Does family history determine our future?
We are talking about Saul. Not the apostle from the New Testament (who was renamed Paul), this is the first king of Israel. It was an interesting decision to choose Saul but God doesn’t do anything haphazardly, half-heartedly or sloppily; everything He does is perfect and wise. So it wasn’t coincidental that God chose the first king of Israel to be someone from the tribe of Benjamin.
The Beginning
Before Benjamin became a tribe he was the youngest of Jacob’s (aka Israel’s) sons and the youngest of Rachel’s two children. Sadly, she dies shortly after giving birth. Other than his dramatic birth story, Benjamin stays out of the limelight. It’s his older half-brothers and brother, Joseph, that take center stage.
Eventually Jacob’s family grows to become the nation of Israel made up of 12 tribes, Benjamin being one of them. They have settled in the promised land. Moses and Joshua have died years ago and judges govern the land. This is when the tribe of Benjamin rises from the shadows and steps into the spotlight…not in a good way.
Sin and Punishment
A complete narrative of their deeds is in Judges 19-21. It is one of the most horrific and brutal crimes I’ve read about, very akin to Sodom and Gomorrah. I had to double check to make sure the passage was talking about the tribe of Benjamin and not some godless nation because I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Sadly, even God’s people can stray far from His principles and values. Even God’s people can commit terrible atrocities, if they aren’t following Him.
Their hearts were so far from God that when given the opportunity to amend their ways, they chose to go to war against their own flesh and blood, rather than hand over the responsible parties. Choosing to exonerate evil rather than expunge it from their midst. Suffice it to say, the battle didn’t end well for the tribe of Benjamin. Their town was destroyed and it’s inhabitants killed. Only 600 soldiers survived.
The Rebuilding
To make matters worse, the other tribes vowed – to God – that they would never allow their daughters to marry a Benjaminite. It could’ve been the annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin, had compassion and familial bonds not won out. Instead of condemning the 600 to a hopeless future, the tribes helped find wives for the survivors. Slowly the tribe of Benjamin began rebuilding and once more stepped out of the limelight…until God chose the first king.
A New Hope
A move that shows God’s goodness, grace and mercy. He didn’t hold the past sins of the Benjaminites over their heads, they had already received their punishment. Instead, from this little tribe – the smallest one of all – He chose the first king of Israel. An act that also speaks of God’s wisdom. By choosing a man from Benjamin to be Israel’s first king, God was leading the way in showing acceptance and restoration.
What I’m Learning
Neither our family history nor our past can determine our future. It’s never too late to step out from the past, start new and rebuild. Yesterday’s mistakes don’t have to smother today’s dreams. Let today be the beginning of a fresh start.