When Our Choices Bring Pain
Verses: 1 Chronicles 7:21-23
"Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son,and Ezer and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to raid their livestock. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. And Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son. And he called his name Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house."
Within the long genealogies of Chronicles, we find this brief, heartbreaking story. Ephraim, a blessed descendant of Joseph, experienced a profound tragedy because of the actions of his sons. Their decision to raid the livestock of Gath was an unwise venture, likely driven by impulse, a desire for quick gain, or a lack of discernment. The consequence was severe and final; the men of Gath rose up and killed them. In a moment, the sons lost their lives, and their father lost his joy, entering a season of deep and prolonged mourning.
This account presents a challenging aspect of God's relationship with humanity. The Lord, in His wisdom, has endowed us with free will. He does not typically override our decisions to prevent their natural outcomes, even when they are unwise. To do so would diminish our capacity for genuine choice and growth. In this story, we do not see God explicitly intervening to stop the raid. Instead, we see His compassion manifested afterward through the community Ephraim's brothers came to comfort him. God’s comfort often reaches us through the presence and support of others, even when we are walking through the painful consequences of our own actions.
Ephraim’s grief was not brief; the scripture tells us he mourned for many days. The pain of his loss became a part of his story. Yet, in the midst of this sorrow, there was a gift of grace. His wife bore another son. In a poignant act of remembrance, Ephraim named this child Beriah, which means "in misfortune." The name was a testament to the disaster that had occurred, a permanent marker of the pain he carried. Yet, the very existence of this child was also a sign of hope and continuation—a reminder that God’s mercies are new every morning, even after a long night of grief.
This passage stands as a quiet but powerful warning. It encourages us to be mindful of our actions, for they carry weight and consequence. It calls us to move away from acting on whims or impulsive desires and to instead pause, think twice, and seek God's wisdom before we proceed. The lesson is to trust God always before we act, to submit our plans to His guidance, and to understand that our choices can bring either life or pain to ourselves and to those around us. Let us choose wisdom over haste, and trust over presumption.
Prayer:
Lord,we reflect on this story with sober hearts. Grant us wisdom and discernment in our choices. Help us to remember that our actions affect not only ourselves but also those who love us. When we are tempted to act rashly, turn our hearts toward You for guidance. Comfort those who mourn the consequences of unwise deeds, and let Your mercy be their new song. Amen.