting His comprehensive knowledge (Luke 12:7). • He keeps an unbroken historical line, affirming the reliability of biblical history (2 Timothy 3:16). Patterns Elsewhere in Scripture • Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 3 catalogue names and tasks, echoing 1 Chronicles 4’s careful record-keeping. • Exodus 31:1-5 singles out Bezalel and Oholiab by name for their craftsmanship. • Matthew 10:29-31 assures that God sees every sparrow—and every person—at all times. • Romans 16 lists believers whose deeds were otherwise unknown to history, mirroring 1 Chronicles 4’s principle. Personal Application • Your name and your daily work are known to God, even if overlooked by others. • Responsibilities carried out in quiet places (“ruled in Moab”) still matter in God’s plan. • Because Scripture accurately preserves such minute details, you can trust its record of God’s promises to you. Takeaway 1 Chronicles 4:22 demonstrates that the Lord of the universe notices individual lives and actions, records them faithfully, and weaves them into His redemptive story—assuring every believer that nothing done for Him is ever forgotten. |
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