What does 1 Chronicles 4:36 teach about God's faithfulness to His people? The Verse in Focus “Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah.” (1 Chronicles 4:36) Why a List of Names Matters • Scripture never wastes words—every name testifies that God sees, knows, and remembers individuals. • These men belong to the tribe of Simeon (4:24 ff.), a tribe often overlooked, yet the Spirit records its sons in detail. • Their inclusion signals that no promise-bearing tribe falls through the cracks of God’s plan. God’s Faithfulness Evident in the Genealogy • Covenant Continuity – God pledged to multiply Abraham’s seed (Genesis 22:17). Centuries later, that seed is still traceable, name by name. • Preservation through Obscurity – Simeon had dwindled in numbers (Numbers 26:14), yet God kept it alive. Each listed name marks divine preservation. • Individual Worth within Corporate Grace – The verse moves from clan heads (v. 34-35) to “Elioenai … and Benaiah,” showing that God’s faithfulness reaches the entire covenant family, not just famous leaders. Wider Biblical Echoes of the Same Faithfulness • Psalm 105:8-10—He “remembers His covenant forever.” • Deuteronomy 7:9—He is “the faithful God, keeping His covenant of loving devotion to a thousand generations.” • Matthew 1:1-16—A later genealogy culminating in Christ proves that every preserved line serves the larger redemptive story. Living Out the Truth Today • Trust: If God tracks unnamed desert dwellers, He will not forget any modern believer (Luke 12:6-7). • Identity: Your value rests in belonging to the covenant-keeping God, not in social prominence. • Hope: The same Lord who carried Simeon through decline will sustain His church until Christ’s return (Philippians 1:6). |