A Godly Interlude

OT: 1 Chronicles 1-9
NT: Matthew 4

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1 Chr. 4:9-10 — Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.


The books of Chronicles (originally just one book) were given their name because they contain several long, detailed lists of people and possessions— much like a genealogy. In any genealogy, there are certain elements that you might expect to see, like names, dates of birth and death, places, etc. And the unknown author of these books includes a lot of names and places, so many that one might be inclined to just skip these opening chapters. But then we'd miss the short story of Jabez. What strikes me most about Jabez is not what he prayed to the Lord nor that he was given what he asked. It is the simple fact that Jabez was different than his brothers. He stood out. And his story stands out in the midst of a whole lot of Jewish brothers. Jabez was a honorable man who knew of the greatness and grace of the Lord. Why else would he ask for the Lord's blessing?

Jabez was just one of many names in this genealogy but I think he represents a bigger picture of faith. Looking at my own genealogy, I see a bunch of names I don't recognize. There are no George Washingtons and Abraham Lincolns. But I am confident that within each of our families there have been both godly and ungodly persons. We just don't know specifics, unlike Jabez. God works in individual lives each and every generation and He asks for individual responses. Jabez asked God for blessing and it was given to him. In this generation He is asking for your response and mine. Will you stand out among your brothers and sisters? Will you seek the Lord's blessing? Will you be willing to be a Jabez in the genealogy of your family?

Be God's.