- *1 CHRONICLES 8:1-32
*KEY VERSE:*
"Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath" (1 Chronicles 8:13).
In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 "famous and exceptionally gifted people" called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness and what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people’s lives.
Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were.
The passage before us speaks of the ‘heads’ of families of the tribe of Benjamin who drove away the inhabitants of Gath.
This was a heroic act, considering that Gath was an important city of the Philistines which at one time produced the giant Goliath and home to the family of giants.
Driving away the giants couldn’t have been an easy task. Their size and stature gave them an instant advantage.
And the fact that Gath was said to be the dwelling place of the giants (2 Samuel 21:22) only added to the challenge.
David was said to have wiped out the generation of giants in 1 Chronicles 20:8.
It appeared from the account in our text that the Benjamites were involved in driving out the remaining inhabitants of Gath to complete the routing of Israel’s enemies.
To enjoy the Christian life today, we must overcome obstacles.
We cannot win souls to the Lord without engaging in spiritual warfare one way or the other.
As members of God’s army, we must arise and engage the giants in battle until all are vanquished.
We must go to the very frontline of soul-winning and mission work without fear because God is in us and with us.
*Thought for the day:*
Overcoming obstacles is a necessity for greatness.
*Bible Reading in one Year:*
EXODUS 33-35