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Speaker 1: I'm John Stanghy, and today we're in First Chronicles, chapter five,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New Living Translation. The
Speaker 1: oldest son of Israel was Reuben, but since he dishonored
Speaker 1: his father by sleeping with one of his father's concubines,
Speaker 1: his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph.
Speaker 1: For this reason, Ruben is not listed in the genealogical
Speaker 1: records as the firstborn son. The descendants of Judah became
Speaker 1: the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation,
Speaker 1: but the birthright belonged to Joseph. The sons of Ruben,
Speaker 1: the oldest son of Israel, were Hannock, Palou, Hesron, and Carmi.
Speaker 1: The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, gog Shimai, Micah, Rhaia, Bail,
Speaker 1: and Bira. Bira was the leader of the Rubenites when
Speaker 1: they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath, polizer of Assyria.
Speaker 1: Bira's relatives are listed in their genealogical records by their
Speaker 1: clans Jaeel, the leader Zechariah and Bila son of Azaz,
Speaker 1: son of Shima, son of Joel. The Rubenites lived in
Speaker 1: the area that stretches from Roar to Nebo and Bale Mayonne,
Speaker 1: and since they had so many livestock in the land
Speaker 1: of Gilead, they spread east toward the edge of the
Speaker 1: desert that stretches to the Euphrates River. During the reign
Speaker 1: of Saul, the Rubenites defeated the Hagwrights in battle. Then
Speaker 1: they moved into the Hagwrite settlements all along the eastern
Speaker 1: edge of Gilead. Next to the Rubenites, the descendants of
Speaker 1: Gad lived in the land of Bashan as far east
Speaker 1: as Salika. Joel was the leader in the land of
Speaker 1: Bashan and Shaifam was second in command, followed by Jani
Speaker 1: and Shafat their relatives. The leaders of seven other clans
Speaker 1: were Michael, Mishulam, Sheba, Jori, Jakan, Zia, and Eber. These
Speaker 1: were all descendants of Abihail son of Hurry, son of Jioah,
Speaker 1: son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jesheshi, son
Speaker 1: of Jado, son of buzz Ahe son of Abadil, son
Speaker 1: of Guni, was the leader of their clans. The Gadites
Speaker 1: lived in the land of Gilead, in Bashan and its villages,
Speaker 1: and throughout all the pasture lands of Sharon. All of
Speaker 1: these were listed in the genealogical records. During the days
Speaker 1: of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel,
Speaker 1: there were forty four thousand, seven hundred sixty capable warriors
Speaker 1: in the armies of Reuben Gad and the half tribe
Speaker 1: of Manassa. They were all skilled in combat and armed
Speaker 1: with shields, swords, and bows. They waged war against the
Speaker 1: hag Rights, the Jederites, the Nafeschites, and the Notabites. They
Speaker 1: cried out to God during the battle, and He answered
Speaker 1: their prayer because they trusted in Him. So the hag
Speaker 1: Rights and all their allies were defeated. The plunder taken
Speaker 1: from the Hagwrights included fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty
Speaker 1: thousand sheep and goats, two thousand donkeys, and one hundred
Speaker 1: thousand captives. Many of the hag Rights were killed in
Speaker 1: the battle because God was fighting against them. The people
Speaker 1: of Reuben, God and Manassa lived in their land until
Speaker 1: they were taken into exile. The half tribe of Manassa
Speaker 1: was very large and spread through the land from Bishan
Speaker 1: to Bale Hermann, Senir and Mount Herman. These were the
Speaker 1: leaders of their clans ephr Ishi, Eliel, Asrael, Jeremiah, Hoodavayah,
Speaker 1: and Jadiel. These men had a great reputation as mighty
Speaker 1: warriors and leaders of their clans. But these tribes were
Speaker 1: unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the
Speaker 1: gods of the nations that God had destroyed. So the
Speaker 1: God of Israel caused King pol of Assyria also known
Speaker 1: as Tiglath Polizer, to invade the land and take away
Speaker 1: the people of Reuben Gad and the half tribe of
Speaker 1: Manassa as captives. The Assyrians exiled them to Hala, Habor
Speaker 1: Hera and the Gozen River, where they remain to this day.
Speaker 1: Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for your word, and
Speaker 1: we thank you for the privilege of being able to
Speaker 1: look at it today. And Lord, as we look at
Speaker 1: this portion of scripture, we see people whom you had
Speaker 1: been faithful to, You had answered their prayers, you had
Speaker 1: fought on their behalf. But we see over time a
Speaker 1: drifting toward worshiping idols, toward worshiping the false gods of
Speaker 1: the neighboring nations. Lord, we pray that in our lives
Speaker 1: you would stay at the forefront. We pray that our
Speaker 1: lives would always be poured out in worship toward You,
Speaker 1: and that we wouldn't look for idols or false messiahs
Speaker 1: or false saviors to try and take the place of
Speaker 1: your son, Jesus Christ, who is our Messiah, who is
Speaker 1: our savior, and who is the one who brings peace
Speaker 1: to our hearts and our lives. Lord, We're grateful for
Speaker 1: your love. We're grateful that through faith in your son
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, we can come before you confidently, knowing that
Speaker 1: you hear us, that we have been gifted with the
Speaker 1: righteousness of Christ, and we are welcomed into your presence.
Speaker 1: We commit this day to you. Lord. We thank you
Speaker 1: for the fact that we have the full assurance of
Speaker 1: your love for us in Christ Jesus, and we pray
Speaker 1: this all in Jesus' name. Amen.