1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 5: God helps those who trust Him

Begin in prayer

Before we read about tribes who cried to God in battle, let us pray together. Ask the LORD to show us that He helps those who cry to Him and trust Him, and to lead us to Christ.

I cry to Yahweh with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill.

Psalm 3:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You help those who cry to You and trust You, and show us Jesus the Lord. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

This chapter lists the families of Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh, who lived east of the Jordan River. Reuben was Jacob's firstborn, but the birthright went to Joseph, and Judah prevailed above his brothers (verses 1 and 2). These tribes made war on the Hagrites and others, and they were helped (verses 19 and 20). The text says they cried to God in the battle and put their trust in Him (verse 20). Later the tribes trespassed against the God of their fathers and followed the gods of the peoples around them (verse 25). So the God of Israel stirred up the king of Assyria, who carried them away (verse 26).

As you read 1 Chronicles 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God helped His people in battle because they cried to Him and trusted Him.

Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan, and this chapter tells one story of their wars (verse 20). They fought the Hagrites and others, and the text gives the reason they were helped. They cried to God in the battle, and they put their trust in Him (verse 20). The chapter says the war was of God (verse 22), so the victory was His gift to people who trusted Him. This shows God as near to those who call on Him. Later the tribes trespassed against the God of their fathers, and the king of Assyria carried them away (verses 25 and 26). God helps those who trust Him, and He judges those who turn away to other gods. Everyone who calls on the Lord's name will be saved, and Jesus is that Lord (Romans 10 verses 9 and 13).

How does 1 Chronicles 5 show us that God helped His people in battle because they cried to Him and trusted Him?

In battle the tribes cried to God and trusted Him.

Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh had thousands of men skillful in war (verse 18). They made war with the Hagrites and others (verse 19). They were helped, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand (verse 20). The reason is given. They cried to God in the battle and put their trust in Him (verse 20).

Later the tribes turned to other gods and lost their land.

The chapter ends sadly. They trespassed against the God of their fathers and followed the gods of the peoples of the land (verse 25). God had destroyed those peoples before them (verse 25). So the God of Israel stirred up the king of Assyria, who carried them away (verse 26).

Everyone who calls on Jesus the Lord will be saved.

Paul wrote that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10 verse 13). He said that the Lord is Jesus, whom God raised from the dead (Romans 10 verse 9). These tribes cried to God for help in a battle. Sinners are called to cry to Him for forgiveness.

Memorise

They cried to God in the battle, and he was answered them, because they put their trust in him.

1 Chronicles 5:20

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I cry to God for help, and do I trust Jesus?

In the battle the tribes “cried to God,” and they “put their trust in him.” God helped them, and the chapter says so plainly. Jesus is the Lord who answers the greater cry, the cry of a sinner for mercy.

The same chapter ends with those tribes carried away, because they left the God of their fathers. All of us have left Him in our own way. Jesus came to carry His people's sin. On the cross He paid for their sins with His own life, and the whole debt was paid. Three days later He rose to life and walked out of the grave.

So cry to Jesus for mercy. Turn from your sin and trust Him. The sins of all who call on Him are forgiven, and the Lord hears their cry.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God helped the tribes who cried to Him, and that everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved. Parents, please explain verses 18 to 22 and verse 25 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He helps those who cry to Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

You came near in the day that I called on you; you said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Lamentations 3:57

Lord God, thank You that You helped the tribes who cried to You and trusted You. Please turn each of us from sin to cry to Jesus for mercy. Keep us from other gods this week. Amen.