When God's People Hurt

1 Chronicles 7-8; Psalm 7; Proverbs 18:22

 

We’re God’s people, so it seems like we ought always to experience God’s blessings. But we forget that although we are God’s people, we are not yet in God’s eternal land. We are living in a world that has been cursed because of our sins. And so God’s people fairly frequently experience the same kinds of pains that those outside God’s kingdom experience – and will continue to do so until Jesus returns.

 

Ephraim’s genealogy is interesting precisely because it portrays this pain. The genealogy begins pretty normally:

 

The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son. – 1 Chron. 7:20-21a

 

But apparently there should have been more descendants. The text tell us why there were not:

 

Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, when they went down to seize their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. – 1 Chron. 7:21b-22

 

So Ephraim had two sons who died young in a raid against them men of Gath. I’m not saying that Ephraim is unique. Many people back then and many people today have seen their sons go into battle and die. But what I am saying is that watching children die has never been easy. It has always hurt. And it has hurt even God’s people. God’s people are not invulnerable, in this life, to these pains. But as God’s people go through these pains, we remember that our God gives us hope. The pain is no less, but the pain does not have to lead us into hopelessness and despair.

 

Then he lay with his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family. – 1 Chron. 7:23

 

So Ephraim had another son following the death of these other two sons. We have already seen the lineage of one son named Shuthelah. But now we have another son’s lineage to watch. Because Ephraim had lost two sons, he named this son Beriah, which sounds like the Hebrew for “misfortune.” There is new life, but there is still the mark and memory of pain and death. What does God bring about through this line marked by the name “misfortune”?

 

His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.

 

Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son, Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun his son and Joshua his son. – 1 Chron. 7:24-26

 

Through this line named after Ephraim’s misfortune came a daughter who built up Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah – some towns. Also through this line, Joshua son of Nun was born – the very same Joshua who led Israel across the Jordan River and into the promised land.

 

God’s people will continue to hurt in this world. They will continue to fall. They will continue to get sick. They will continue to sin (though it should be less than they did before they knew God). They will continue to suffer. They will continue to die.

 

But God is faithful. And He is able to work through our pain to bring us some of our greatest blessings. One day, the pain will be over and we will all be home with our Father. Let’s press on together, resting in the Almighty Father’s hands at all times. Even when it hurts too much to walk, we will find our way safely home as we rest in Him.

 

Father, thank You that pain and even death are not the end. And thank You that this world’s experiences are not the best You have to offer. But thank You that we can know You, even though we’re part of this sin-filled, cursed world. And thank You that we can experience pain without losing hope. You are good. We look forward to the day when You lift us out of this world of pain forever. Until then, help us to press on even through our misfortunes.