God Knows the Mechanics at the Local Garage - 1 Chronicles 1-4

 1 Chronicles 4:14 (ESV)
Meonothai fathered Ophrah; and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were craftsmen.

The above verse is pulled out a list of names that covers the first four chapters of 1 Chronicles.  The book of 1 Chronicles was written upon the return of the exiles from captivity.   It primarily focuses on the southern tribe of Judah.   It centers quickly on King David and his desire for worship and the worship temple.   In the first chapter we have the genealogies.  Part of the purpose of the genealogies is to trace the descendants of Abraham, through Judah, through David, which will eventually be the lineage of Jesus, the Messiah.   Most of the names we read mean little to the contemporary Christian.   It would be easy to simply jump these chapters.   Most of the reading is like reading a phone book of names.  But, at some points, the author (probably Ezra the priest) gives us some commentary on a name, or group of names.  This is what we have in the above verse.  The Ge-harashim was a valley near Jerusalem.  The valley was named after this group.  The name means, as stated “craftsmen” or “mechanics.”   Apparently this group of men had a garage in the valley.    The reason this jumps off the page is the insignificance of this in the big picture of things.  These individuals are not mentioned in the hero’s of faith in Hebrews 11.  They are not the subject of Sunday School Children’s lessons.   This is NO ONE’S favorite verse (it would be assumed).   But, it brings out something that the Holy Spirit, the author of this book, wanted the readers to know.   Nothing escapes the eyes of God.  What our occupations may be might not seem a big deal to those around us, but God takes note of what we do in our lives.  Nothing escapes His eyes:

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God is watching us and is focused on the smallest parts of our lives.   We can rejoice that nothing escapes His eyes.  He even knows the mechanics at the local garage in the valley!!