Religion blog
The watchman woke this morning (after Yom Kippur) and was led to read, “There was a man named Jabez” (1 Chronicles 4:9-19)
A man’s name is Jabezwhich sounds like a Hebrew word meaning “distress” or “pain”. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was more honorable than any of his brothers. And God granted his requests.
Why was he more honorable than any of his brothers? Because he was the one who prayed to the God of Israel. He was the one who believed in God and that God would answer his prayers.
Jabez was listed among the “other descendants of Judah. Prior to this record, the ancestors and descendants of David were recorded. A long list of men and seven women (four of whom were unnamed) were recorded. Three professions were recorded: craftsmen, linen workers and pottery makers. The rest were recorded for their roles in being: ancestors, descendants, father, sons, mother, daughter, wives. Their main activity was procreation.
Jabez is the odd one out. He was given two verses 9-10 in Chapter 4 of 1 Chronicles. There was no mention of the names of his parents, siblings, wife or descendants if any. The significance of this solitary man is: his name means distress or pain, but he is more honorable than any of his brothers and that he is the one who prays to the God of Israel. And God answered his prayer.
The content of Jabez’s prayer is listed below:
O that You would bless me.
And expand my territory!
Please be with me in all that I do,
And keep me from all trouble and pain!
Jabez is a humble man who is after God and he knows God. He can pray and believes that God will answer his prayer. He prays for blessing in general, and specific goal, the presence of God in all aspects of his life, and deliverance from evil. He is a man who knows the terror of life on earth: the presence of evil, the limitation and helplessness of men, the existence of pain and suffering.
Jabez is already a successful man in his career. He asks for expansion of his territory specifically. He must have already owned landed property or he could not have asked for its expansion. He also knows that he has limit in expansion as in those days the law of God forbids owning properties/land allotted to another tribe of Israel. So he could only buy his own tribe’s land.
Like Boaz (kinsman redeemer husband of Ruth, ancestor of David), he could purchase lands of his closest kinsmen when the land is for sale and redemption. He intends to redeem them. As he has not received favor from his own parents (as signified by his name) he has to rely on his own hard earned resources. But he has faith in God. He asks God to give him the favor even though he may not have the competitive advantage (favor of men) in the natural.
He is also under persecution and hindrance from other men. But he continues to trust God and finds his comfort in God. He asks God to deliver him and protect him from harm.
He is hardworking and puts his heart to do a good job. He asks God to be with him in all that he does.
He is after God’s blessings. Imagine bearing the name which is a curse from man. But he turns the name into a blessing from God! He wants to become a ‘kinsman redeemer’. Did he succeed? Yes, because this episode is recorded in the Book of God. This is a testimony of a man who successfully puts his faith into action.
The summary of this man’s life is in the declaration that “And God granted him his request.”
The watchman was elated when he read this passage in the Bible. He had helped his kinsman redeemed two pieces of properties last week and he did it by faith in obedience to the Holy Spirit. He told the Lord then that he was helping the brethren to become debt free and not to have this poor man’s properties foreclosed by the bank. He did not know then he would receive this Jabez revelation which confirmed his faith in action.
He rejoiced at the presence of the Lord in his life. Indeed the Kinsman Redeemer Yeshua Himself is in his life. He could feel how David must have felt when he proclaimed in Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.” (wisdom and joy of the presence of God)
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Relevant Bible verses on the principles of life (as those applied by Jabez)
Psalm 27:8 “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” (hear and obey God)
Matthew 5:5 “God blessed those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” (be humble and be blessed with land)
Hebrews 11:6 “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (God is pleased with faith in action)
Psalm 27:10-12a “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me, do not let me fall into their hands.” (God loves and saves those who trust and depend on Him)
Psalm 16:5-6 “Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land You have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!” (God is the believer’s inheritance)
Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.” (wisdom and joy of the presence of God)
Psalm 17:6 “I am praying to You because I know You will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.” (David is a man with great faith in prayer)
Matthew 5:13 “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (obey and practice the prayer that the lord Jesus has taught His disciples to pray daily; Jesus knows what we need to live a victorious life daily)
Matthew 7:7 “Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (the power of consistent prayerful life)
Isaiah 56:7b “I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” ( a man of prayer is pleasing to God!)
Malachi 3:10-16 The Lord challenged the Israelites to bring all their tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in the Temple. Then He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so great that they won’t have enough room to take it in. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (faith in action reaps great rewards!)
Galatians 3:13-14 Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Through Christ God has blessed us with the same blessing He has promised to Abraham. (the curse from sin broken forever)
Genesis 13:14-17 God promised the land as far as Abraham could see, “Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” Abraham claimed the land physically. But he did not restrict himself seeing only the physical geographical land that he was stationed at that point of time. He saw a vast future land in his spirit. So do we, his descendants by faith. (Gal.3:7 “The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.” )
Proverbs 10:4 “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.”
