1 Chronicles 4-6, John 6:1—21 • Key Verses: 1 Chronicles 5:20, 25

It has been said that the problem with the school of hard knocks is that the tests are given first. That’s a hard way to learn—test first, lesson later. Paul, speaking particularly of the Old Testament, said that these things were “written to teach us” (Rom. 15:4). If only we would learn first, we might do better passing the tests.

In 1 Chronicles 5 we can learn from people who passed and then failed. It looked like they knew what to do but then forgot. The people were of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh.
First they show us that trust in God can bring victory. “They were helped in fighting” by God “because they cried out to him …. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him” (v. 20).

Then “they were unfaithful. . . and prostituted themselves” to other gods (v. 25). Just as trust in God can bring victory, so unfaithfulness can bring defeat. They paid a high price for their forgetfulness.

God raised up an enemy who took them captive and carried them away into exile.
If you saw three people in front of you lose their money in a vending machine, would you put in your quarters? Hopefully not! Instead, you would learn from their example.

Learn from the examples of those who lived in Bible times. Trust can bring victory; unfaithfulness, defeat. Tests will come. All that remains is for you to show that you have learned—and pass the test.
_As you read your Bible, look carefully for the lessons God has for you and apply them to your life. He did not give us the Bible just to increase our knowledge but to change the way we live._

Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in