Why is it important to remember seemingly minor details like in Numbers 26:46? Every Word Counts • “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). • Jesus affirmed that “not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). • Numbers 26:46 — “And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.” One short sentence, yet the Spirit preserved it. Because God inspired every word, even a lone name carries weight. God Remembers Individuals • Serah appears earlier in Genesis 46:17 and later in 1 Chronicles 7:30. Each mention testifies that no person is lost in the crowd before the Lord. • Scripture often lists men in genealogies, so Serah’s inclusion highlights God’s valuing of women long before modern culture spoke of equality. • Isaiah 49:16 affirms, “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands”. Serah’s brief record illustrates that personal care. Assurance of Historical Reliability • Minor details like single names anchor the Bible in real time and space. Archaeologists, historians, and linguists rely on precisely such particulars to confirm events and migrations. • Luke 1:3–4 shows the same principle: “it seemed good to me... to write an orderly account... so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”. Accurate detail breeds confidence. Connections to the Larger Story • Genealogies track covenant lines, land inheritances, and ultimately the path to Messiah (see Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-17). • Each census note in Numbers prepares Israel for dividing the promised land by family. Serah’s name helps confirm Asher’s tribal boundaries in Joshua 19. • Small threads weave a tapestry. Exodus 13:19 saves Joseph’s bones; Joshua 24:32 notes their burial. Likewise, Serah’s repeated mention affirms continuity across centuries. Encouragement for Our Own Lives • God’s faithfulness in recording Serah encourages believers that seemingly unnoticed acts of obedience matter (Hebrews 6:10). • The Lord values hidden seasons and ordinary people; therefore daily faithfulness is not insignificant. • Remembering “minor” verses trains hearts to treasure the whole counsel of God, leading to deeper maturity and discernment (Psalm 119:97; Acts 20:27). |