1 Chronicles 4:7-10 NKJV
7 The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan; 8 and Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum. 9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name [c]Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my [d]territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
Are you ok with the status quo? Have you accepted what life has thrown along your path and your mantra in life is “what will be will be?” Sadly, many have accepted this and they are living a scripted life, flowing with the status quo. Not willing to rock the boat.
I chronicles 4 is a very interesting chapter. It’s a genealogy of the family of Judah and when you read it, everything seems to be flowing according to the script, nothing out of the ordinary until we get to Jabez.
Now his name means pain, or one who causes pain but this man was not willing to go with the flow, he believed God had something better for him and he went for it. When we get to him in this genealogy, something changes and the author does not just tell us his name and the children he bore, but rather he gives us more information about him because Jabez dared to believe God and ask for something better. He had the faith to go outside the script, he colored outside the line so to speak, and God honored his faith and he blessed him.
Interestingly after Jabez, we go back to the genealogy script and that I find interesting. Why didn’t those before him or after him dare to ask God for something different?
The short story of Jabez reveals to us that God has something more for us if we will dare to ask. The situations in our life may be painful or devastating but that does not have to be our lot in life. We must not allow our situations to label us nor define us!
We must believe that God has something better for us and we must be willing enough to reach out in faith and “color outside the lines” and embrace what God has for us.
Reflective Thoughts.
Jabez did not allow his name and situation to define him, what have you allowed to define and limit you?
______________________________________________________________________________
Jabez disrupted the norm and he dared God and God blessed him. The bible tells us to ask and it shall be given to us. What are asking for?
______________________________________________________________________________
